Easy Homemade Burger Sauce
Easy Homemade Burger Sauce strikes the perfect balance between tangy, sweet, and savory. This burger sauce recipe is all you’ll ever need for your burgers, fries, and so much more. And it comes together super quick, making it a guaranteed fan favorite at my dinner table. 🤩
Lots of burger joints have a “special sauce” that really makes a good burger shine. In fact, a good sauce can save a not-so-spectacular burger. This is why I figured it was time to create my own special burger sauce to amp up my grilled burgers.
What I love most about this sauce is how so easy it is! With a few household staples, you’ve got a show-stopping sauce everyone will love. Plus, whenever I make this, my countertop is no longer littered with a million bottles of mustard, mayo, ketchup, etc. It keeps things simple and makes cleanup a breeze.
Why Does Burger Sauce Taste So Good?
A fabulous burger sauce brings balance. That’s how I see it, anyway. It’s perfectly creamy without being super thick, like mayo. Plus, the right amount of sweetness and tang complement burgers without overpowering the beefy goodness.
We’re talking burger Zen, people. ✨
Recipe Ingredients
- Base Ingredients – Mayo and ketchup are musts. But sweet pickle relish (or diced dill pickles), lemon juice (or white vinegar), and a dash of hot sauce (if you’re into spicy foods like I am) deliver juicy flavor.
- Flavors – Next, round out those flavors with minced garlic, finely chopped onion, sweet paprika, and salt and pepper.
How to Make Homemade Burger Sauce
- Assemble – In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, onion, garlic, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, lemon juice, paprika, and hot sauce. (Photo 1)
- Season – Next, add salt and pepper to taste.
- Whisk everything until the ingredients are well combined.
- Taste Test – Do a taste test and adjust ingredients to taste with more vinegar, hot sauce, or ketchup. (Photo 2)
- Serve – You can serve this sauce immediately. However, I recommend you let it rest for at least 30 minutes, covered, for a deeper and more harmonious flavor.
Recipe Variations
- BBQ Sauce: For a smokier taste, swap out the ketchup with your favorite BBQ sauce.
- Mild Sauce: If you want a milder sauce, just skip the hot sauce. It will still taste amazing.
- Extra Smooth: For a smoother burger sauce, swap the minced onion and garlic for onion and garlic powder. And instead of adding sweet pickle relish, you can add a splash of pickle juice. You may need to adjust the consistency by adding a little more mayo.
Tips and Tricks
- Aim for a sauce that balances tangy, sweet, creamy, and savory flavors. Experiment with different ingredients to find the perfect combination that complements your burger.
- This sauce works well with most burgers. Try it with brisket burgers, black bean burgers, salmon burgers, or any other burger you love.
- Make it at least 30 minutes ahead so the flavors have time to meld. But…
Make-Ahead Instructions
While you can enjoy hamburger sauce 30 minutes after you make it, it’s even better the next day. Just pour it into a glass jar with a lid and keep it in the fridge for up to a week. I think it’s even more flavorful after a good, long rest. 😋
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve burger sauce in ramekins or a plastic sauce bottle, ready to liberally apply to your delicious grilled or smoked burgers. Keep it covered in the fridge for up to a week when not in use.
FAQs
These two food enhancers look similar, but the ingredients are different. Burger sauces traditionally use mayo as a base, while Thousand Island dressing typically has a sour cream base. Both are delicious, and I see no problem using them interchangeably.
Just about anything! I use it for wraps, fries, fried veggies, dipping sauce for chicken wings, and more. 💯
Sure, just swap out regular mayonnaise with a vegan alternative, and you’re good to go.
How to Use Homemade Burger Sauce
For starters, burgers and sandwiches. Try this sauce on a juicy smoked burger, an avocado burger, or a beef brisket sandwich. Dipping grilled chicken tenders, potato wedges, and french fries in this deliciousness tastes amazing. 👌
More Delightful Flavor-Enhancing Recipes to Try
Conclusion
Enjoy this quick and easy homemade burger sauce at your next family cookout. Have you tried this recipe already? Let me know how it turned out in the comment section below!
Easy Homemade Burger Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- â…“ cup onion, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice or white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, onion, garlic, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, lemon juice, paprika, and hot sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste. Whisk until all the ingredients are fully combined.
- Adjust ingredients to suit your taste buds with more vinegar, hot sauce, or ketchup.
- You can use it immediately. However, it's highly recommended to let it rest for at least 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator, covered, for a deeper and more harmonious flavor.
Notes
- Aim for a sauce that balances tangy, sweet, creamy, and savory flavors. Experiment with different ingredients to find the perfect combination that complements your burger.Â
- This sauce works well with most burgers. Try it with brisket burgers, black bean burgers, salmon burgers, or any other burger you love.
- Make it at least 30 minutes ahead so the flavors have time to meld.
- Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
