This easy burger sauce is our go-to recipe—simple, tangy, and creamy. Skip the store-bought jars full of unpronounceable ingredients and make this fresh sauce at home. Once you try it, it will become a regular on your burger nights.
Go-To Burger Sauce
If you love a tangy, creamy sauce for burgers, this homemade burger sauce is exactly what you need. It balances bright pickle and lemon notes with smoky and savory spices. The recipe is quick, uses common ingredients, and can easily be adjusted to your taste.
What does burger sauce taste like?
Burger sauce is tangy, creamy, and slightly sweet, with a subtle smoky edge from smoked paprika and a mild heat from chili powder. The pickle juice adds the classic bright tang that makes this sauce familiar and irresistible.
This version uses just a handful of pantry staples for a fresh, better-than-store-bought flavor.
Burger Sauce Ingredients
You only need a few everyday ingredients to make this burger sauce. The amounts below make roughly enough for 4 servings of burgers. Adjust as needed for larger batches.
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (regular or avocado mayonnaise)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons pickle juice (use bread-and-butter or spicy pickle juice to alter the flavor)
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Try it!
Homemade Burgers
Pair this burger sauce with homemade burgers and caramelized onions for a next-level sandwich.
How to Make Burger Sauce
This sauce comes together in about five minutes—no cooking required. Whisk the ingredients, chill briefly if you like, and it’s ready to use.
All the ingredients in one bowl
Combine the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, garlic powder, pickle juice, smoked paprika, chili powder, ketchup, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Whisk until the sauce is smooth and evenly combined. Taste and adjust salt or acidity as needed.
Top burgers with sauce
After grilling or pan-frying your burger patties, spoon about 2 tablespoons of sauce over each patty. Add your preferred toppings—lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, or pickles—and serve immediately.
Making a large batch?
If you are serving a crowd, double or triple the recipe. Store extra sauce in a sealed jar in the refrigerator and stir before serving if any liquid separates.
How to Serve Burger Sauce
This sauce is versatile. It works beautifully as both a burger topping and a dip.
- Dip: Serve as a dip for fries, chips, vegetable sticks, or nuggets.
- Sauce: Spread on hamburgers, turkey or black bean patties, salmon burgers, sandwiches, or wraps for extra flavor.
Top Tips for Burger Sauce
Make ahead: The flavor deepens after an hour in the refrigerator, so make the sauce ahead of time when possible.
Adjust sweetness or spice: Use sweet pickle juice for a milder, sweeter result, or spicy pickle juice if you prefer heat.
Dairy-free option: Substitute plain dairy-free yogurt or a dairy-free mayo to make the sauce suitable for lactose intolerance or vegan needs.
Burger Sauce FAQs
Burger sauce combines creamy ingredients (Greek yogurt and mayo in this recipe) with ketchup and seasonings. Pickle juice and lemon juice add the bright tang that defines the flavor.
A balanced burger sauce—creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet—pairs well with most burgers and elevates simple toppings into a more flavorful sandwich.
Big Mac sauce is a well-known variety of burger sauce; recipes differ slightly, but the idea of a creamy, tangy special sauce is the same.
Storage
How long does burger sauce last? Store the sauce in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If liquid separates, give it a quick stir before serving.
More of our favorite burger ideas
Burger Recipes
- Homemade Burgers
- The Best Turkey Burgers
- Black Bean Burgers
- Ground Chicken Burgers
- Lemon Dill Salmon Burgers
- Mexican Juicy Lucy Burgers
Burger Sauce Recipe
You’ll never reach for store-bought sauce again after trying this easy, fresh burger sauce. Quick to make and full of bright flavor.
By: Emily Richter
Prep: 5 mins Total: 5 mins Servings: 4
Ingredients
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons pickle juice
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth and fully blended.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. For best flavor, chill for at least 30 minutes if time allows.
- Spoon about 2 tablespoons over each cooked burger patty and add your favorite toppings.
Tips & Notes
This burger sauce is pictured served with homemade burgers. Adjust the pickle juice for sweetness or spice, and swap in dairy-free yogurt for a non-dairy version.
Nutrition
Approximate per serving: Calories 72, Carbohydrates 3 g, Protein 3 g, Fat 5 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Sugar 2 g. Nutrition values are estimates.
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