This Big Mac sauce recipe comes together in just minutes with seven common ingredients. Made with mayonnaise, mustard, sweet pickle relish, vinegar, and spices, this easy McDonald’s copycat is perfect for burgers, fries, sandwiches, and more.
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What Are the Ingredients for Big Mac Sauce?
McDonald’s Special Sauce has a mayonnaise base with sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, vinegar, and spices. This copycat version recreates that classic tangy, creamy flavor using simple pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
The brands of ingredients you use can affect the consistency and color of the sauce. For example, I found that Great Value mayonnaise made a thinner and lighter sauce than Hellmann’s Olive Oil Mayonnaise. The same is true for sweet pickle relish, as some brands contain more liquid than others.
- Mayonnaise: Any variety of mayonnaise works. I have not tested this recipe with non-mayonnaise spreads like Miracle Whip or Spin Blend.
- Mustard: I use yellow mustard. Dijon or whole grain mustard will change the flavor, so I don’t recommend substituting them if you’re looking for the classic Big Mac sauce taste.
- Vinegar: I use white wine vinegar, but white vinegar or apple cider vinegar also work well.
- Spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika give this sauce its classic McDonald’s-inspired flavor. The smoked paprika also gives it the signature orange color it’s known for.
What Can You Use Big Mac Sauce On?
- Burgers
- Smash burgers
- Cheeseburgers
- Fries
- Chicken sandwiches
- Big Mac Wraps
- Tater tots
- Big Mac Smash Tacos
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While they’re similar, Big Mac sauce contains different seasonings and has a tangier, less sweet flavor than traditional Thousand Island dressing.
The closest bottled option is Thousand Island dressing, but it’s sweeter and lacks the tangy pickle flavor and spices that make Big Mac sauce unique.
McDonald’s hasn’t released the exact recipe, but copycat versions typically combine mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, mustard, vinegar, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder to recreate the signature flavor.
Sweet pickle relish gives Big Mac sauce its signature flavor. Dill pickle relish can be substituted, but the sauce will taste tangier and less like the classic McDonald’s version.
Many copycat recipes include ketchup, but this version gets its classic flavor and color from mayonnaise, mustard, sweet pickle relish, vinegar, and smoked paprika instead.
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Big Mac Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sweet pickle relish
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and stir until well combined. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to use.
About Mindy
Mindy has been cooking for over 30 years, starting as a young mother who learned how to create delicious meals on a budget. Today, she shares approachable recipes made with everyday ingredients that are easy, affordable, and family-friendly. Her goal is to show that great food doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive.