I am the Fox Valley Foodie and this is the culinary journal of my life. Always informative, honest, authentic, self–deprecating, and most importantly, fun!
This Big Mac Sauce copycat recipe is so close to the McDonald’s special sauce, you won’t be able to taste the difference!
A while back I tried being humble for a day, and I can proudly say, I was the greatest humble person ever. Now that I got that horrible experience out of the way, I need to brag that I developed, quite possibly, the best Big Mac Sauce recipe on the web. All with one hand tied behind my back just to make it fair.
Ok, truth be told, I cheated a little bit. I actually watched a video of one of McDonald’s executive chefs making the Big Mac Sauce and did my best to replicate the ingredient ratios. It took a bit of trial and error, so I am still taking credit for it!
Is Big Mac Sauce the Same as Thousand Island Dressing?
I spent most of my life believing McDonald’s Special Sauce was simply Thousand Island dressing. Big Mac Sauce is not Thousand Island dressing. Thousand Island dressing requires tomatoes, which isn’t actually an ingredient in authentic Big Mac Sauce.
For this same reason, I also make my Big Mac Sauce without French dressing. You will find 95% of the Big Mac Sauce recipes on the web call for French dressing. Don’t be fooled. Though, I will admit the flavor is in the right ballpark, but, *spoiler alert*, it still tastes like French dressing.
What is in Big Mac Sauce?
How do I know there are no tomatoes in McDonald’s Special Sauce? Because, I looked up the ingredient list. This is what is in McDonald’s Big Mac Sauce:
I’m going to go out on a limb and assume you don’t have a pantry full of preservatives and chemical binders, so let me break this down into ingredients you understand. Based on the above ingredient list, you will need sweet pickle relish, mayo, vinegar, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. That sounds a lot more reasonable, doesn’t it?
How to Make a Big Mac
Once you craft your own Big Mac Sauce, you are well on your way to earning your children’s undying love and affection by making them homemade Big Macs! You will want to brush up on my fast food burger recipe to really hit these out of the park. Though I have been known to slather this sauce on larger homemade burger patties too!
To make a Big Mac, light toast a sesame seed bun, and grab an extra bottom bun to use as the middle piece. Spread the special sauce on the bottom bun, sprinkle with diced onion, shredded lettuce, and top with a slice of American cheese. Place one burger patty on the cheese, then add the middle bun, top with more sauce, lettuce, and add pickles. Finally add the second burger patty, top with the crown of the bun and enjoy!
Burger Condiments
Looking for more great toppings to craft the perfect burger? Try these ideas:
Place all ingredients together in a bowl and whisk to combine.
Can be enjoyed immediately, but the flavor is best when allowed to sit in the refrigerator overnight. Store in an air-tight container.
Video
Notes
If Yellow Mustard isn’t common in your country, click here to see what is being referenced. (affiliate link)IF YOU LIKED THIS RECIPE you need to check out my McDonald’s Egg McMuffin copycat recipe too!
Loved this recipe?
Be sure to rate it and share you thoughts below!
*Calories listed are a vague estimate and accuracy should not be assumed.
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I grew up in the back of the folks Jack in the Box and used to make secret sauce back when each store had to make their own, but what’s helpful making a copycat BM is to find a larger chunk jar of grocery store dehydrated onions and rehydrate them for when you cook the burger careful not to burn them, you’ll get that fastfood diced onion flavor and it helps to trim the bottom crust off a bun bottom for the middle layer so the grease soaks in better.
This taste JUST LIKE the Big Mac sauce. Thumbs up and many thanks for taking the time to figure this perfection out and thank YOU for sharing it. I ate Big Macs all the time when i was little, and this brings back great memories. I don’t go to McDonald anymore, it doesn’t taste the same. Many thanks!!!
Yesss exactly my thoughts and the Mayo comes thru too much as well.
I guess I’m shocked that there is no sugar or salt called for here. I added both and viola hello Mac. I mean the exact ingredient list from McDee’s lists both sugar and high fructose as sweeteners and salt as well.(and high on the list) We can’t expect to omit these and rely on the other ingredients to provide those important components. Can we?
The easiest big mac sauce that tastes exactly like McDonalds Big Mac Sauce is mix Marzetti’s Refrigerated Thousand Island Dressing and Kraft’s Tartar Sauce together. I eyeball it and use pretty much equal portions. And I like to add a little ketchup to my Big Macs so I add some ketchup to this recipe. It’s easy and tastes like Big Mac sauce without the measuring. Give it a try
I have tried this copy cat recipe and it was fantastic. I didn’t have relish so i just minced pickle cucumbers that i had bought in a jar. Served the sauce with my beefburgers and all my guests were thrilled.
Something was missing…added two teaspoons of sugar and onion and garlic salt…that did the trick. Thanks for the rest of the recipe though! It’s similar and the best one so far.
Dave says
I grew up in the back of the folks Jack in the Box and used to make secret sauce back when each store had to make their own, but what’s helpful making a copycat BM is to find a larger chunk jar of grocery store dehydrated onions and rehydrate them for when you cook the burger careful not to burn them, you’ll get that fastfood diced onion flavor and it helps to trim the bottom crust off a bun bottom for the middle layer so the grease soaks in better.
Tulipe says
What if I cant find pickle relish can I use tomato or corn relish or pickle and relish please
Fox Valley Foodie says
The taste will change considerably if you don’t use sweet pickle relish. My recommendation would be to look up a recipe for it or order it online.
Kel says
You can sub in minced sweet pickles and a dab of honey or corn syrup, 1/8 tsp of mustard seed.
Michael says
Hi. Would you still use 1/4 cup if mincing your own pickles? How much would a dab of honey be?
Giorgio says
A dab is approximately 2.5 metric dashes
Karter says
I just use about half a cup of minced pickles and it turns out great.
Ghulam Mohyudin says
Good to know that works too! I learn so much from you as well! Keep it up great post.
Felicia says
This taste JUST LIKE the Big Mac sauce. Thumbs up and many thanks for taking the time to figure this perfection out and thank YOU for sharing it. I ate Big Macs all the time when i was little, and this brings back great memories. I don’t go to McDonald anymore, it doesn’t taste the same. Many thanks!!!
Carly Shay says
Try mixing Kraft Tartar Sauce and Marzetti’s Thousand Island dressing and tell me that it doesn’t taste like Mac Sauce.
Suzanne says
What proportions do you use?
Saydee says
Holy smokes! Tastes exactly like the Big Mac sauce! A must !
Jim says
I only have tangy dill pickles at home – think i could use those, add some sugar, and leave out the vinegar?
Fox Valley Foodie says
Dill will add a different flavor, but it will still taste good.
JK says
That is waaay too much mustard, all I can taste is mustard now. I suggest a teaspoon not 1 and a half tablespoons!
Lou says
JK,
Yesss exactly my thoughts and the Mayo comes thru too much as well.
I guess I’m shocked that there is no sugar or salt called for here. I added both and viola hello Mac. I mean the exact ingredient list from McDee’s lists both sugar and high fructose as sweeteners and salt as well.(and high on the list) We can’t expect to omit these and rely on the other ingredients to provide those important components. Can we?
Well thanks for the base recipe.
Lilith says
The easiest big mac sauce that tastes exactly like McDonalds Big Mac Sauce is mix Marzetti’s Refrigerated Thousand Island Dressing and Kraft’s Tartar Sauce together. I eyeball it and use pretty much equal portions. And I like to add a little ketchup to my Big Macs so I add some ketchup to this recipe. It’s easy and tastes like Big Mac sauce without the measuring. Give it a try
Sheri says
I didn’t care for it much.
Chris says
I used gherkin relish, the taste was spot on.
Chris says
I have tried this copy cat recipe and it was fantastic. I didn’t have relish so i just minced pickle cucumbers that i had bought in a jar. Served the sauce with my beefburgers and all my guests were thrilled.
P.s. i just found you on Instagram too.
Vic says
Something was missing…added two teaspoons of sugar and onion and garlic salt…that did the trick. Thanks for the rest of the recipe though! It’s similar and the best one so far.