Easy Burger Sauce Recipe

The perfect burger sauce is an essential part of a homemade burger! Not just for burgers, this homemade sauce is finger licking good and perfect for dipping chips! Made with everyday ingredients that you will already have in your fridge and pantry, my spicy burger sauce recipe can be whipped up fresh at any time and tastes delicious.  

Sauce with everything! 

I think that people are either in the wet food, or the dry food camp. I’m firmly on team wet food – I love stews with their rich sauces, roasts with extra gravy, curries and a thick juicy burger with extra sauce. Forget table manners when it comes to hamburgers.  This is street food, and I want the type of burger where the sauce and juice will run down my chin after every bite! 

The Best Burger Sauce 

We all had our favourite takeaway burgers growing up. There was a real magic to those early, exotic trips to the burger bar, and whether it was the Wimpy Burger, the Whopper, or the Big Mac, sauce was crucial. I reckon that the best burger sauce is nicely (but not too) thick, creamy, tangy and has just the right amount of heat. I love a slightly spicy burger sauce, just like they serve with a Big Mac and in the higher-end burger joints and gastro pubs.  

They are all remarkably similar, and a copycat version can be made in just a few minutes from everyday ingredients, so forget about buying all those branded products. Just whip up your own homemade burger sauce, adjusted perfectly to suit to your own taste, and tuck in. 

I like a smooth burger sauce with a little bit of heat, but if you want some texture and extra heat then you can have it, with a few simple additions.  

Burger Sauce Ingredients 

• Mayonnaise – Use your regular mayonnaise. You don’t want anything too fancy, but it needs to be a proper full fat version, this is to go with a burger and chips or fries so its pretty pointless to try and save calories! I know I swap in yogurt in place of mayo in lots of recipes – but don’t do it here! 
• Tomato Ketchup/Sauce – You want a nice rich, thick ketchup that actually tastes of tomatoes, not a thin, vinegary version.
• Pickle Juice – This is my secret ingredient for so many recipes, as it adds some acidity; use the vinegar from a regular jar of gherkins or dill pickles. If you want a bit more heat, use the juice from some pickled jalapenos or other chilli. If you don’t have jarred pickles to hand, use some white wine vinegar. 
• Mustard – I used a smooth Dijon (supermarket’s own brand), but or you can substitute an American-style yellow mustard. What you do not want is English mustard, as it is far too hot and will overpower your sauce.
• Garlic Powder – Just a dash, to add some extra flavour, or use a little onion powder if you prefer.   

Optional Extras 

• Finely diced onion or shallot – I’m not a fan of raw onion but if you love it, then add some. If you use raw onion, the sauce will only keep for 48 hours.   
• Finely diced pickles – Use them to add texture and crunch. 
• Sugar – I usually add a teaspoon, but whether you need it or not depends on the sweetness of your tomato ketchup.

How to Make Burger Sauce 

Simply plonk all the smooth ingredients into a bowl and mix with a spoon until smooth. Taste and tweak it you suit your own preference, with more mayo for creaminess, extra garlic powder, more pickle juice for a tang or add a dash of chilli sauce for heat. Then stir in any chopped onion or pickles and check the flavour balance again. 

My top tip for this burger sauce, and so many other recipes, is to let it rest in the fridge for at least 20 minutes and preferably an hour before serving. Then let it come back up to room temperature before you serve.   

Resting allows all the flavours to mingle, get to know each other and form new and interesting relationships. Food has far less flavour when consumed chilled rather than that at room temperature. That’s why a cheap bottle of white wine will taste immeasurably better once it has been aggressively chilled.     

How to Use Homemade Burger Sauce

My first choice is on a juicy burger, (did you know you can make air fryer burgers?), but we also rather like using it to dip fries or fat chips. You could equally use it with other fried treats, like pakora, fritters or onion rings. So good!  

Leftover spicy burger sauce can be used as a salad dressing, or even over a baked sweet potato, rice or pasta. Or eat it from the jar with a spoon, it is that good!  

If you like a spicier sauce, why not try my Easy Peri Peri Sauce too? 

How Long Will it Keep? 

The basic burger sauce recipe will keep for about 5 days in the fridge in a sealed container, but less if you have added fresh onion. I usually decant leftovers into an old clean jam jar. 

Love Sauce?

If you enjoyed this burger sauce you will love my sauce recipes. Here are some of my favourites:-

• Curry Sauce
• Hot Cheese Dip 
• Stilton Sauce
• Diane Sauce
• Chilli Sauce
• Garlic Sauce
• Mint Sauce
• BBQ sauce
• Peri Peri Sauce

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4.85 from 13 votes

Easy Burger sauce

The perfect burger sauce is an essential part of your favourite hot sandwich. Not just for burgers, this homemade sauce is finger licking good and perfect for dipping chips! Made with everyday ingredients that you will already have in your fridge and pantry, my spicy burger sauce recipe can be whipped up fresh at any time and tastes delicious.  

Servings: 6 servings

Author: Helen Best-Shaw

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 3 tbs mayonnaise
• 2 tbs tomato ketchup
• 1 tbs pickle juice
• 2 tsp mustard
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp sugar

Optional extras

• 1 tbs onion or shallot (finely chopped)
• 1 tbs pickles (finely chopped)

Instructions

• Put the smooth ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Check the flavour and adjust to taste.
• Stir through any onion or chopped pickles if using, and check again.
• Leave to stand in the fridge for 20 minutes, then bring up to room temperature to serve.

Notes

• Mayonnaise – Use your regular mayonnaise. I know I swap in yogurt in place of mayo in lots of recipes - but don't do it here! 
• Tomato Ketchup/Sauce – You want a nice rich, thick ketchup that actually tastes of tomatoes.
• Pickle Juice – Use the vinegar from a regular jar of gherkins or dill pickles. If you want a bit more heat.  If you don't have jarred pickles to hand, use some white wine vinegar. 
• Mustard – Supermarket Dijon or any smooth American style mustard.  Not English mustard!
• Garlic Powder – Just a dash, or use a little onion powder.

Optional Extras 

• Finely diced onion or shallot 
• Finely diced pickles – Use them to add texture and crunch. 
• Sugar – depends on the sweetness of your tomato ketchup.

Store in a sealed container in the fridge (a jam jar is ideal) for up to 5 days. If you have added raw onion eat within 48 hours.  

Nutritional Information 

• This recipe is 3 Weight Watchers Smart Points per portion 

• Please note that the nutrition information provided below is approximate and meant as a guideline only.

• Unless stated otherwise cup conversions have been made with an online tool. For accuracy please check with your favoured conversion tool. We recommend buying inexpensive digital kitchen scales.

Nutrition Facts

Easy Burger sauce

Amount Per Serving

Calories 58 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Fat 5g8%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 3mg1%

Sodium 146mg6%

Potassium 16mg0%

Carbohydrates 2g1%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 26IU1%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Burger sauce

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