The Best Burger Sauce

This is my go-to, always-on-hand sauce for burgers. Sure, I’ll mix it up some times and use other sauces. But this one finds it’s way onto my burgers a lot. I consider it to be a somewhat grownup version of that famous special sauce you get at McDonald’s. And it couldn’t be any easier to make, using ingredients I often have on hand. For me, it’s the Best Burger Sauce there is.

The Best Burger Sauce

You can use any hot sauce you like. If I’m using this Best Burger Sauce on burgers I’m cooking for others, and I’m not sure if they like spicy foods, I use Cholula or Louisiana hot sauce. Neither is particularly spicy, but both add great flavor to the sauce. If you decide to leave out the heat, I’d recommend adding a pinch or two of Cajun seasoning or even Old Bay.

I recently discovered Blue Plate mayonnaise, which I think is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

The Best Burger Sauce
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4 from 2 votes

The Best Burger Sauce

If you decide to leave out the hot sauce, I'd recommend adding a pinch or two of Cajun seasoning or even Old Bay.
Course Burger Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword burger sauce
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 77kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Nutrition

Calories: 77kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 155mg | Potassium: 17mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 31IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Copycat Freddy’s Burger Sauce

Stand back! It’s big time messy burger time! Messy means good, and this copycat Freddy’s burger sauce makes for some mighty messy good burgers! This isn’t the time to be shy saucing up some buns. Lesser is not better. More is! So spread it on thick and enjoy some lightly-spicy delicious creaminess. This perfectly seasoned sauce is destined to quickly become a favorite in your house too!

Copycat Freddy's Burger Sauce

I recommend that you make a batch of fries to go with burgers served with copycat Freddy’s burger sauce. You’ve already got the best fry seasoning, since the sauce calls for it in the recipe. Make some sauce, then sprinkle them fries, slap some burgers together and get to eatin’! And enjoyin’!

I made smash burgers because I knew they’d really shine with this sauce. Any burger will do, of course. I’m just partial to smash burgers because they’re easy and open to just about any toppings you can conjure up. I like to use a burger press when I make burgers. It, in combination with some patty papers, enables me to crank out a whole bunch of equally-sized burger patties in no time at all with little cleanup.

Also try my copycat Freddy’s burger seasoning! And my copycat Shake Shack sauce, too!

Copycat Freddy's Burger Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Copycat Freddy’s Burger Sauce

This sauce is also great for dipping fries!
Course Burger Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword burger sauce
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 323kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth and well combined.
  • Refrigerate until ready to use.
  • To use, slather on your burger buns! Don't be shy with it!

Nutrition

Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 21g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 379mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 0.01g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 56IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

BBQ Thousand Island Burger Sauce

I was looking for something a bit different, a change from my usual burger sauce. When I found this BBQ Thousand Island burger sauce I thought that it was a really interesting twist on a classic ‘special sauce’. The addition of chili sauce, BBQ sauce, and Worcestershire really sets this sauce apart from the others. It’s different in a very good, tasty way.

BBQ Thousand Island Burger Sauce

I prefer a smoky sauce in my BBQ Thousand Island burger sauce. Usually. Sometimes I go the spicy route and add a BBQ sauce with a little kick. I do tend away from using a sweeter sauce, though. It’s your call of course as to which you use, but for me a sweet sauce just didn’t work out. Maybe it’s just me.

BBQ Thousand Island Burger Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

BBQ Thousand Island Burger Sauce

I prefer a smoky sauce in my BBQ Thousand Island burger sauce.
Course Burger Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword burgers, sauce
Prep Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 109kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate for at least one hour before using.

Nutrition

Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 206mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 61IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Smash Burger Sauce

Smash burgers are by far my most popular way of making burgers. They aren’t complicated, but they’re packed with great grill flavor (with a little bit of a crunchy edge!) and topped with fresh ingredients and a wonderful Smash burger sauce. Nothing fancy here, just great tastes.

Smash Burger Sauce

My smash burger sauce has a bit of pickle juice added for extra flavor. I have learned to never, ever toss out pickle juice. When that jar of pickles is done, there’s still wonderful flavor to be had in the juice. I use it in sauces like this, and also for marinating fried chicken or chicken wings.

You can also buy pickle juice in a jug. Ain’t life great?!

I love making smash burgers on my grill and on my Griddler.

Smash burger sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Smash Burger Sauce

When that jar of pickles is done, there's still wonderful flavor to be had in the juice. Save it for sauces like this!
Course Burger Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword burger sauce
Prep Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 201kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients and refrigerate for an hour before using.

Nutrition

Calories: 201kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 406mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 34IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fire-Eater Burger Sauce

I love just putting the ‘usual’ condiments on my burgers. My favorite is mayonnaise. If find that odd since I definitely did not grow up a mayo fan. Sometimes though, I need a little kick to my burger. A little wake up. Since I absolutely love Fire-Eater seasoning, I knew it would find its way into this nice creamy, but a tab bit spicy, Fire-Eater burger sauce.

Fire-Eater Burger Sauce

If you don’t have Sriracha on hand (???), then you can certainly substitute your favorite hot sauce for this Fire-Eater burger sauce, from the mild to the wild. Oh, and yes, this sauce is also fantastic on sandwiches or wraps. And now that I ponder it more, I bet it would be great on grilled chicken wings. I’m gonna try that next!

I like to keep my sauces in squeeze bottles. I love squirting sauce onto burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches… Anything that can be squirted! I write the contents and date-of-mixing on painter’s blue tape and put that on the bottles so I can keep track of them.

Also check out my copycat Smashburger Sauce, or another one of my seriously spicy favorites, 18000 Island sauce. For a little kick, make some Angry Whopper sauce.

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5 from 1 vote

Fire-Eater Burger Sauce

Sometimes I need a little kick to my burger. Since I absolutely love Fire-Eater seasoning, I knew it would find its way into this nice creamy, but a bit spicy, Fire-Eater burger sauce.
Course Burger Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword burger sauce, spicy
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 104kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together all ingredients until smooth.

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 144mg | Potassium: 30mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 38IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Copycat Shake Shack Sauce

I was jonesin’ pretty bad for a diner burger the other day. Ya know, messy, with traditional toppings. With a great sauce. So I did a quick search around and came across this copycat of the sauce at the Shake Shack. It’s very easy to make, using ingredients that I always have on hand. It really adds a nice, smooth, flavor to a burger. It’s not a big change from what you would normally put on a burger, it just has all the great tastes in one sauce.

Copycat Shake Shack Sauce

I love making simple, yet delicious, sauces for burgers like this copycat Shake Shack Sauce. Check out my copycat McDonald’s Big Macs, with that awesome McDonald’s sauce. Or my grilled burgers topped with Nancy’s Special burger sauce. It’s similar to McDonald’s sauce, but with a great spicy twist.

Also try my BBQ Thousand Island burger sauce.

Copycat Shake Shack Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Copycat Shake Shack Sauce

I was jonesin’ pretty bad for a diner burger the other day. Ya know, messy, with traditional toppings. With a great sauce. This is it.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword burger sauce, copycat
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 1 minute
Servings 1 cup
Calories 1738kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
  • Refrigerate until ready to use.

Nutrition

Calories: 1738kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 171g | Saturated Fat: 27g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 12887mg | Potassium: 1385mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 3499IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 565mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

18000 Island Dressing

You could put boring ketchup on your hamburger. Or maybe some mayonnaise. You could slather on some Thousand Island dressing. Or, you could just skip all that and go with big flavor. Bold flavor. And kick. 18000 Island Dressing is truly 18 times more flavorful than the classic. There’s nothing boring about it, thanks to a healthy dose of chopped jalapenos. Anywhere you used the ‘boring’ stuff, grab some of this instead.

18000 Island Dressing


18000 Island Dressing isn’t just for burgers either. It’s great on sandwiches, or our favorite, wraps. And hot dogs (if you haven’t tried mayonnaise-based sauces on your hot dogs you should, it’s a very welcome change from just using mustard). Anywhere you want bold flavor, it brings it.

These little sauce dipping cups are great for serving salad dressings. They keep me from over-dressing my salads, which is something I’m prone to do since I’m a dressing-aholic. They’re easy to clean up, too. And they’re also great for dipping nuggets, tenders or even chicken wings.

Check out some of my other great burger sauces, like Nancy’s, a copycat of Smashburger’s sauce,  and of course, a copycat of the sauce on the McDonald’s Big Mac.

Also try my more traditional dressing.

18000 Island Dressing
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5 from 1 vote

18000 Island Dressing

18000 Island Dressing is truly 18 times more flavorful than Thousand Island dressing. There’s nothing boring about it, thanks to a healthy dose of chopped jalapenos.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword homemade salad dressing
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 cup
Calories 1602kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into a blender.
  • Process until smooth.
  • Refrigerate until ready to use.

Nutrition

Calories: 1602kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 168g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 2358mg | Potassium: 288mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 797IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.