McDonald’s Big Mac Special Sauce Recipe (Copycat Secret Sauce)

Big Mac Sauce is the perfect balance of tangy, creamy, and slightly sweet flavors, all coming together to create a taste sensation like no other. This legendary condiment is the secret behind McDonald’s iconic Big Mac, and now you can enjoy a homemade version in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Big Mac Sauce, while meant for burgers (and smash burgers), is also the perfect dipping sauce for french fries and chicken tenders. (A close tie with my famous Raising Cane’s Sauce!) Take your burger experience to the next level with the incredible flavor of this homemade Copycat Big Mac Sauce Recipe. Just like the name suggests, it’s the sauce that makes the famous burger truly special. 

This famous sauce has the power to transform an ordinary cheeseburger into something extraordinary. Picture yourself biting into a juicy patty, nestled between two toasted sesame seed buns and topped with lettuce, cheese, pickles, and that unforgettable sauce. The combination is sheer perfection, offering a harmonious symphony of textures and tastes.

You probably know the jingle, “Two all-beef patties, Special Sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions – on a sesame seed bun.” That’s when this delicious sauce was given its signature name by Mcdonald’s in 1974.

The best part? The sauce is incredibly versatile and easy to prepare. Whether you’re grilling burgers for a backyard barbecue or whipping up a quick meal for yourself, this sauce is a game-changer. It’s quick to make and is made with simple ingredients.

Big Mac Sauce Ingredients

• Mayonnaise – Use regular mayonnaise, not miracle whip, as that will make the sauce too sweet.
• Ketchup
• Classic Yellow Mustard
• Pickle Juice
• Granulated Sugar
• Sweet Paprika
• Kosher Salt
• Garlic Powder (Or Granulated Garlic)
• Onion Powder
• Finely Chopped Dill Pickles or Dill Pickle Relish (you can also use sweet pickle relish or diced bread and butter pickles, just be sure to omit the granulated sugar)
• Finely Minced or Grated Onion

🥣 How to Make Homemade Big Mac Sauce

Copycat Big Mac Sauce with Ketchup

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, pickle juice, yellow mustard, and ketchup until well combined.

Mix in the sugar, onion powder, salt, and granulated garlic until the spices dissolve. Finally, stir in the pickles or relish and onions and mix until everything is well incorporated. 

Store the sauce in an airtight container or jar and chill for at least 6 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to develop.

(While I think this is the best Big Mac Sauce Recipe, if you want to make the recipe without ketchup, I have included that recipe as well.) 

Is Big Mac Sauce Thousand Island Dressing?

McDonald’s Big Mac Sauce is similar to Thousand Island dressing, but they’re not the same sauce. Thousand Island dressing normally incorporates ketchup, while Big Mac Sauce technically does not. (Though my copycat recipe uses a little ketchup because it is SO delicious and tastes pretty close to the real thing.) I’ve also included a recipe that doesn’t use ketchup, so you can try both. 

My thousand island dressing recipe uses mayonnaise, diced yellow onion, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, lemon juice or white vinegar, sweet paprika, and kosher salt.

Does Big Mac Sauce Have Ketchup?

Well, technically, no. A former corporate chef, Mike Haracz, from McDonald’s, leaked what he says is “as close as you can get to the real secret sauce recipe,” and it does not contain ketchup. I personally love the flavor that a small amount of ketchup adds to the recipe. Here’s the “leaked” recipe if you want to try it:

Copycat Big Mac Secret Sauce without Ketchup

Combine mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and white wine vinegar with paprika, onion powder, granulated garlic, and white pepper. Stir in the sweet relish once everything else is well combined. Refrigerate and let sit for at least 30 minutes.

• 1 cup mayo
• 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp white wine vinegar
• 1 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/8 teaspoon white pepper

To get the orange color of the creamy sauce that you can buy at McDonald’s restaurants without adding ketchup, McDonald’s adds caramel color.

🍱 Recipe Yield

This recipe makes around 3/4 of a cup and 6 servings of around two tablespoons each.

🫙 How to Store It

Store the leftover sauce in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.

🍔 How to Use Burger Sauce

The most obvious way to use this sauce is to spoon it onto homemade burgers to make a homemade Big Mac. Just spoon some sauce across the bottom bun, then top it with a burger patty, add the rest of the toppings, then top it with the top bun.

I personally have been loving smashed burger tacos and burger bowls lately, so we have been making “deconstructed” burgers and burger bowls. 

• Homemade Big Macs – To make a homemade McDonald’s Big Mac, toast a sesame seed bun and grab an extra bottom bun to use as the middle section. (You can save the top to make bread pudding, garlic toast, or croutons.) Next, spread a huge spoonful of the special sauce on the bottom bun, then sprinkle the sauce with diced onion and shredded lettuce. Top that with a slice of American cheese. Place one burger patty on top of the slice of cheese, then add the middle bottom bun, add a little extra sauce, then add lettuce and lots of sliced pickles. Finally, add the second burger patty and the top of the sesame seed bun. It is the perfect burger!
• Chicken Sandwiches, Chicken Tenders, or Chicken Nuggets
• Potato Salad – This is the perfect sauce to add an exciting twist to any potato salad!
• Burger Bowls – Skip the bun and use this sauce as a delicious burger bowl topping. It is a great way to use up leftover burger patties, and it is a great way to make some delicious keto & low-carb meals.
• Salads – This makes a delicious salad dressing to enjoy your own Big Mac Salad.
• French Fries – Use this as a dipping sauce for Baked French Fries, Potato Wedges, and onion rings.

✏️ Helpful Tips

• Be sure to chill the sauce for at least 6 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to develop.

🍯 More Copycat Sauce Recipes

If you like dipping sauces as much as I do, check these other homemade sauce recipes out as well:

• Raising Cane’s Sauce or Paleo Raising Cane’s Sauce
• Chick-fil-a Sauce
• Barbecue Sauce