Unlock the secret to the ultimate burger with this easy and craveworthy Smashburger Sauce! This creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet condiment is what makes every bite unforgettable. It just takes a few minutes and simple pantry-staple ingredients!
Table of Contents
Smashburger sauce is a creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet condiment specifically created to complement the savory, crispy flavors of a classic smashburger. The mayonnaise creates a rich, creamy base, while the ketchup and sweet pickle relish introduce a tangy sweetness that cuts through the richness. A hint of white vinegar brightens everything up, and the sugar rounds out the flavor for a truly addictive experience.
Whip up this sauce to slather on your burgers immediately or let it chill in the fridge for the flavors to meld and intensify. Make it your own with easy ingredient add-ins or swaps – perfect for drizzling over crispy fries, as a dip for onion rings, a delicious spread for wraps, or a zesty dressing for a hearty potato salad!
Ingredient notes
- Mayonnaise – This provides the rich and creamy base for this smashburger 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. It adds a subtle sweetness and the signature orange color.
- Sweet pickle relish – This will give you the most realistic flavor. If you don’t have relish at home, chop up sweet pickles instead.
- Sugar – Does a great job of rounding out all of the flavors and adds sweetness.
- White vinegar – For the perfect tang
- 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 smashbuger 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 this sauce as your go-to condiment for juicy burgers, consider it as a tasty addition to other dishes, either as a spread, dip, or dressing:
- Spread: Slather this sauce on sandwiches and wraps to add a layer of creamy, complex flavor.
- Drizzle: Adjust the consistency of this sauce for a dressing that can be drizzled over tacos, salads, and power bowls.
- Dip: Enjoy this sauce as a creamy dip for onion rings, French fries, vegetable sticks, chicken bites or sausage bites.
Tips and tricks
- 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 at least 30 minutes before serving. While this is optional, it helps the sauce to thicken and for the flavors to meld together and intensify.
- Make a double batch of this smashburger sauce by simply doubling the ingredients called for in this recipe – great for serving to a crowd at a party or large social gathering.
- Always taste your sauce after mixing the ingredients together. You may find that you want to adjust the flavor by adding some ingredients to suit your preference.
- The sauce will naturally thicken in the fridge. Give it a good stir and add in extra liquid, if needed.
Variations
With just a couple of easy ingredient swaps or additions, you can transform this smashburger sauce into a condiment that’s suited specifically to your tastes and preferences. Here’s how simple it is:
- Choice of sweetener – Sugar helps to balance the sharp and tangy notes of this sauce, but you could also use honey or another preferred sweetener.
- Spice it up – Add cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or a touch of hot sauce if you’d like to add a kick of heat to your smashburger sauce.
- Vegan smashburger sauce – Use vegan mayonnaise for a vegan-friendly sauce.
- Lighter version – Use reduced fat mayo for a lighter sauce that won’t be as rich. Plain Greek yogurt can also be used to replace the mayo for a tangy, protein-rich version that’s still lighter than mayo.
- Smoky smashburger sauce – Mix in smoked paprika for a touch of smokiness – perfect with grilled hamburger patties!
Serving suggestions
Serve this creamy, sweet, and tangy smashburger sauce as a spread, dip, or dressing. It’s also the perfect substitute for other household staple sauces when making certain dishes!
Storing
- Store leftover smashburger 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 smashburger sauce, always choose bottles with bright acidity to cut through the richness. A touch of fruity flavor will also complement the subtle sweetness of the sauce. Here are some of my top picks:
- An off-dry Riesling with its subtle sweetness and acidity will cut through the richness of smashburger sauce.
- A lightly oaked Chardonnay offers creamy textures and notes of citrus and stone fruit, which compliments the creamy smashburger sauce.
- Try a dry rosé with bright acidity and red fruit flavors for a refreshing contrast to the creamy sauce.
Other burger-inspired condiments
Did you make this smashburger sauce recipe?
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Full Recipe
Smashburger Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 3 Tablespoons ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 1 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoons white vinegar
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine.
Notes
- Store leftover smashburger 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.
- 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 at least 30 minutes before serving. While this is optional, it helps the sauce to thicken and for the flavors to meld together and intensify.
- Make a double batch of this smashburger sauce by simply doubling the ingredients called for in this recipe – great for serving to a crowd at a party or large social gathering.
- Always taste your sauce after mixing the ingredients together. You may find that you want to adjust the flavor by adding some ingredients to suit your preference.
- The sauce will naturally thicken in the fridge. Give it a good stir and add in extra liquid, if needed.
- Choice of sweetener – Sugar helps to balance the sharp and tangy notes of this sauce, but you could also use honey or another preferred sweetener.
- Spice it up – Add cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or a touch of hot sauce if you’d like to add a kick of heat to your smashburger sauce.
- Vegan smashburger sauce – Use vegan mayonnaise for a vegan-friendly sauce.
- Lighter version – Use reduced fat mayo for a lighter sauce that won’t be as rich. Plain Greek yogurt can also be used to replace the mayo for a tangy, protein-rich version that’s still lighter than mayo.
- Smoky smashburger sauce – Mix in smoked paprika for a touch of smokiness – perfect with grilled hamburger patties!
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