Affectionately known as “secret sauce” in our house, this 5-minute recipe has been our go-to burger condiment for years now! It’s made with simple ingredients like mayo, ketchup, mustard, and pickle relish and stores great for up a week.
We needed a sauce. But not just any sauce. Something special enough to pair with the juicy Air Fryer Hamburgers we had just whipped up with the best burger seasoning.
Channeling my inner soda-fountain-mixing kid, I went for it. A base of mayo, a squeeze of ketchup, a hint of mustard, and of course… some sweet pickle relish.
A few whisks later my now-famous-in-our-neighborhood secret sauce was born! (And yes, it just so happens to taste a LOT like that famous Big Mac and In-n-Out sauce!)
The best part about this sauce? Besides the fact that it lasts for up to a week in the fridge?! You also don’t have to stop at slathering it on burgers. It makes the perfect dip for air fryer french fries, roasted sweet potato cubes, or even drizzled on air fryer fish tacos!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.
- Mayonnaise. A regular mayonnaise, such as Duke’s or Hellman’s, will give it the most classic taste. You can also use miracle whip, but it will add a sweeter note.
- Ketchup. Any ketchup will do. You can have some fun and sub in a pepper ketchup or keep it lighter with a sugar-free one.
- Mustard. Dijon mustard is the way to go. I’ve tried it with regular yellow mustard and it comes out too tangy.
- Relish. Sweet pickle relish tastes best since it’s got some acidity but also a hint of sweet. You can use dill relish if you’re not a fan of sweet and savory sauces.
- Worcestershire. This is my secret ingredient (in the SECRET sauce, yes, I know! lol) But it gives the sauce a unique umami punch and depth of flavor.
- Lemon Juice. Just a hint will help prolong the shelf-life and brighten it up.
- Paprika. Regular paprika is used, but you can also use smoked for a kick.
- Garlic. Fresh garlic is best. Use a garlic press to get the cloves finely minced so it mixes more easily into the sauce and you don’t end up with big clumps of garlic.
Step-by-step Instructions (with Photos)
The basic steps for making this secret sauce recipe are simple to follow. Please see the recipe card for more detailed ingredient amounts.
1. Whisk ingredients together.
Add all of the ingredients to a medium bowl or straight into the container you’ll be storing it in. (Less dishes to clean!) Whisk until smooth, making sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl really well, until it has a consistent light pink color and there are no white or red streaks remaining.
Pro Tip: I whisk my homemade sauces in clear glass bowls and containers so it’s really easy to see if there’s anything left un-mixed.
2. Serve immediately or chill for more flavor.
This sauce tastes great if you serve it right away on burgers, tacos, or even as a dip for fries. But for the best flavor? You’ll want to chill it for at least 2 hours, optimally overnight, so the ingredients have time to meld together.
If you used fresh garlic, it’ll last up to 1 week in the fridge. If you subbed with garlic powder, it will keep for up to a month.
It’s not recommended as the mayo has a tendency to separate upon thawing.
You can add a little heat by mixing in some sriracha or even a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Have extra? Here are a few different dishes to serve it with!
It’s already pretty unanimous that this sauce tastes in-credible on burgers, but there’s also a TON of other recipes that would benefit from it’s saucy goodness. Here are some of my favorites:
- Sure you’ve got your typical hamburger, but what about smothered on a Sweet Potato & Black Bean Veggie Burger or Salmon Burgers.
- French fries!! Or really any spud in ANY form. From Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries and Baked Sweet Potato Fries, to Roasted Yukon Potatoes.
- As a taco sauce. It calms down the spice of these Blackened Fish Tacos, and compliments the crispy cod in these Air Fryer Fish Tacos perfectly!
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Secret Sauce Recipe (Special Burger Sauce)
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Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard or yellow
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice from 1 lemon
- 2 garlic cloves finely minced
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- Pinch of salt to taste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a medium bowl. Whisk ingredients until smooth and well combined, and there are now streaks remaining.½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 garlic cloves, ¼ teaspoon paprika, Pinch of salt
- Either serve immediately on your favorite burger or as a dipping sauce for fries, or store in the refrigerator for a few hours to let the flavors meld together.
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Notes
- Mayonnaise: Duke’s and Hellmann’s are recommended for their classic taste. Miracle whip can be used, but the sauce will have a sweeter note.
- Best Flavor: This sauce is best when prepped ahead since the ingredients have a chance to meld together. Make it at least two hours in advance for the best taste.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week if fresh garlic was used. If you used garlic powder, it can last for up to a month.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Homemade Sauce Recipes
The fun doesn’t have to stop here! I love making homemade sauces to add an extra flair of flavor to otherwise bland dishes. Here are a few that we make on the reg!
