Sauces
Big Mac Inspired Special Sauce
A creamy burger sauce with sweet relish and mustard.
Inspired by McDonald's
Prep
5 min
Cook
0 min
Serves
8 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Cooking Tools
Pantry match
Uses the current servings and temporary recipe changes.
Missing 7 ingredients
- • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- • 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- • 1 teaspoon paprika
- • 1 teaspoon onion powder
- • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
View ingredient-by-ingredient match
- 1/2 cup mayonnaiseMissing
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relishMissing
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustardMissing
- 1 teaspoon white vinegarMissing
- 1 teaspoon paprikaMissing
- 1 teaspoon onion powderMissing
- 1 teaspoon garlic powderMissing
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Method
Recipe notes
Drain very wet relish before mixing so the sauce stays spreadable. The vinegar should brighten the mayonnaise without tasting sharp; let the sauce chill before deciding whether it needs adjustment.
Planning, storage, and serving
Storage and reheating
Refrigerate in an airtight container and use within 5 days. Freezing causes the mayonnaise emulsion to separate; discard sauce left at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Make-ahead tips
Prepare 1 day ahead so the onion and garlic powders hydrate. Stir before serving and use a clean spoon each time.
What to serve with it
- - Double burgers with lettuce and pickles
- - Oven fries or roasted potatoes
- - Turkey or grilled-vegetable wraps
Equipment needed
- - Small mixing bowl
- - Whisk or flexible spatula
- - Lidded storage jar
Difficulty explained
The sauce is easy to mix, but draining the relish and resting the spices produce a better texture.
Recipe calculator
Nutrition facts
Updating nutrition…
Alternatives
Apply a reviewed substitution to this temporary working copy. The published recipe stays unchanged.
Browse reviewed options
Plain Greek yogurt
Replace up to half the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt.
Light mayonnaise
Use light mayonnaise in the same amount for a lower-fat variation.
Avocado-oil mayonnaise
Use avocado-oil mayonnaise in the same amount.
Type the ingredient you're missing — we'll find what you can use instead.
Pitfalls to Watch Out For
- Undrained relish can make the sauce run off a hot burger; blot or drain it before measuring.
- Powdered spices taste harsh immediately after mixing, so wait through the chill before correcting the seasoning.
- Spreading on a very wet tomato or excessively greasy patty dilutes the sauce; blot toppings and drain the burger briefly.
Nutrition Context
- Most calories come from mayonnaise, and relish adds sweetness while mustard and seasonings add sodium.
- A tablespoon-sized serving supplies plenty of flavor; adding pickles, lettuce, and onion can build volume without another layer of sauce.
FAQ
Can I use dill relish instead of sweet relish?
Yes, but add a small pinch of sugar because dill relish lacks the sweetness that balances the mustard and vinegar.
Why does the sauce taste sharp right after mixing?
The vinegar, mustard, and dried seasonings need time to mellow. Refrigerating the sauce for at least one hour produces a rounder flavor.
How do I make the sauce thinner for drizzling?
Whisk in pickle brine one teaspoon at a time. It loosens the mayonnaise while reinforcing the relish flavor without making the sauce watery.
Can I make it without mayonnaise?
Plain Greek yogurt can replace some or all of the mayonnaise, but expect a tangier, less rich result. Taste before adding the full vinegar amount.
What is the safest way to store it?
Refrigerate it promptly in a sealed container and avoid dipping used utensils into the batch. Use within several days for the freshest flavor.
What sides pair best with this dish?
Good pairings include Double burgers with lettuce and pickles; Oven fries or roasted potatoes; Turkey or grilled-vegetable wraps. Choose one or two based on how substantial you want the meal to be.