This tangy, creamy burger sauce is made with simple ingredients you probably already have in the fridge. Add it to burgers and sandwiches, or dip your fries!

You're going to want to keep a batch of burger sauce on hand at all times - you'll be adding it to everything! Slather onto your next sandwich and keep extra on hand for dipping those fries.
The base of this tangy homemade sauce is made with two simple ingredients - mayonnaise and ketchup. I like to add a few extra ingredients to enhance the flavor, like pickle juice, mustard, and spices.
The recipe is easy to double or triple for your next summer cookout for a crowd! Serve this sauce with burgers on the grill or as a dipping sauce with fries, chips, or sliced veggies. Don't forget the homemade bread and butter pickles for those burgers.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Mayonnaise and ketchup - The base of this sauce is made with mayonnaise and ketchup. I don't suggest omitting either of these ingredients.
- Dijon mustard - Can be substituted with yellow mustard. Adds tangy flavor to the burger sauce.
- Pickle juice - Can be substituted with apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. Adds a hint of tang similar to thousand island dressing.
- Seasoning - Garlic powder and paprika add warm, savory flavor.
Tips and tricks
Chill to allow flavors to meld - If you have time, allow your sauce to chill in the refrigerator for an hour to allow the flavors to meld.
Use a whisk - For easy incorporation, use a whisk to mix your sauce ingredients together.
Customize as desired - Burger sauce is easy to customize. If you prefer a sauce similar to thousand island, feel free to add a bit of pickle relish instead of pickle juice. You could also add a dash of hot sauce for a little heat or a dash of Worcestershire sauce for more umami flavor.
Frequently asked questions
Burger sauce starts with a base of mayonnaise and ketchup. Other flavor enhancing ingredients are added like mustard, garlic powder, pickle juice, and paprika.
Many fast food and sit down restaurants serve burgers, fries, and patty melts with a "secret sauce" or burger sauce. Secret sauce is usually a variation of thousand island dressing. The base is made with mayonnaise and ketchup before other flavors are added like mustard, paprika and garlic.
The main difference is that thousand island dressing usually contains pickle relish, while burger sauce does not. I like to use a dash of pickle juice in my burger sauce for a similar flavor without the chunky texture.
Homemade burger sauce will keep for about 2 weeks in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
This recipe makes just enough to fill a 4 ounce jar. The recipe can easily be doubled to fill an 8 ounce jar.
Other than burgers, this sauce can be added to a patty melt, deli meat sandwich, or wrap. It's great for dipping tater tots, onion rings, roasted veggies, or chicken nuggets.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Burger and Fry Sauce
Ingredients
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 teaspoon pickle juice
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- In a bowl, add mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, paprika, and garlic powder. Whisk until smooth.
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Use as a condiment on burgers or as a dipping sauce for fries.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Burger sauce will keep for about 2 weeks in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Recipe makes enough to fill a 4 ounce mason jar.
- Dijon mustard can be substituted with yellow mustard.
- Pickle juice can be substituted with white or apple cider vinegar.
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