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    Home » Recipes » Sauces, Condiments and Dressings

    Homemade Big Mac Sauce (Easy McDonald's Copycat Recipe)

    First Published: November 17, 2022 . Last Modified: November 17, 2022 lisa17 Comments This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    Homemade Big Mac Sauce is sweet, tangy and full of flavor. This simple McDonald's copycat recipe is creamy and delicious with hardly any effort. It's everything you'd expect from a "special" sauce and will make your homemade burgers spectacular.

    A spoon ladles homemade big mac sauce from a jar.

    Raise your hand if you remember the Big Mac jingle "two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun." McDonald's signature sandwich was a favorite across the country, and the special sauce took this burger to a new level of deliciousness.

    Like me, you may be trying to cut fast food out of your diet and that's so much easier to do when you can duplicate some of your favorites at home. Homemade Big Mac sauce is a big hit in my house and your family will love this secret sauce too.

    Add yummy Big Mac sauce to burgers and salads or use it as a fry sauce. No matter where your pour it, this famous sauce is sure to be everyone's favorite.

    What is Big Mac Sauce?

    Big Mac sauce, known as "special sauce," was one of the signature touches that made McDonald's Big Mac sandwich stand out above other fast food establishments.

    This homemade version is a close copy of everyone's favorite restaurant burger condiment and is made with just a handful of pantry ingredients found at any grocery store. It may be even better than the real thing.

    CopyCat Big Mac Sauce Ingredients

    Ingredients needed for homemade big mac sauce.
    • Mayonnaise – Use your favorite brand of mayo. You can substitute light mayo or Miracle Whip, but it will alter the flavor.
    • Sweet Pickle Relish – A sweet relish will give you the most authentic flavor. You can substitute a dill pickle relish but it will not be quite the same as the McDonald's Big Mac sauce recipe.
    • White Vinegar – You can substitute apple cider vinegar if needed.
    • Mustard – Use regular yellow mustard.
    • Seasonings – add onion powder, garlic powder and sweet paprika for the right balance of flavor.

    See recipe card for complete ingredient list and quantities.

    Mixing the dressing ingredients in a bowl.

    Instructions

    1. Put all ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Mix until well combined.

    Hint: The flavor of this sauce will develop with time. Make it several hours in advance for the best flavor.

    A bowl of big mac sauce.

    Substitutions / Variations

    • Lighter Sauce – Replace the mayonnaise with a light mayo or Greek yogurt.
    • Mustard – Instead of yellow mustard, try using dijon mustard.
    • Spicy – Add a splash of sriracha or a dash of cayenne pepper. This is a great way to give this homemade Bic Mac Sauce a spicy kick.

    Storage

    Store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

    Freezing this big mac sauce copycat recipe is not recommended but it's easy enough to mix together these simple ingredients to make this homemade sauce anytime.

    Top tip

    A mason jar or glass jar works well to store this sauce. You can also reuse a clean condiment container for easy storage and serving.

    FAQ

    Is Big Mac Sauce the same as Thousand Island dressing?

    While similar, Thousand Island dressing usually incorporates ketchup as a main ingredient. This Big Mac Sauce is made without ketchup and without French dressing. Thousand island dressing usually contains either of those ingredients.

    How long does Homemade Big Mac sauce last?

    You can store this creamy condiment in the fridge for about a week.

    How do I make a Big Mac burger at home?

    Big Macs are famous for their extra burger patty, third bun and special sauce. To make one at home begin by lightly toasting a sesame seed bun plus an extra bottom bun. Slather the bottom and top buns with homemade Big Mac sauce then layer white diced onions, lettuce, American cheese and a burger patty. Next, add the second bottom bun, more sauce, lettuce, pickles, the second burger patty and finish with the top bun.

    A small bowl of dipping sauce and fries on a cutting board.

    Serving Suggestions

    Homemade Big Mac sauce is perfect for slathering on the perfect burger but don't stop there. It's the perfect dipping sauce for chips, pan fried chicken tenders, fries and onion rings and also makes a delicious salad dressing for a big mac salad. Use it for these recipes too!

    • Grilled Meatball Sliders
    • Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
    • Crispy Oven Fried Zucchini Chips

    More Sauces and Dressings

    • Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
    • The Best Homemade Tartar Sauce
    • Homemade Bang Bang Sauce
    • Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing (No Anchovies)
    • Easy Chimichurri Sauce from Simply Whisked
    • Easy Buffalo Wing Sauce
    Pinterest Image for Big Mac Sauce

    If you like this homemade McDonald's burger sauce recipe, please leave a 5-star rating below.

    RECIPE

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    5 from 14 votes

    Homemade Big Mac Sauce

    This copycat version of Big Mac sauce is easy to make at home!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Course: Sauces and Extras
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 16 tablespoons
    Calories: 55kcal

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • 4 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
    • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons mustard
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika

    Instructions

    • Put all ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl. Mix until well combined.
    • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
    • Enjoy on burgers and sandwiches or use as a dipping sauce for fries, onion rings or anything you like.

    Notes

    The sauce can be used right away but is even better if it sits in the fridge for at least an hour to allow all the flavors to come together.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 55kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 96mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 113IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg

    Thanks for stopping by! Subscribe to Jersey Girl Cooks if you would like more recipes and cooking tips sent to your email. You can also order my Super Easy Cookbook for Beginners and follow me on social media - Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

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    Comments

    1. Lima Ekram says

      January 20, 2023 at 11:15 am

      5 stars
      OMG I LOVE Big Mac sauce and I cant wait to try this!

      Reply
    2. Katherine says

      January 20, 2023 at 11:17 am

      5 stars
      So good to be able to make homemade Big Mac sauce right at home!

      Reply
    3. justine says

      January 20, 2023 at 11:36 am

      Used this for mini sliders and they were a super hit with the kids!

      Reply
    4. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

      January 20, 2023 at 11:57 am

      5 stars
      I was looking for a recipe like this, thank you for sharing! I can't wait to try it soon!

      Reply
    5. Vicky Perreault says

      January 20, 2023 at 12:10 pm

      5 stars
      I love that we can make this sauce at home. Anything that keeps us from ordering fast food is a win. I bet this sauce takes normal burgers over the top!

      Reply
      • lisa says

        January 20, 2023 at 12:50 pm

        Vicky,
        It sure does elevate burgers, sandwiches and more!
        Enjoy!
        Lisa

        Reply
    6. Elaine says

      November 17, 2023 at 9:26 am

      5 stars
      I haven't had a big mac in ages but I wanted the sauce. I'm really glad I found this recipe! Delicious and easy.

      Reply
    7. Loreto Nardelli says

      November 19, 2023 at 8:03 am

      5 stars
      The BigMac holds a denial place in my heart. My mom used to delivery me lunch when I was in junior high. Everyone would make fun of me, but I saw that they were envious as I bit into that Big Mac, as they looked down at their bologna sandwich. Love the copy cat version of that ever unforgettable Big Mac Sauce. Thanks for sharing!! ❤️ 😍 💖

      Reply
      • lisa says

        November 19, 2023 at 11:33 am

        Loreto,
        I'd take a Big mac over bologna sandwich everyday!! hehe
        Lisa

        Reply
    8. Jamie says

      November 19, 2023 at 8:57 am

      5 stars
      Wow! This is such a great sauce recipe! It looks amazingly delicious and very tasty! Plus we all love Mcdonalds this is definitely great! I can't wait to create this at home for the family! Loved it!

      Reply
    9. Amy Liu Dong says

      November 19, 2023 at 11:53 am

      5 stars
      Wow, thanks for sharing this now I don’t need to go to the store to buy big mac sauce!

      Reply
    10. Mikayla says

      November 19, 2023 at 11:57 am

      5 stars
      Oh my, delicious. I used it on my BLTA sandwich and wow, it made so much better than usual!

      Reply
    11. Carrie Robinson says

      November 19, 2023 at 1:47 pm

      5 stars
      Big Mac sauce is always so good! I love that I can use your recipe to make it at home now. Can't wait to try this out soon! 🙂

      Reply
    12. silvia says

      November 19, 2023 at 2:05 pm

      5 stars
      My kind of recipe, easy to make, very flavorful and delicious. My kids were amazed when I serve it with their favorite burgers and fries.

      Reply
    13. Erin says

      November 19, 2023 at 3:17 pm

      5 stars
      I've never had a Big Mac, but I'd love to see what the fuss is about! I've got to try this soon. It sounds so easy, too!

      Reply
    14. Hayley Dhanecha says

      November 20, 2023 at 4:52 am

      5 stars
      Love this big mac sauce recipe, such a flavourful and so easy to make. Can't wait to make it again.

      Reply
    15. Enriqueta E Lemoine says

      November 20, 2023 at 8:58 am

      5 stars
      Best copycat ever! You nailed it with this recipe! Can you please make the animal fires sauce from In and Out in California?

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Lisa

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