Go Back Email Link
–+ servings
A white bowl filled with thick, reddish-orange Easy Creamy and Spicy Burger Sauce, with a spoon partially submerged, sitting on a dark blue cloth.
Print Recipe

Burger Sauce Recipe

A creamy, tangy burger sauce made with mayo, ketchup, relish, and mustard, ready in 5 minutes. Classic on its own, with easy mild-to-wild spicy options. Great on burgers, fries, sandwiches, and more.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Course: Condiment, sauce
Cuisine: American
Keyword: burger sauce, burger sauce recipe, spicy burger sauce
Servings: 6 (about 3/4 cup total, 2 tablespoons each)
Calories: 139kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cups mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon pickle relish
  • 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon pickle brine or jalapeño/pickled pepper brine for extra kick
  • 1 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 pinch cayenne optional, or to taste for hotter
  • Salt and black pepper to taste about 1/4-1/2 tsp each

Instructions

  • Add the mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle relish, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, pickle brine (or jalapeño/pickled pepper brine for extra kick), paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper to a small bowl. Whisk until smooth and fully combined.
  • Let the sauce sit so the flavors meld. 10 to 15 minutes on the counter works, but chilling it for 30 minutes is even better.
  • Taste and tweak to your liking. More ketchup or relish for sweetness, more mustard or brine for tang, more cayenne or hot sauce for heat. Use right away or store in the fridge.

Notes

Makes about 3/4 cup, enough for 4 to 6 burgers.
  • Make it spicy (Mild to Wild). Mild: a pinch of cayenne or a few dashes of mild hot sauce. Medium: 1 tablespoon minced chipotle in adobo plus 1 teaspoon of the adobo sauce for a smoky kick. Wild: 1 finely minced serrano or habanero, or a hit of ghost pepper hot sauce.
  • Brine swap. Use jalapeño or pickled pepper brine in place of pickle brine for an easy extra kick.
  • Relish. Sweet relish gives you a Big Mac-style sauce. Dill relish makes it tangier and less sweet.
  • Mustard. Yellow for classic, Dijon for more bite.
  • Garlic. Swap the garlic powder for 1 small clove of freshly grated garlic for a punchier version.
  • Paprika. Regular, or smoked paprika for extra depth.
  • Storage. Keeps in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Do not freeze.

Nutrition

Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 235mg | Potassium: 46mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 215IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.3mg