The McDonalds signature sauce recipe, once a closely guarded secret, is now in high demand. And due to its popularity, some of us have figured out how to make it.

I highly recommend reading this entire post before you begin preparing the recipe. However, if all you want is the list of ingredients with full directions, please either click on the jump-to-recipe button above or scroll to the bottom of this post.

If you’re a fan of this delicious sauce, you’ve probably noticed how similar it is to thousand island dressing. In fact, many people say that’s exactly what it is. And although I concur, I make it slightly different.

You might not be able to tell the difference between this sauce and the real thing. Or even if there’s a slight difference, you will probably still like it.

Fast Food at Home with McDonalds Signature Sauce Recipe

Whether you cook your hamburger on the grill, fry it in the pan, or bring one home from a different fast food restaurant, you can still enjoy this delicious sauce to make your own Big Macs.

Or if you like the flavor but want something a little smaller, add it to a quarter pounder. I typically have hamburger patties in the freezer, so I can pull out however many we need.

The original Big Mac was served with two all beef patties on a sesame seed bun with lettuce and cheese nestled inside and the sauce drizzled liberally over all of it. You can copy this McDonalds signature sauce recipe, or you can add whatever you like to your hamburger.

Serve your homemade Big Mac with delicious French fries or waffle fries. Or if you prefer, serve potato chips to add crunch to the meal.

Ingredients

You probably have most of the items for this McDonalds signature sauce recipe in your fridge or pantry. These simple ingredients are also available at most grocery stores. Here’s the ingredient list:

• Mayonnaise
• Ketchup
• Sweet pickle relish (or dill pickle relish)
• Finely chopped onion
• Vinegar (distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
• Sugar
• Salt

For exact measurements of each ingredient and full directions, go to the recipe card at the bottom of the page. You can even print out the card by using the “print” button.

If you want to experiment, swap out the ketchup for French dressing. I’ve done that, and it’s delicious. The flavor is actually almost the same. But depending on the brand, it can have an extra kick. I’ve also used Catalina or Russian dressing.

Variations

Another thing you can do is add hot sauce or cayenne for a extra little heat. If you want to give it more zing, add a little bit of yellow mustard. You can also add a little onion powder or garlic powder to this famous sauce. Both deliver a powerful punch of flavor to this famous sauce.

Remember that this is your sauce, so make it the way you want. Easy recipes like this are always fun to alter. If you’re only making one or two burgers, you can cut this awesome sauce recipe into fourths or eights for a single recipe.

Directions

This McDonald’s Big Mac sauce is super easy to make, and it tastes as good as—if not better than—the original recipe. This is great news for those times when you’re craving a Big Mac and can’t get to McDonald’s to buy one.

First, measure out all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Mix them well.

I used frozen onions that were chopped but not enough. So I poured them into my manual food chopper, pulled the string a few times, and they came out perfect!

After you mix the ingredients, cover the bowl. Now stick it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Overnight is even better but not necessary. Before you drizzle the sauce over your burger, give it a good stir to mix any of the ingredients that may have separated.

When I’m making several burgers with McDonald’s Big Mac sauce, I start by spreading some of it on the bottom buns. That way, you get even more of the flavor. 

Since I have to be gluten-free, I spread some over the burger without buns. It’s the perfect sauce to make this simple meal taste special.

More Ways to Enjoy McDonald’s Signature Sauce Recipe

There are so many other things you can enjoy this yummy tangy creamy sauce. Here are a few of them:

Dip chicken nuggets into the sauce. Use either chicken you purchase from a fast food restaurant or frozen nuggets you’ve heated up.

Drizzle some over your French fries or these yummy waffle fries. Some people, including my husband, prefer this over the traditional ketchup.

Use it as a salad dressing … because it tastes a lot like thousand island dressing. You can even break up the meat over lettuce and tomatoes for a homemade Big Mac salad.

Dip your veggies in this tangy sauce. It’s delicious on carrots, celery, and broccoli florets.

You can also use McDonald’s secret sauce in place of barbecue sauce on any meat. Try it on a variety of foods. You’ll discover some delicious ways to enjoy this yummy sauce.

Not-So-Secret Sauce

Now that you have the recipe for this delicious sauce, the sky’s the limit on how you can use it. Get creative and enjoy it in a variety of ways!

Please feel free to share!