This Smashburger Sauce is the perfect make-ahead burger sauce. It's a delicious tangy, and creamy sauce made with mayo, ketchup, mustard, and spices. It is the best burger sauce you can make! Added bonus-it comes together in under 5 minutes!
I don't like to eat fast food often, but now and again I cannot resist a burger from Shake Shack or the Smashburger restaurant chains. My favorite is the Smoke Stack, with bacon, melty cheese, cherry peppers, and creamy dreamy sauce. Since I prefer to eat at home, I had to create my version of this secret sauce and it's become a family favorite.
This smash sauce is perfect for burger lovers and pairs beautifully with my Homemade Juicy Burgers or Low-Carb Cheeseburger Bowls. You can also use it as a dipping sauce for Baked Sweet Potato Fries.
If you are interested in smoking and grilling, check out my Smoked Hot Dogs, Traeger Smoked Beans, or Traeger Scalloped Potatoes.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick And Easy: This homemade Smashburger sauce is super easy to make and comes together quickly.
- Make Ahead: You can make this in advance and leave it in the fridge until it's time to serve.
- Customizable: You can adjust the sweetness, tartness, thickness, or spice level to your liking.
Ingredients
- Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise provides the creamy base for this special sauce. I'm a big fan of Chosen Foods Avacado oil-based mayo.
- Ketchup: Ketchup provides a bit of sweetness. Look for a brand of ketchup that is naturally sweetened. My favorite is Primal Kitchen.
- Mustard: Feel free to use yellow mustard, dijon mustard, or stone ground mustard.
- Pickles: I typically use finely chopped dill pickles, but you could also use sweet pickles, or sweet pickle relish depending on your taste. You can even add a splash of dill pickle juice if you like.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic powder adds a nice depth of flavor.
- Paprika: You can use regular or smoked paprika, either one will be fantastic.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Spice It Up: Instead of plain mayonnaise, try using Chipotle Lime Mayonnaise. You could also use regular mayonnaise and add a dash of hot sauce or cayenne pepper for some kick!
- Add Sweetness: If you like your things on the sweeter side, try adding a bit of honey.
- Thick And Creamy: If you want to add a bit more heft, you can also stir in a spoonful of Greek yogurt.
- Vegan: For a vegan version, substitute regular mayonnaise with your favorite plant-based mayo.
How To Make Smash Sauce
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Step 1. Combine The Ingredients: In a small bowl combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, chopped pickles, garlic powder, and paprika. Stir until everything is mixed well.
Step 2. Chill: Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Expert Tips And Tricks
- Give It A Stir: If making this delicious condiment in advance, be sure to give it a good stir before serving.
- Make Ahead: I typically use this on burgers, and love making it ahead of time. It stores very well in the fridge.
- Chop The Pickles: I prefer to use pickles, (I love Grillo's Pickles) but you could also use relish instead.
How to Serve Homemade Smash Burger Sauce
For best results, toast your buns on a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once toasted, slather this burger sauce on the inside of the top bun and bottom bun, then add your burger patty, and favorite burger toppings and enjoy. It tastes best at room temperature.
This condiment goes well with:
- Homemade Smashburgers
- Traeger Smoked Burgers
- Sandwiches
- French Fries
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Onion Rings
- Oven Baked Chicken Tenders
Storage And Reheating
- Storage: Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
- Reheating: There is no need to reheat, you can take it straight from the fridge and add it to your juicy burger.
Recipe FAQs
A Smashburger is made of ground beef, salt and pepper. You can also add in other seasonings that you enjoy. For the most flavorful burger try using an 80/20 blend of grass-fed ground beef.
Smashburgers are made by using a burger press to flatten the burger into a thin patty on a very hot griddle or flat surface while it is cooking. This method helps create a juicy interior while maintaining crispy edges. Regular burgers are made by forming the patty, placing it on the grill, and only flipping it, vs smashing it. Regular burger patties are also typically thicker than smash burger patties.
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Easy Smashburger Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon Ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- 2 tablespoon Pickles minced
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Paprika
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, chopped pickles, garlic powder and paprika, and stir to combine.
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Notes
- Give It A Stir: If making this in advance, be sure to give it a good stir before serving.
- Make Ahead: I typically use this condiment on burgers, and love making it ahead of time. It stores very well in the fridge.
- Chop The Pickles: I personally prefer to use pickles, you could also use relish instead.
EZ says
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I put that sh*t on everything.
Anonymous says
Ohma gawd it’s awesome sauce !
Anonymous says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!