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    Home » Recipes » Condiments and Sauces

    McDonald's Big Mac Sauce (Copycat Recipe)

    Published: Dec 16, 2020 · Modified: Mar 14, 2021 by Fox Valley Foodie · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Big Mac Sauce Recipe - McDonald's Special Sauce Copycat

    This Big Mac Sauce copycat recipe is so close to the McDonald's special sauce, you won't be able to taste the difference!

    I 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, but the taste is spot on!

    Big Mac Sauce in bowl next to big mac container and hamburger buns.

    What is the origin of the Big Mac?

    Created by Jim Delligatti 1967, the original Big Mac wasn't actually called a Big Mac. It first went by the names "The Aristocrat" and the "Blue Ribbon Burger", neither of which caught on with customers. The third name, "Big Mac" was created by Esther Glickstein Rose, a young corporate McDonald's employee. This sandwich went on to worldwide fame, popularizing the iconic special sauce.

    The earliest advertisements didn't refer to the sauce as we now know it, but rather, called it "secret sauce". However, in 1974 a new advertising campaign came up with the famous jingle "Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions – on a sesame seed bun." It has been known as "special sauce" ever since!

    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.

    McDonald's Special Sauce recipe spread on hamburger bun with white background.

    What are the Ingredients?

    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:

    Soybean Oil, Pickle Relish (Diced Pickles, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sugar, Vinegar, Corn Syrup, Salt, Calcium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Spice Extractives, Polysorbate 80), Distilled Vinegar, Water, Egg Yolks, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Onion Powder, Mustard Seed, Salt, Spices, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Mustard Bran, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Vegetable Protein (Hydrolyzed Corn, Soy and Wheat), Caramel Colour, Extractives of Paprika, Soy Lecithin, Turmeric (Colour), Calcium Disodium EDTA (Protect Flavour)

    How to make it

    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 simple ingredients you'll understand. Based on the above ingredient list, you will need sweet pickle relish (not dill pickle relish), mayo, vinegar, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. That sounds a lot more reasonable, doesn't it?

    Make the sauce simply by mixing the ingredients together, then store it in the refrigerator overnight to allow the flavors to meld. You can enjoy it immediately if you are impatient, but letting it meld makes a big difference.

    Making big mac sauce in a white bowl, mixing with a spoon.

    FAQs

    Can You Add Big Mac Sauce to any burger?

    Yes! This sauce isn't just great on a McDonalds burger, use it on any homemade burger you are craving. It is even great on thick, gourmet-style, patties.

    How should I store it?

    Store this sauce in an airtight container in your refrigerator. As a mayo-based sauce, it will spoil at room temperature if left outside of the fridge. It will also develop off-flavors if it is not sealed properly. I do not recommend freezing this sauce.

    What flavor is Big Mac Sauce?

    Big Mac sauce is wonderfully creamy, tangy, and sweet. This flavor combination stands cuts through the richness of a fatty burger, making it a perfect burger topping. It is said to taste very similar to Thousand Island dressing, despite not being tomato-based.

    How to make a homemade Big Mac

    Once you craft your own Special 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 McDonald's Big Mac, lightly 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!

    More Ways to Enjoy This Sauce

    Serving McDonald's Special Sauce on savory homemade burgers isn't the only way it can be enjoyed. Try these new ideas as well:

    • Chicken sandwich - In India Mcdonald's sells a Chicken Maharaja Mac, which is essentially a chicken Big Mac. Use this sauce on your own chicken burger, or even chicken patties.
    • Burger bowls - Skip the sesame seed bun and whip of these delicious low-carb creations.
    • Salads - This makes a great salad dressing to enjoy your own Big Mac Salad.
    • Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes - These sloppy Joes are great without sauce, but can certainly be enjoyed with it as well!
    • Fries - Use this as a dip for French fries, onion rings, and steak fries
    • Potato Salad - This would add an exciting twist to any potato salad!

    More Burger Condiments

    Looking for more great toppings to craft the perfect burger? Try these ideas:

    • Burger Sauce
    • Bacon Jam
    • Comeback Sauce
    • Homemade BBQ Sauce
    • Bourbon Glaze
    • Arby's Sauce Copycat
    Big Mac Sauce Copycat Recipe

    Big Mac Sauce

    This Big Mac Sauce copycat recipe is so close to the McDonald's special sauce, you won't be able to taste the difference!
    4.88 from 107 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved
    Course: Condiment
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Author: Fox Valley Foodie

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Mayo
    • ¼ cup Sweet Pickle Relish
    • 1 ½ tablespoons Prepared Yellow Mustard
    • 1 teaspoon White Wine Vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon Paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
    • ¼ teaspoon Onion Powder

    Instructions

    • 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!
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @FoxValleyFoodie or tag #foxvalleyfoodie!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Angel

      February 01, 2022 at 5:12 pm

      3 stars
      This recipe is good BUT I would NOT call it a copy cat recipe. This is more of a "MY VERSION OF BIG MAC SAUCE RECIPE". Very mustard forward as another reviewer stated. Maybe French Dressing really matters to get more of an authentic taste.
      Also, Big Mac sauce is NOT Thousand Island Dressing (ex McDonalds employee here). It's just their version of a Thousand Island Dressing.

      Reply
    2. sky

      January 18, 2022 at 1:06 pm

      Hello, thank you for this recipe. Is there any chance you can do the Mc'donalds chicken mayo recipe please?

      Reply
    3. Mark E Rogers

      July 26, 2021 at 7:01 pm

      Define Mayo! In the southeast that is Dukes, in the northeast it is "miraclewhip," Then there is Hellman's, Kraft, etc.... all have DRASTICALLY different tastes.

      Reply
      • Fox Valley Foodie

        July 27, 2021 at 9:48 am

        Miracle whip is not technically mayo, but rather a "dressing" according to the FDA. Personally, I use Hellmans myself. The mayo only adds a subtle flavor to the recipe, it's primary purpose is to provide a creamy base for this sauce so Duke's, Kraft, and Hellmans would each work in the recipe.

        Reply
    4. teekauff

      July 10, 2021 at 9:37 pm

      Made exactly as recipe on this post and let it marry in the fridge overnight. Tastes exactly like the Big Mac sauce and is DELICIOUS. Thank you for posting. Remember people, you have to use the Sweet Pickle Relish for this sauce, not DILL It's really delicious on my home grilled burgers!!

      Reply
      • teekauff

        July 10, 2021 at 9:45 pm

        5 stars
        And I recommend Dukes Mayo, btw, It's the creamiest and best mayo ever!!

        Reply
    5. marlene

      July 01, 2021 at 10:21 am

      5 stars
      This is absolutely delicious! My husband couldn't stop dipping his fries in it and finally he begged me to put it away before he ate it all! I used Kewpie mayo, which is a brand no one has mentioned. I think it was perfect. Different mayos have different textures and flavor and I really think your choice or mayo ( and vinegar, mustard etc. ) are going to affect the final product in subtle yet noticeable ways. Kewpie is a Japanese mayo ( you can get it on Amazon - just make sure to get the Japanese version and not the American ) and is very creamy. I can't explain it, but it's just another level of mayo. I also used white balsamic vinegar and added a tiny drop of ketchup at the end just because that felt right to me, but honestly it was already 'there' without it. Honestly, this is such a great recipe! I'm going to be very popular at BBQ's this summer, lol. Thank you!!! ( PS - You can make a very good vegan version with Veganaise ( original or grapeseed ). It'll just take some slight adjustments. )

      Reply
    6. James

      March 21, 2021 at 12:11 am

      I worked at McDonald’s and the sauce is 1000 island dressing. The containers that we used to add the “special sauce” all said 1000 island dressing on them. Unless they had the manufacturing company put incorrect labels on them to properly lie

      Reply
      • Fox Valley Foodie

        March 23, 2021 at 8:56 am

        That is very interesting, particularly because McDonald's own website lists different ingredients. Obviously, it would be against the law to lie about the ingredients in your product. I am guessing you worked at McDonald's a few decades ago when franchises had more control over their products perhaps? Thanks for sharing your experience.

        Reply
      • Bryce

        September 02, 2021 at 1:31 pm

        Yeah? well, I also worked at mcdonald's throughout high school and know for sure this guy is full of it. The containers definitely do NOT say anything about thousand island. Nice try.

        Reply
        • Angela Paul

          November 30, 2021 at 7:40 pm

          Big Boy sauce is like thousand island in Cali. hee in Ohio it's white. No way McDonalds is TI sauce. he is delerous!! Lol

          Reply
    7. Marc

      February 12, 2021 at 5:09 pm

      5 stars
      I've tried countless recipes over the years so I was a bit skeptical about this one as well.

      I've cut down the recipe in half without adding or removing any ingredients to try it out... And let me tell you this is sooo darn close! It's really tasty!!?

      Reply
    8. Bob

      November 20, 2020 at 8:09 am

      The original Thousand Island dressing (by most accounts, created in the late 19th or early 20th century) did not contain tomatoes and did contain French dressing. Semantics, but all of the fast-food versions (McDonalds, Carl Jrs, In and Out, etc, etc) are in fact Thousand Island based with minor differences.

      Reply
    9. Vic

      June 24, 2020 at 9:07 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Ryan

        November 05, 2020 at 5:39 pm

        4 stars
        It’s pretty close! Too much relish, half the relish and you need a tsp of turmeric to get the real colour and tang.

        Reply
    10. Chris

      May 23, 2020 at 7:11 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
    11. Chris

      May 09, 2020 at 3:36 am

      5 stars
      I used gherkin relish, the taste was spot on.

      Reply
    12. Sheri

      April 23, 2020 at 11:50 pm

      I didn't care for it much.

      Reply
    13. Lilith

      April 13, 2020 at 3:24 pm

      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

      Reply
    14. JK

      April 10, 2020 at 11:39 am

      That is waaay too much mustard, all I can taste is mustard now. I suggest a teaspoon not 1 and a half tablespoons!

      Reply
      • Lou

        April 26, 2020 at 12:56 pm

        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.

        Reply
    15. Jim

      April 08, 2020 at 1:02 am

      5 stars
      I only have tangy dill pickles at home - think i could use those, add some sugar, and leave out the vinegar?

      Reply
      • Fox Valley Foodie

        April 08, 2020 at 8:09 am

        Dill will add a different flavor, but it will still taste good.

        Reply
    16. Saydee

      April 01, 2020 at 12:43 pm

      5 stars
      Holy smokes! Tastes exactly like the Big Mac sauce! A must !

      Reply
    17. Carly Shay

      April 01, 2020 at 3:23 am

      Try mixing Kraft Tartar Sauce and Marzetti's Thousand Island dressing and tell me that it doesn't taste like Mac Sauce.

      Reply
      • Suzanne

        April 28, 2020 at 2:04 am

        What proportions do you use?

        Reply
    18. Ghulam Mohyudin

      April 01, 2020 at 2:29 am

      5 stars
      Good to know that works too! I learn so much from you as well! Keep it up great post.

      Reply
      • Felicia

        May 24, 2020 at 12:34 pm

        5 stars
        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!!!

        Reply
    19. Tulipe

      March 25, 2020 at 7:01 pm

      What if I cant find pickle relish can I use tomato or corn relish or pickle and relish please

      Reply
      • Fox Valley Foodie

        March 26, 2020 at 9:22 am

        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.

        Reply
      • Kel

        April 03, 2020 at 8:17 pm

        You can sub in minced sweet pickles and a dab of honey or corn syrup, 1/8 tsp of mustard seed.

        Reply
        • Michael

          April 18, 2020 at 6:56 pm

          Hi. Would you still use 1/4 cup if mincing your own pickles? How much would a dab of honey be?

          Reply
          • Giorgio

            April 29, 2020 at 5:36 pm

            A dab is approximately 2.5 metric dashes

            Reply
          • Karter

            June 01, 2020 at 4:32 pm

            I just use about half a cup of minced pickles and it turns out great.

            Reply
    20. Dave

      March 23, 2020 at 12:15 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
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