🍔 Classic Burger Sauce
This is the sauce to memorize. It is the creamy-tangy-slightly-sweet "special sauce" that makes a plain cheeseburger taste like it came from a good burger joint, and it is nothing more than mayo, ketchup, relish, and two seasonings whisked together.
🧾 Classic Burger Sauce — Recipe Card
From I Love Hamburger — ilovehamburger.com
Ingredients
- 0.5 cup mayonnaise (115 g)
- 2¾ tbsp ketchup (30 ml)
- 1¾ tbsp sweet pickle relish (15 g)
- 1¾ tsp yellow mustard (5 ml)
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika (1 g)
- Pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper
Instructions
- Add the mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, mustard, and smoked paprika to a small bowl.
- Whisk until completely smooth and an even pale orange color.
- Taste and adjust: a little more ketchup for sweetness, a little more mustard for tang. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cover and chill at least 15 minutes before using — the flavor rounds out as it sits.
🫙 Storage
Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Do not freeze — mayo-based sauces separate when thawed.
🔁 Substitutions
- No relish? Finely chop 1 tbsp of dill or bread-and-butter pickles and add a pinch of sugar.
- Swap smoked paprika for a few drops of hot sauce if you want a little warmth.
- Use dairy-free mayo to make it fully dairy-free (it already contains no dairy in most brands).
🍔 What to put it on
Pair it with crisp iceberg lettuce, raw white onion, and dill pickles. It especially shines on these burgers:
Burger HQ Picks Handy for sauce-making
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Long tongs, a wide spatula, and a basting brush so you are not fighting your own tools over a hot grill.
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Frequently asked questions
What is burger sauce made of?
The classic version is a base of mayonnaise and ketchup, brightened with a little mustard and relish, plus a seasoning like smoked paprika. That creamy-tangy-sweet balance is what most people recognize as "special sauce."
How long does homemade burger sauce last?
About a week in an airtight container in the fridge. It is limited by the shelf life of the mayonnaise, so go by the mayo's date if it is close.
Can I make burger sauce ahead of time?
Yes — it is actually better made a few hours ahead so the flavors meld. Make it up to a day before a cookout and keep it chilled.