Classic Burger Sauce

This is that sauce.

The one that instantly makes a burger taste like it came from your favorite diner. The one you start dipping fries into “just to test it” and suddenly half the fries are gone.

It’s creamy, tangy, slightly sweet, and just sharp enough to cut through a juicy burger - and the best part? It comes together in about two minutes with ingredients you already have in your fridge.

No blender. No cooking. Just stir and taste.

What This Sauce Is Perfect For

This isn’t just a burger sauce (although it shines there).

Try it on:

• Burgers (obviously)

• Fries or wedges

• Smash burgers

• Chicken sandwiches

• Grilled hot dogs

• Roasted potatoes

• Even as a dip for onion rings

It’s one of those “once it’s in the fridge, it goes on everything” sauces.

Ingredients

• mayonnaise

• ketchup

• yellow mustard

• paprika

• garlic powder

• onion powder

• Salt

• cracked black pepper

  Optional but popular add-ins

• pickle juice or finely minced pickles

• sugar or honey

• hot sauce or cayenne

Four Easy Instructions

Step 1: Add the mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard to a bowl.

Step 2: Sprinkle in paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.

Step 3: Stir until completely smooth and evenly mixed.

Step 4: Taste and adjust - more mustard for tang, more ketchup for sweetness, more mayo for creaminess.

That’s it. You’re done.

Make It Your Own

This base is incredibly flexible. A few easy twists:

• Dill Burger Sauce: add chopped dill or pickle juice

• Smoky Burger Sauce: use smoked paprika

• Spicy Burger Sauce: add hot sauce or cayenne

• Tangy Diner Sauce: add a splash of vinegar

You can tweak it every time and it still works.

Storage Tips

• Store in an airtight container or jar

• Keep refrigerated

• Best used within 5–7 days

The flavor actually gets better after it sits for a few hours.

Final Thoughts

This classic burger sauce proves that you don’t need complicated ingredients to make something crave-worthy.

It’s simple, nostalgic, and exactly the kind of sauce that makes homemade food taste restaurant-level, without any extra effort.

Looking for more sauce recipes? Try my popular recipes below:

• Ranch Sauce

• Tandoori Sauce

• Easy BBQ Sauce

• Avocado Lime Cilantro Sauce

• Homemade Chimichurri Sauce

• Spicy Mango Lime Sauce

Yield: 4 servings

Print

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Classic Burger Sauce

Prep time: 5 MinTotal time: 5 Min

This instantly makes a burger taste like it came from your favorite diner. The one you start dipping fries into “just to test it” and suddenly half the fries are gone.

It’s creamy, tangy, slightly sweet, and just sharp enough to cut through a juicy burger - and the best part? It comes together in about two minutes with ingredients you already have in your fridge.

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Ingredients

For the Sauce

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 1 teaspoon paprika (or smoked paprika for extra depth)
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• Salt, to taste
• Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Optional Add Ins

• 1–2 teaspoons pickle juice or finely minced pickles
• A pinch of sugar or honey (if you like it slightly sweeter)
• A dash of hot sauce or cayenne for heat

Instructions

1. Add the mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard to a bowl.
2. Sprinkle in paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Stir until completely smooth and evenly mixed.
4. Taste and adjust - more mustard for tang, more ketchup for sweetness, more mayo for creaminess.
5. That’s it. You’re done.

Notes

• Dill Burger Sauce: add chopped dill or pickle juice
• Smoky Burger Sauce: use smoked paprika
• Spicy Burger Sauce: add hot sauce or cayenne
• Tangy Diner Sauce: add a splash of vinegar

Nutrition Facts

Carbs

6 g

Cholesterol

12 mg

Fiber

1 g

Fat

21 g

Net carbs

5 g

Sat. Fat

3 g

Sodium

465 mg

Sugar

4 g

Protein

1 g

Calories

216