Copycat Big Mac Sauce
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My Big Mac sauce tastes so close to the real McDonald’s version that my husband Ben has accused me of going through the drive-thru. It’s made with 9 simple ingredients in 5 minutes and no chopping required!
“This sauce is so tasty that it is great on ham and cheese sandwiches, tastes great in grilled cheese sandwiches loved it! It is so easy to put together but has amped up alot of foods!”
My Husband Thought I Went to McDonald’s Just for Big Mac Sauce
This Big Mac sauce tastes so much like the real thing that my husband Ben actually accused me of going to McDonald’s behind his back the first time he tried it.
The secret is Miracle Whip. Most copycat big mac sauce recipes online use plain mayo, but McDonald’s sauce has a built-in tang that regular mayo can’t really fake. Miracle Whip already has that little zip baked in, so I don’t have to keep adding ketchup or sugar to make it work. I just stir it all together and let it chill.
I’ve even caught Ben dipping plain potato chips in this sauce more than once. I know it’s a winner because the jar empties before I can put it away.
Table of Contents
In all seriousness, the best part about this homemade big mac sauce is how easy it is to throw together. There’s no chopping involved! Everything goes right into one bowl, gets whisked together, and that’s basically it. No chopping, no blending, no extra steps. Just 5 minutes and it tastes just like McDonald’s!
And bonus points because the flavor tastes even better when it’s chilled. I’ve made it the same day plenty of times, but when I make it ahead and let it sit overnight, it tastes even closer to the real McDonald’s version.
My favorite little hack for this copycat sauce is how I get the exact coloring of the original. Just a pinch of turmeric gives it that true color, and there’s no ketchup needed that changes the flavor!
If you love a good homemade sauce, my smash burger sauce is built on a similar idea with a slightly different ratio for smash-style burgers. And my honey garlic sauce is my go-to when I want a sweeter dunk for chicken instead of a tangy one for burgers.
Big Mac Sauce Recipe Ingredients
- Miracle Whip – I use Miracle Whip instead of mayonnaise because it gives the sauce that signature tangy flavor that tastes the closest to the real McDonald’s version.
- Sweet pickle relish – This adds the classic pickle flavor and a little sweetness. Plus it means that I don’t have to chop whole pickles.
- Distilled white vinegar – I add just enough to brighten the sauce and give it that extra tang. I usually start with less and adjust to taste.
- Yellow mustard – This helps give the sauce its color and adds a little sharpness that balances the creamy texture.
- Seasonings – Paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and turmeric work together to create the true copycat Big Mac sauce flavor. The turmeric and paprika especially help give it that familiar color.
How to Make Big Mac Sauce
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: In a medium bowl, add the Miracle Whip, relish, vinegar, mustard, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, turmeric, and salt.
STEP TWO: Whisk until everything is smoother and the color is uniform without any streaks of mustard or turmeric.
Recipe Tips
- Make it the night before. This sauce always tastes better after being chilled, and overnight makes it super easy. The flavor deepens and the flavors mimics true big mac sauce.
- Use sweet relish, not dill. Sweet relish is the move for true copycat big mac sauce flavor. Dill relish gives you a sharper sauce that’s still good, but it tastes more like a burger-shack sauce than a Big Mac sauce.
- Don’t skip the turmeric. A pinch is what gives the sauce that signature yellow-orange tint. Without it you end up with whiter sauce, and white sauce doesn’t read as Big Mac sauce.
- Salt last. Different brands of relish vary a lot in salt. Whisk everything together first, taste, then add salt to your liking.
- Store it in a squeeze bottle. I love doing this because it makes it so much easier to add the sauce to burgers, wraps, or even salads!
Variations & Ways to Switch it Up
- Make it spicy. Add ¼ teaspoon cayenne or a few dashes of hot sauce to the bowl. And, a drizzle of my hot honey sauce on top of the finished burgers makes it sweet and spicy in one bite.
- Thin it into a salad dressing. Whisk in a splash of milk to loosen the texture up. Works as the dressing for burger bowls or as a swap for Thousand Island.
- Mix it with my spicy mayo. Half Big Mac sauce, half spicy mayo gets you the smoky-spicy burger sauce fast food chains charge extra for.
How to Use Copycat Big Mac Sauce
I keep mine in a squeeze bottle and use it on almost everything. Here are the 5 ways I reach for it the most:
- On burgers. I slather it on air fryer hamburgers or my smash burger recipe for a true Big Mac experience at home (or my frozen burgers in the air fryer when I’m lazy and forgot to take out the beef).
- For dipping fries. Curly fries are my pick because the spiral shape catches more sauce in every single bite.
- As a salad dressing. I thin the sauce with a splash of milk and drizzle it over my burger bowl for a Big Mac in a bowl.
- With chicken tenders. Air fryer chicken tenders dunked in big mac sauce. It’s a kid-approved dinner (per my son Connor eating it all) in under 20 minutes.
- On sliders. A spoon over philly cheesesteak sliders cuts right through that cheesy, beefy richness.
Big Mac Sauce FAQs
I store my homemade big mac sauce in an airtight container or squeeze bottle in the fridge. I’ve kept it for up to 2 weeks in the fridge without any issues, though it’s usually gone long before then anyway!
A lot of people assume Big Mac sauce has ketchup in it, but it actually doesn’t! The classic flavor comes from mayo, mustard, relish, vinegar, and seasonings mixed together to create that creamy, tangy sauce.
My version swaps the mayo for Miracle Whip because Miracle Whip already has the tang baked in. A lot of online copycats use mayo plus ketchup to fake that tang, but ketchup isn’t actually in the McDonald’s sauce. The Miracle Whip swap is what keeps mine true copycat without needing ketchup.
You can, but the flavor will be slightly flatter. Miracle Whip is what gives my copycat version its signature tang. If you have to swap, add 1 teaspoon of sugar and an extra splash of vinegar to fake the difference. Still good, just not as close to the real thing.
No, they have some overlap (mayo, mustard, pickle), but Thousand Island is way heavier on ketchup and includes egg in the classic version. Big Mac sauce has no ketchup and tastes more sharp than sweet.
More Sauces You’ll Love
- Homemade buffalo sauce
- Honey sriracha
- Lemon pepper sauce recipe
- Easy tzatziki sauce
- How to make garlic parm sauce
- 3 ingredient BBQ sauce
If you’ve made this big mac sauce, I would love to know what you think! Leaving a comment and rating helps others find this recipe too. Thank you!
Copycat Big Mac Sauce (No Ketchup!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Miracle Whip
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- ½ – 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon turmeric
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, add the miracle whip, relish, vinegar, mustard, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and turmeric.
- Whisk all the ingredients until everything is smooth and there are no streaks in color.
- Serve immediately, or chill until you're ready to use.
Notes
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
Way easier than I expected and really tasty
So glad you liked it, Nancy! Now you can have those classic burger flavors at home!
Could this be tasty on a hot dog?
Hi Joann, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be! I’d love to hear your thoughts if you decide to try it.
This sauce is so tasty that it is great on ham and cheese sandwiches, tastes great in grilled cheese sandwiches loved it! It is so easy to put together but has amped up alot of foods!
Hi Joyce, I’m thrilled to hear this! I love to keep a bottle of this homemade sauce in the fridge at all times. We are always coming up for new and delicious uses for it!