Onion ring sauce is the creamy, tangy dipping sauce that takes crispy onion rings to the next level. Made with simple pantry ingredients, this easy homemade sauce comes together in minutes and delivers bold, savory flavor with just the right amount of tang. It’s perfect not only for onion rings, but also for fries, burgers, sandwiches, and other fried appetizers—making it a versatile sauce you’ll want to keep on hand.
This onion ring sauce is so easy! Simply whisk everything together in a single bowl for an effortless condiment that can be enjoyed immediately or stored in the fridge – an easy way to instantly upgrade weeknight dinners, snacks, or party appetizers.
Table of Contents
Ingredient notes
- Mayonnaise – This provides the rich and creamy base for the onion ring sauce. Feel free to make the mayonnaise from scratch or buy a brand of mayonnaise that you love the most.
- Ketchup – Use your favorite brand. I prefer Heinz.
- Horseradish sauce – It needs to be creamy style horseradish sauce, not prepared horseradish.
- Paprika – For a smoky depth of flavor.
- Cayenne – This is optional, but adds a lovely little kick of heat.
- Worcestershire sauce – The savory, tangy, and slightly sweet flavors pair really well with the rest of the sauce ingredients and cuts through some of the richness of the mayonnaise.
- Salt and pepper – To taste.
How to make it
- Combine and stir. Add all of the ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine.
- Serve or store. Use this onion ring sauce right away, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Give it a quick stir before serving if it separates slightly.
Ways to use it
Apart from serving it as a dip to onion rings or French fries, here are some additional tasty ways that you can use and incorporate this onion ring sauce to enhance other dishes and meals:
- Spread: Slather this sauce on burgers, sandwiches, and wraps to add a layer of creamy, complex flavor.
Tips and tricks
- Always taste this onion ring sauce after mixing the ingredients together. You may find that you want to adjust the flavor by adding more salt and pepper, or other ingredients to suit your preference.
- Adjust the consistency of the sauce to your liking. Stir in some water or milk for a thinner sauce, or mix in more mayo for a thicker sauce.
- Chill the sauce for about an hour before serving. While this is optional, it helps the sauce to thicken and for the flavors to meld together and intensify.
- The sauce will naturally thicken in the fridge. Give it a good stir and add in extra liquid, if needed.
- Make a double batch of this onion ring sauce by simply doubling the ingredients called for in this recipe – great for serving to a crowd at a party or large social gathering.
Variations
Wait until you try these easy twists – A few simple ingredient swaps are all it takes to unlock incredible new levels of flavor.
- Sweetener – I’ve used brown sugar in this onion sauce to balance the sharp and tangy notes. You could also stir in honey or maple syrup. That sweet and tangy flavor combo is perfect with crispy chicken tenders or chicken wings.
- Level of heat – Omit the cayenne pepper for a milder version or add in more for a stronger kick of heat.
- Vegan onion ring sauce – Use vegan mayonnaise for a vegan-friendly sauce.
- Light onion ring sauce – Use reduced fat mayo for a lighter sauce that won’t be as rich, if you prefer. Plain Greek yogurt can also be used to replace the mayo for a tangy, protein-rich version that’s still lighter than mayo.
- Smoky onion ring sauce – Use smoked paprika instead of regular paprika or chipotle powder to pair this sauce with grilled meats, seafood, and roasted vegetables.
- Spices – For added depth of flavor, consider including onion powder or garlic (minced or powdered).
Serving suggestions
Enjoy this creamy and tangy onion ring sauce for dipping, spreading, and drizzling. Here are some ways to enjoy this delicious sauce:
- Fries – Air Fryer Shoestring Fries or Air Fryer Zucchini Fries.
Storing
- Store leftover onion ring sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Make sure to give the sauce a good stir before serving, as the creamy mayo may separate during storage.
- I don’t recommend freezing this sauce as the freezing and thawing can alter the smooth and creamy consistency.
Erin’s wine pairings
When pairing wine with this creamy and tangy onion ring sauce, always prioritise bottles with bright acidity to cut through the richness and a touch of fruitiness to complement its subtle sweetness and smoky notes. Here are a few excellent choices I recommend:
- Off-dry Riesling’s subtle sweetness and acidity cut through the richness of onion ring sauce, making it a great match for spicy or sweet uses and pairings, such as glazed meats or fried foods.
- A lightly oaked Chardonnay offers creamy textures and notes of citrus and stone fruit, which compliments the creamy onion ring sauce. This pairing is especially good with fish filets or chicken breast.
- A dry rosé with bright acidity and red fruit flavors provides a refreshing contrast to the creamy and slightly smoky sauce. It’s versatile enough to pair with vegetables, seafood, or lighter meats.
Other mouth-watering sauces
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Full Recipe
Onion Ring Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon ketchup
- 1-2 Tablespoons horseradish sauce (creamy style )
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix until fully combined.
- Store in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Store leftover onion ring sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Make sure to give the sauce a good stir before serving, as the creamy mayo may separate during storage.
- I don’t recommend freezing this sauce as the freezing and thawing can alter the smooth and creamy consistency.
- Always taste this onion ring sauce after mixing the ingredients together. You may find that you want to adjust the flavor by adding more salt and pepper, or other ingredients to suit your preference.
- Adjust the consistency of the sauce to your liking. Stir in some water or milk for a thinner sauce, or mix in more mayo for a thicker sauce.
- Chill the sauce for about an hour before serving. While this is optional, it helps the sauce to thicken and for the flavors to meld together and intensify.
- The sauce will naturally thicken in the fridge. Give it a good stir and add in extra liquid, if needed.
- Make a double batch of this onion ring sauce by simply doubling the ingredients called for in this recipe – great for serving to a crowd at a party or large social gathering.
- Sweetener – I’ve used brown sugar in this onion sauce to balance the sharp and tangy notes. You could also stir in honey or maple syrup. That sweet and tangy flavor combo is perfect with crispy chicken tenders or chicken wings.
- Level of heat – Omit the cayenne pepper for a milder version or add in more for a stronger kick of heat.
- Vegan onion ring sauce – Use vegan mayonnaise for a vegan-friendly sauce.
- Light onion ring sauce – Use reduced fat mayo for a lighter sauce that won’t be as rich, if you prefer. Plain Greek yogurt can also be used to replace the mayo for a tangy, protein-rich version that’s still lighter than mayo.
- Smoky onion ring sauce – Use smoked paprika instead of regular paprika or chipotle powder to pair this sauce with grilled meats, seafood, and roasted vegetables.
- Spices – For added depth of flavor, consider including onion powder or garlic (minced or powdered).
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