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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Copycat Big Mac Sauce (without French Dressing)

    Published: Mar 17, 2023 · Modified: Feb 27, 2024 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    air fryer frozen hamburger with french fries and dipping sauce in a parchment lined pan
    collage with mason jar with big mac sauce and cheeseburger and fries on a white plate
    Cheeseburger with McDonald's Big Mac sauce and fries on a white plate
    cheeseburger with copycat Big Mac sauce and french fries on a white plate.
    metal pan with french fries, cheeseburgers, and a bowl of Big Mac sauce.
    copycat Big Mac sauce in a small jar.
    cheeseburger with copycat Big Mac sauce and french fries on a white plate.
    Cheeseburger with McDonald's Big Mac sauce and fries on a white plate

    Copycat Big Mac sauce recipe is a riff on that secret sauce everyone loves -- and it tastes just like the real thing!

    Stir it together in seconds, then spread it on air fryer frozen hamburgers or use it as a dipping sauce for chicken nuggets, onion rings, and air fryer seasoned french fries.

    air fryer frozen hamburger with french fries and dipping sauce in a parchment lined pan.

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    Jump to:
    • You're Going to Love This
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Copycat McDonald's Big Mac Sauce
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQs
    • Delicious Dinner Recipes
    • 💌Let's Stay in Touch
    • 📖 Recipe

    Love McDonald's special sauce? Now you can make it right at home with the BEST Big Mac sauce recipe -- without French dressing, ketchup, or Thousand Island dressing. So ... what makes it pink? Paprika!

    You're Going to Love This

    • Great way to make your own Big Mac burger at home!
    • Delicious homemade copycat recipe that tastes like the real deal
    • Easy recipe with simple ingredients -- no French dressing or ketchup

    Ingredients

    McDonalds Big Mac sauce recipe ingredients.

    See recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients and exact amounts. 

    Mayonnaise. Mayonnaise is the base of this homemade sauce. You can also use Miracle Whip, but the sauce will be sweeter and a little spicier.

    Sweet relish. I will typically choose dill pickle relish over sweet pickle relish for everything. But sweet pickle relish gives this McDonald's special sauce recipe the perfect level of sweetness we expect.

    Dijon mustard. You can also use yellow mustard or one of these Dijon mustard substitutes.

    White vinegar. One teaspoon of white vinegar adds the right amount of tang. White wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar are great substitutes.

    Garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. This simple combo of spices perfectly flavors the sauce. 

    How to Make Copycat McDonald's Big Mac Sauce

    McDonalds Big Mac sauce in a mason jar.

    Step 1: In a small bowl, stir all of the ingredients together until completely combined. For the best flavor, chill for 30 minutes. 

    Cheeseburger with McDonald's Big Mac sauce and fries on a white plate.

    Step 2: Spread your homemade McDonald's sauce on burgers, use it as a dipping sauce for fries and onion rings, or drizzle it over this Big Mac Bowl.

    Expert Tips

    • For the most flavorful sauce, chill for 30 minutes before enjoying. 
    • Feel free to experiment with flavors! Try stirring in a tablespoon of ketchup or BBQ sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
    • Amp up the onion flavor by adding a tablespoon or two of grated white onion.

    FAQs

    How long can I keep this sauce in the fridge?

    Store leftover sauce in an airtight container or glass jar in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

    Is Mc Donald's secret Big Mac sauce just Thousand Island dressing?

    No. Even though they seem quite similar, they are not the same. Thousand Island dressing typically has ketchup and minced onion and sometimes hard cooked eggs, where McDonald's Big Mac sauce recipe includes none of those ingredients.

    What is McDonald's special sauce made of?

    This copycat McDonald's Big Mac sauce without French dressing is made with just a few ingredients: mayonnaise, sweet relish, Dijon mustard, white vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.

    Is Big Mac sauce made with French dressing?

    No. Many copycat recipes include ketchup or French dressing to get that rosy-pink hue, but it turns out paprika is the secret to the color!

    cooked frozen seasoned fries in pan with parchment paper and dipping sauce.

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    📖 Recipe

    Cheeseburger with McDonald's Big Mac sauce and fries on a white plate

    Copycat Big Mac Sauce without French Dressing

    Cara Lanz
    Copycat Big Mac sauce without French dressing is a riff on that secret sauce everyone loves -- and it tastes just like the real thing! Spread it on burgers or use as a dipping sauce for chicken nuggets, onion rings, and French fries.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 5
    Calories 163 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
    • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
    • ½ teaspoon white vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
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    Instructions
     

    • Stir all of the ingredients together in a small bowl until completely combined. Chill for 30 minutes.
    • Slather onto burgers and use as a dipping sauce for fries, onion rings, and chicken nuggets.
    • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

    Notes

    • For the most flavor, chill for 30 minutes before enjoying. 
    • Feel free to experiment with flavors! Try stirring in a tablespoon of ketchup or BBQ sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
    • Amp up the onion flavor by adding a tablespoon or two of grated white onion.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 163kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 0.4gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 213mgPotassium: 16mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 104IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 0.2mg
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    Hi, I'm Cara!

    I love sharing easy, delicious everyday recipes from the heartland.

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