Copycat Big Mac Sauce
There are a lot of copycat Big Mac sauces out there. Sweet, tangy, nostalgic, and weirdly perfect.
This sauce has been overthought for years, which is impressive considering how simple it actually is.
People insist there’s ketchup in Big Mac sauce. There isn’t. The flavor comes from balance — creamy, tangy, slightly sweet — and the one thing most copycats skip: grated onion, juice included.
It’s not loud or flashy. It just quietly makes everything better, which is why you notice immediately when it’s missing.
This version tastes exactly like the one you remember. No ketchup. No shortcuts.
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon grated yellow onion (with juices)
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
½ teaspoon white vinegar
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Step 1
Grate the yellow onion using a box grater and keep any juices that collect. This matters more than you think.
Step 2
In a bowl, add the mayonnaise, pickle relish, grated onion (with juices), yellow mustard, vinegar, paprika, onion powder, salt, and garlic powder.
Step 3
Stir until completely smooth and evenly combined.
Step 4
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let everything come together.
Pro Tip
If you think this sauce needs ketchup, it doesn’t. The grated onion juice is doing all the heavy lifting — skipping it is the fastest way to make a very sad knockoff.
yummmmy yum