This homemade smashburger sauce is the secret behind the grilled smash burgers I make all summer long. Creamy, tangy, and just a little sweet, it comes together in 5 minutes with simple pantry ingredients. Once you try this easy burger sauce recipe, you’ll want to use it on everything from burgers to fries to wraps.
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Smashburger Sauce (The Best Burger Sauce)
Real ingredients. Real flavor. This sauce is made with just five ingredients—mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, pickle juice, and chopped pickles. It’s smooth, creamy, and punchy, with just the right balance of richness and tang.
No weird stuff. No preservatives, corn syrup, or mystery flavors—just the good stuff you’d use on a classic burger.
What is smashburger sauce made of?
A creamy blend of mayo, mustard, ketchup, pickle juice, and chopped pickles—perfect for burgers, fries, and more.
Is this like Big Mac sauce?
Not exactly. This one’s tangier, simpler, and has no added sugar or sweet relish.
Recipe Ingredients
- Mayonnaise – Full-fat mayo is the base of this sauce - it's super smooth and creamy. You can also use avocado mayo.
- Yellow mustard – Adds that signature tang and sharpness. Dijon works in a pinch, but yellow mustard is what gives it that smashburger-style flavor.
- Ketchup – A little sweet, a little savory, and it rounds everything out.
- Pickle juice – This is the secret weapon. It cuts through the richness and gives that crave-worthy tang. Dill pickle juice works best here.
- Chopped pickles – For texture and flavor. I like to chop them fine so you get some in every bite.
See the printable recipe card below for exact measurements.
How to Make Homemade Smashburger Sauce
Quick Overview
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl
- Stir until smooth
- Chill (optional)
- Spread, dip, or drizzle
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add ½ cup of full-fat mayonnaise to a small mixing bowl. To that, add 1 tablespoon each of yellow mustard, ketchup, pickle juice, and finely chopped pickles.
- Mix everything together until the sauce is completely smooth and evenly combined. This should only take a minute or two. Taste the sauce. Want it tangier? Add a splash more pickle juice. Prefer it a bit sweeter? Go ahead and bump up the ketchup. This is where you can tweak it to match exactly how you like your burger sauce.
- Cover the bowl and chill the sauce in the fridge for 15 to 30 minutes, if you’ve got the time. The flavors really come together as it sits, but if you’re in a rush, it’s still delicious right away.
- Use the sauce immediately or store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It keeps well for up to a week and is perfect for burgers, sandwiches, wraps, or dipping fries. Just give it a quick stir before using if it’s been in the fridge for a bit.
Optional Mix-Ins
Once your sauce is smooth and chilled, you can leave it as-is or stir in a few extras to match your burger mood. Here are some favorites:
- Diced onions. A teaspoon or two of finely minced white or red onion adds a little bite.
- Chopped fresh herbs. Try dill, chives, or parsley for a fresh, bright twist—especially if you use it on grilled chicken or turkey burgers.
- Minced garlic or garlic powder. For more of that all-American diner-style flavor, mix in ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder—or go fresh with a small clove of minced garlic.
- Hot sauce. Add a dash (or more) of your favorite hot sauce to give it some heat. I like it with Frank’s, but sriracha or Tabasco works too.
Ways to Use It (Beyond Smash Burgers)
This sauce might be made for smashburgers, but don’t stop there. Here are some other tasty ways you can use it:
- Dipping sauce for fries. Perfect with air fryer fries, air fryer sweet potato wedges, air fryer sweet potato fries, or tater tots—way better than plain ketchup.
- Spread for sandwiches and wraps. Slather it on a grilled chicken sandwich, turkey club, a veggie wrap, or my smoked brisket grilled cheese or air fryer Reuben sandwich.
- Drizzle over smoked meats. Try it on smoked burgers made on a Pit Boss pellet grill, smoked burgers in an electric smoker, smoked pulled pork loin, electric smoked brisket, or smoked boneless chicken thighs.
- Burger bowls. Skip the bun and drizzle it over a deconstructed smashburger salad or low-carb burger bowl with quick pickled red onions.
- Dip for veggies. Yep, this one works with raw carrots, cucumbers, and bell pepper strips—great for lunchboxes or snack trays.
- Sliders and party platters. Use it on smoked sliders, mini chicken burgers, Big Mac smash burger tacos, or serve it as part of a build-your-own burger board.
Top Tips
- Use good mayo. Seriously—this isn’t the time for light or low-fat. Full-fat mayo makes the sauce rich, smooth, and satisfying.
- Chop those pickles small. Nobody wants a giant chunk of pickle in their sauce. Fine dice = better texture and flavor in every bite.
- Taste and tweak. Want more tang? Add a splash of extra pickle juice. Prefer it sweeter? A little more ketchup will do the trick. Make it your own.
- Let it chill. If you have time, let the sauce sit in the fridge for 15–30 minutes before serving. The flavors meld and mellow—totally worth the wait.
- Batch it. This sauce disappears fast—double it for burger nights, cookouts, or meal prep.
Variations
- Spicy Smash Sauce. Add a dash of hot sauce, a pinch of cayenne, or even chopped pickled jalapeño or cowboy candy.
- Smoky version. Stir in a pinch of smoked paprika.
- Extra pickly. Toss in an extra spoonful of chopped pickles or swap in a bit of dill relish.
Storage Tips
- Transfer any leftover sauce to a small airtight container or jar with a tight-fitting lid. A glass mason jar or a reusable plastic container both work great. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- Before using, stir the sauce to bring it back to life—some slight separation is normal, especially if it’s been chilling for a few days.
- This sauce is not freezer-friendly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure! It’ll be a little sweeter and more like a fast-food style burger sauce.
Yes—it actually gets better as it sits.
Absolutely. Just use your favorite vegan mayo.
More Easy Homemade Sauce Recipes to Try Next
Love making your own sauces? Here are a few more to try:
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Printable Recipe
Smashburger Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise (full-fat recommended)
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon dill pickles (finely chopped)
Instructions
- Add ½ cup of mayonnaise to a small mixing bowl. Stir in 1 tablespoon each of yellow mustard, ketchup, pickle juice, and finely chopped pickles. Whisk until the sauce is smooth and fully combined.
- Taste and adjust to your preference. For more tang, add a splash of extra pickle juice. For extra sweetness, increase the ketchup slightly.
- If you have time, cover the sauce and chill it in the fridge for 15–30 minutes to let the flavors come together. If you're in a rush, it’s still great right away.
- Serve with burgers, sandwiches, wraps, or as a dip for fries and veggies. Store any leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 7 days. Stir before using.
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Notes
- Use full-fat mayo for the creamiest texture and best flavor.
- No pickles? Use dill relish instead. It’s slightly sweeter but still works well.
- Feeding a crowd? Double the recipe - it goes fast.
- Too thick after chilling? Add a splash of pickle juice to loosen it.
- Want a twist? Yellow mustard gives that classic flavor, but Dijon can be used for a sharper taste.
- Storage tip: Keep refrigerated for up to 7 days. Stir before serving again.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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