Smash Burger Sauce
This Smash Burger Sauce is a creamy, tangy, slightly smoky “secret” burger sauce that turns any burger into a restaurant-style smash burger. Made with simple pantry ingredients in minutes and perfect for burgers, fries, and more.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise full-fat for best texture
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons dill pickles finely minced, or dill pickle relish
- 1 tablespoon pickle juice from the pickle jar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground, if possible
- salt pinch, to taste
- 1/2-1 teaspoon hot sauce optional, for a spicy version
- 1 teaspoon grated yellow onion optional, squeeze out excess moisture
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, for extra heat
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, add the mayonnaise, ketchup, and yellow mustard. Whisk until the color is completely uniform and the mixture looks smooth and silky.1/2 cup mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons ketchup, 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- Stir in the finely minced dill pickles (or relish) and the pickle juice until evenly distributed.2 tablespoons dill pickles, 1 tablespoon pickle juice
- Add the Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Whisk again until everything is well combined.1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, salt
- Taste the sauce and adjust to your liking: add more pickle juice or mustard for tang, a pinch more sugar for sweetness, or hot sauce and/or cayenne for heat. Whisk to combine.2 tablespoons yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon pickle juice, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1/2-1 teaspoon hot sauce, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate the sauce for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld. Stir again before serving.
- Spoon the sauce generously onto toasted burger buns and use as a topping for smash burgers or as a dip for fries, onion rings, or other sides.
Notes
Makes about 1 cup of sauce, enough for 4–6 burgers plus dipping. For a spicier version, add hot sauce and cayenne. Sauce is best after at least 30 minutes of chilling, and keeps in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Do not freeze, as the mayo base can separate. Chop pickles very finely so the sauce spreads smoothly and doesn’t drag toppings off your burger.
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