Burger Sauce

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Homemade burger sauce is so much better than any you can purchase. 

Being a big burger fan as I am, I have tried many different burger sauce recipes. I’ve also purchased a few.

If you want your burger to be the best it can possibly be, stay away from mass-produced burger sauces and make your own. It only takes minutes and you’ll be glad you did.

About this recipe.

This is as easy and delicious as burger sauce gets! You only need a few easy to source ingredients that you probably already have on hand.

You just have to whisk those ingredients together and adjust to taste.

How do you prepare burger sauce?

This could not be easier and will really only take a couple of minutes.

• Gather and prepare all your ingredients.
• Whisk them together in a mixing bowl. I usually don’t add the ketchup and/or sugar until later.
• Taste the burger sauce and add ketchup and/or sugar to taste. You could also substitute another sauce for the ketchup as explained below.
• To perfect the burger sauce, add more of any of the ingredients such as vinegar for a tart flavour, ketchup and sugar for sweetness, paprika and black pepper for a bit of a kick.

Adding ketchup and/or sugar.

Many burger sauces are quite sweet and no… they don’t all contain ketchup or extra sugar. Burger sauce is not 1000 Island dressing though that does make a good burger sauce too.

It’s because burger sauce looks a lot like 1000 island dressing that people think it must have ketchup in it. 

One of the first burger sauce is the special Big Mac sauce and it does not have any ketchup in it. The reddish colouring is done with paprika. Sugar is often added when not using ketchup to give the burger sauce a sweeter flavour.

How do you get this burger sauce recipe right?

That is completely down to you and your flavour preferences. In this recipe, I add ketchup which gives it a nice pink colouring. I don’t add any sugar but if you like a sweeter sauce, add it.

Just taste as you go until you are happy with the blend of sweet, sour, savoury and spicy flavours. Most burger sauces don’t include chilli powder but you could add it or add some freshly ground black pepper to taste for a bit of a kick.

How to adjust the flavours.

If you want a sour/tart flavour to it, add more vinegar. For sweetness, add ketchup or sugar.

I use dill pickles for my relish and those aren’t as easy to come by in England as they are back home in California. If using chopped dill pickles or dill pickle relish, you might want to add a little sugar. If all you can get is sweet pickles and/or sweet pickle relish, you probably won’t need to add additional sugar but add it if you want it.

Many of the ingredients might already have salt added to them but you can add salt to taste and also black pepper. If you like garlic and onion, you might also like to add a little more garlic or onion powder.

Are there alternatives to using ketchup for the pink appearance?

Yes. Ketchup is the norm but if you would like your burger sauce to be a bit spicier, try substituting sriracha sauce or something even spicier like sambal oelek. 

Both of these taste so good in a burger sauce if you like your burgers spicy.

What if you want your burger sauce to be extremely spicy?

You will change the appearance of the normally pink sauce but try adding habanero chilli sauce, jalapeño hot sauce or serrano hot sauce if you like.

How long can you store this burger sauce in the fridge?

You will be using products to make this burger sauce that have long shelf lives. So if you cover your homemade burger sauce tightly, it should keep for weeks in the fridge.

I don’t usually do that though. I make enough for the burgers I want to slather it on. Perhaps sometimes I plan ahead and make a little more for my next burger party but it’s so quick and easy to prepare, I usually don’t.

Can you freeze this hamburger sauce?

I have actually read blogs where people write that you can. Sounds pretty crap to me. No way!

What would be the point of that. Just make it when you need it and forget freezing it.

How do you use this sauce?

Slather it on a burger or any sandwich really. You will love it on this Big Mac, my smash burger, this gluten free lettuce burger and my In-n-Out burger copy.

It is also really good served over this Big Mac salad and these Big mac tacos! You might even like to add it too burgers that don’t normally call for burger sauce such as these chapli kebabs or air fryer chapli kebabs.

Use it as a salad dressing or even as a dip for these air fryer smashed potatoes. The possibilities are endless.

 

Step by step photographs.

 

You will find many spicy and delicious recipes on my blog. Here are some you’ve got to try!

1. Curry house style base sauce – Make a curry just like those at the best curry houses using this sauce.
2. Lamb Bhuna from Scratch – This one is from my book ‘The Curry Guy One Pot’
3. One Pot Chicken Dhansak – from my book ‘The Curry Guy One Pot
4. Asian Honey Glazed Baked Salmon
5. Sri Lankan Black Chicken Curry
6. Peruvian Chicken – Pollo a la Brasa
7. Korean Braised Beef Stew
8. Dal Makhani – An Indian restaurant favourite!
9. Tonkotsu Broth – When only the best will do. This one takes some time but it is just like you find at the best ramen restaurants!
10. Tonkotsu Ramen – Use that homemade tonkotsu broth in this ramen!
11. The Best Butter Chicken – Try it and you’ll agree.
12. Authentic Saag Recipe – This is so good
13. Thai Beef Green Curry – Authentic recipe with homemade curry paste
14. Air Fryer Chicken Biryani
15. Cajun Mac and Cheese – The creamiest mac on the planet!
16. One Pot Chicken Vindaloo
17. Chicken 65 – One of my favourites. You might also like to try this air fryer chicken 65.
18. One Pot Chicken Chilli Garlic Curry
19. Homemade Sriracha Sauce – So much better than any sriracha you can purchase!
20. Tandoori Chicken Tikka – Homemade is alway best and this recipe gets restaurant quality results.

Have you tried this burger sauce recipe?

If yes, please give it a star rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I love receiving your feedback and I’m sure other readers of my blog do too. Thank you.

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