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Creamy, sweet. and tangy, this 5-minute recipe for homemade Big Mac Sauce tastes just like the real thing, only it’s made with Greek yogurt! You’ll want to slather this lighter copycat of McDonald’s Special Sauce on just about everything from burgers to fries and more.
Why You’ll Love This Big Mac Sauce
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: No-cook
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free
- Skill Level: Easy
Let’s talk about Special Sauce. If you’ve ever had a Big Mac burger from McDonald’s, you know what I mean. This satisfyingly creamy, tangy, sweet, and crave-worthy sauce that gets slathered over Big Mac buns. So delicious, but if you are gluten free or looking for a wholesome meal, we all know fast food might not be the way to go.
But if you still want to experience that taste sensation, just make it at home! I think I’ve done it – I’ve created a version of lighter Big Mac Sauce that tastes just as delicious as the real deal. Here’s why you’ll love it…
- Simple ingredients. No additives, no crazy dyes or chemicals. Just a homemade burger sauce made from pantry items, packing all that authentic McD’s sweet-tanginess we know and love!
- So versatile. Fair warning: this homemade Big Mac Sauce is just as good as the original. Prepare to spread this version over everything from burgers and sandwiches, to fries and onion rings. And everything in between!
- Gluten free. In the United States, along with pratically everything else on the McDonald’s menu, that special sauce contains gluten. The solution is to make it yourself. Luckily it’s super easy to do!
This is amazing! It tastes exactly like the Big Mac sauce, and means I can make more burgers at home! -Riz
What You’ll Need
Here’s a quick list of the ingredients to make this Big Mac Sauce. You can find the full amounts and directions further down in the recipe card.
- Plain Greek Yogurt: Instead of mayo, I use plain Greek yogurt to lighten up this Special Sauce, while still giving it all the creaminess it’s known for!
- Ketchup: An easy shortcut to the tangy sweetness that’s classic of the McDonald’s version.
- Pickle Relish: Sweet pickle relish brings its flavor and crunch to this copycat Big Mac Sauce. You can also use dill pickle relish if you prefer something more on the salty/savory spectrum.
- White Vinegar: A little bit of white vinegar goes a long way in terms of balancing out the creaminess with acidity.
- Salt
How to Make Big Mac Sauce
The only thing to do now is to combine the above ingredients in a bowl, and give it a good stir until the sauce has a smooth, creamy consistency. Use it right away or store it in the fridge!
Ways to Use It
Of course, you can slather your Big Mac Sauce on grilled or Air Fryer Hamburgers piled on Gluten Free Burger Buns, and dunk your Air Fryer French Fries. I even love it as a topping for Seven-Layer Bacon Cheeseburger Dip. But it is also perfect to enjoy with just about any meal ideas your heart desires! Here are some ways to use it:
- As a Condiment: Besides those burgers, try it on Homemade Sloppy Joes or even Bacon Cheeseburger Crustless Quiche. It also tastes great with grilled hot dogs!
- As a Dressing: Drizzle it over everything from green salads to pasta salads to lettuce wraps.
- As a Drizzle. It’s great on veggies like Air Fryer Cauliflower or for dipping Kale Chips. You can even drop dollops of homemade Special Sauce onto baked potatoes.
- As a Dip. This sauce recipe also makes a wonderful dip for all our family-favorite finger foods like Zucchini Tater Tots and Air Fryer Fried Pickles.
Proper Storage
- Refrigerate it – This homemade sauce will keep for up to two weeks in the fridge. Store it airtight and use it as a condiment, dressing, or dip!
- Don’t freeze it – Since this recipe is made with Greek yogurt, I wouldn’t recommend freezing it. Luckily, it’s super quick to make up a batch whenever you need it!
FAQs
Anyone familiar with a McDonald’s Big Mac burger knows that it comes with a secret sauce. Big Mac Sauce is tangy, creamy, a little sweet, made with a combination of mayo, pickle relish, and seasonings.
Similar, but not the same. For one, Thousand Island dressing contains ketchup. The same can’t be said for Big Mac Sauce, which technically doesn’t contain tomato at all.
Since my version here contains ketchup, you could say it’s a bit like Thousand Island. Some Big Mac Sauce copycat recipes get their pinkish hue from adding paprika, but I honestly find that my version tastes way more authentic with ketchup!
More Homemade Dips and Sauces
- Peruvian Aji Sauce (Spicy Green Sauce)
- Thai Peanut Satay Sauce Recipe
- Easy Gluten Free Cheese Sauce
- Honey BBQ Sauce
Big Mac Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp sweet pickle relish
- 1 1/2 tsp distilled white vinegar
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and stir until smooth and uniform. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Did you make this?
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This is amazing! It tastes exactly like the Big Mac sauce, and means I can make more burgers at home!
The thing that I remember most about this secret sauce is that although I don’t eat at McDonalds anymore I used to eat my share of big macs. But before I ever heard of Mcdonald’s I used to eat at a hometown drive-in called the Teepee. They had a teepee-looking structure on top of their flat roof. They were very popular in the ’50s. They had a hamburger called a big teep that included a special sauce. I ate many of those years before I ever saw a Mcdonald’s. What shocked me when I ate my first big mac was that the McDonald’s special sauce tasted exactly like the Teepee special sauce.