Homemade Big Mac Sauce
What makes this sauce taste right isn’t the mayo, it’s the relish. Sweet pickle relish gives it those little crunchy bits and the tangy-sweet flavor people recognize the second they taste it. A spoonful of very finely minced onion helps too. Chop it as small as you possibly can, because big pieces take over.
Everything gets stirred together in a single bowl, so this really is five minutes of work. Then leave it alone for an hour in the fridge. I know that’s the annoying part. Right after mixing it tastes sharp and a bit vinegary; after the rest, it mellows out and the paprika turns it that pale orange color. I put it on smash burgers, fries, wraps and, honestly, anything else that needs a sauce.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Chop the onion as finely as you can, almost to a paste, so it blends into the sauce instead of standing out.1 tablespoon yellow onion
- Stir the mayonnaise, relish, mustard and vinegar together in a small bowl until smooth.1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- Add the minced onion, sugar, paprika and garlic powder, and stir until the sauce turns an even pale orange. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, salt and black pepper
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour so the flavors blend and the vinegar mellows.
- Stir again and spread it on burgers, spoon it into wraps or use it as a dip for fries. Keep leftovers in a covered jar in the fridge for up to a week.

made smash burgers with this last night and my wife said it tasted just like the real thing. letting it sit the hour matters
pretty close! i added a little ketchup like the note says and liked it better that way
easy and good, doubled it so i have some for the week. great on fries too