A fantastic homemade burger sauce can take a juicy burger from “yum” to “holy-crapola-this-is-amazing” in no time! Forget those overly-sweet sauces in squeezy bottles at grocery stores. I’ve got two go-to burger sauce recipes that will blow your mind. One is a tomato chutney-style sauce that simmers on the stove for 25 minutes, and the other is a creamy concoction that takes just 20 seconds to mix. You can probably guess why the latter is a hit among my friends! 😂
Copycat Heinz Secret Burger Sauce
This burger sauce is my take on Heinz Secret Burger Sauce. However, unlike the original, it doesn’t contain acidity regulators (260, 330), stabilizers (412, 415), or preservatives (202, 224). Instead, this recipe keeps it simple and delicious. Even if you use store-bought mayonnaise, which I’ve done here, this sauce surpasses anything you’ll find on the shelves!
Ingredients for Homemade Burger Sauce
Here’s what you’ll need to make this irresistible burger sauce:
- Sweet gherkins: These gherkins are both sweet and tangy, adding a delightful twist to the sauce. You can substitute them with any pickled cucumber, but opt for one with a slightly sweet flavor if you want to replicate store-bought burger sauces.
- Juice from gherkin jar: We’ll use some of the pickling juices to infuse the sauce with tanginess and flavor. It’s a neat trick!
- Mayonnaise: I recommend using whole-egg mayonnaise for a smoother and more well-rounded flavor. Popular brands like Hellmans and S&W work perfectly, and Kewpie Japanese mayo is extra-creamy and delicious (though a bit more expensive). If you don’t have access to these, any regular mayonnaise will do, although the taste might be slightly sharper and sweeter.
- American yellow mustard: This bright, artificially-yellow mustard adds a burst of flavor and warmth to the sauce. It’s not the same as hot English mustard, which is very spicy. If you don’t have American mustard, go for a smooth mustard like Dijon as a substitute.
- White wine vinegar: This ingredient provides the main sharpness to the sauce. You can swap it with apple cider vinegar, or if you only have regular white vinegar, reduce the amount by about one-third.
- White sugar: We need a touch of sweetness to balance out the flavors. White sugar works perfectly, but you can also use brown sugar if that’s what you have on hand.
- Spices: Paprika gives the sauce a lovely pink hue, while onion powder and garlic granules (or garlic powder) add depth of flavor. If you don’t have both onion and garlic powder, feel free to use more of one or the other.
How to Make this Special Burger Sauce
Believe it or not, making this sauce is a no-brainer. Just dump all the ingredients into a bowl and mix! 😂 We definitely need more recipes like this for those busy days!
Enhance Your Burger with this Sauce – Double Up!
Personally, I have a natural inclination to double up on sauce – one layer on the bottom bun and another on the top or smeared all over the burger patty stack nestled inside the bun. Can you imagine just smearing it on the lid or base of the bun? It just wouldn’t be the same, right?
I know you’re already a pro at mixing ingredients together, but I’ve made a quick how-to video just to show you how amazing hamburgers are when paired with this homemade sauce. Give it a try one day, and let me know in the comments below how it turns out!
-Nagi x
PS. If you’re in the mood for a cheeseburger to slather this sauce on, just head right here.
Watch How to Make It
Life of Dozer
During his typical early evening stroll, Dozer loves to wander off into the distance, leaving me to zoom in on my phone to locate him (usually while he’s taking a pee!). 😂
