Homemade Big Mac Sauce (McDonald’s Copycat)

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Our homemade Big Mac sauce tastes just as good as what you’ll find on your favorite McDonald’s Big Mac burger. This creamy sauce is made with tangy French dressing, mayo, sweet relish and a blend of spices.

And the best part? It takes just 5 minutes to whip up a batch of this homemade McDonald’s sauce.

My favorite part of a Big Mac is the sauce (you too?). The iconic special sauce is creamy with the perfect balance of sweet tanginess. No wonder it’s a fast food favorite!

And it’s so easy to make at home. I love how much flavor this burger sauce brings to the party and that you can use it in a variety of ways. While there are many different ways to make it, I prefer to keep it easy peasy and use simple ingredients. 

Copycat recipes are some of my favorites to recreate. Making them at home means they are budget friendly, and you don’t have to leave the house when a craving hits. The Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme, Taco Bell Baja Sauce and my Chipotle Chicken Bowl are a few favorite copycat recipes worth a try. 

We use this secret sauce when making Big Mac Sliders, Big Mac Sloppy Joes, and as a salad dressing for Big Mac in a Bowl. So you might want to make a double batch (just saying!). 

Ingredients

• mayonnaise – makes for a creamy base. 
• French dressing – I used the creamy version, but the regular works as well. 
• sweet relish – balances out the tanginess of the dressing. 
• granulated sugar – adds just enough sweetness. 
• distilled white vinegar – gives a little more tartness without it being too overbearing. 
• minced garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper – adds more flavor.

How to Make Homemade Big Mac Sauce 

Combine all of the ingredients except salt and pepper in a small bowl and whisk until combined. 

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Tips for Making 

• The recipe ingredients are tailored to pair with regular mayonnaise. If you swap the mayo for Miracle Whip you’ll need to adjust ingredients.
• If the distilled vinegar seems too acidic for your liking, add 1/4 teaspoon of sugar at a time until you reach the desired sweetness. 
• We prefer sweet pickle relish versus dill pickle relish because the French dressing adds quite a bit of tanginess.
• This sauce tastes the best after being chilled in the refrigerator for a bit, so the flavors have a chance to get to know each other.

What to Serve With

While you can use this copycat recipe on a regular burger patty, it’s great mixed in with Big Mac sloppy joes. It can also be drizzled on your favorite salad or used as a dipping sauce with French fries, onion rings, loose meat sliders, and chicken tenders. This famous sauce is also delicious with shrimp and crab cakes(seriously good!). 

How to Store 

Place the leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 week. Mason jars work well for storing dressings and sauces.

Big Mac Sauce vs. Thousand Island

Although both Big Mac sauce and Thousand Island dressings share some common ingredients, such as mayonnaise and pickles, they differ in their precise recipes and flavors. And there are so many variations of both sauces that can cause them to taste very similar.

Homemade Big Mac sauce typically contains additional ingredients like vinegar and spices, while Thousand Island dressing usually includes ketchup, relish, and hard-boiled eggs. Additionally, McDonald’s Big Mac sauce has a mildly tangy and slightly sweet flavor profile, while Thousand Island dressing tends to be sweeter and more tangy.

**Save the Homemade Big Mac Sauce Recipe for Later**