Delicious, Creamy Homemade Burger Sauce

Skip the store-bought burger sauces and make some at home! This delicious homemade burger sauce has been our go-to all summer long and takes only 10 minutes to assemble. It tastes like your favorite burger joint’s “secret sauce” and is very similar to Mac Sauce or Thousand Island Dressing. You can also use this sauce on a Reuben or Rachel in lieu of Thousand Island.

We love pairing this sauce with our homemade hamburger buns for a fantastic little meal. My husband has also been learning to make homemade pickles so I am hoping to share that recipe with you soon, too!

It’s been too hot to turn the stove on in the evenings, so we have been grilling a lot! We enjoyed these classic cheeseburgers with a slice of Wisconsin cheese & a pint of Spotted Cow. We are taking full advantage of grilling season in Minnesota before summer comes to a close! Every night lately has been sweet corn from our favorite local sweet corn farm stand.

If you love making your own homemade sauces, try my tartar sauce made with pickled asparagus. It’s worth it!

Ingredients in Homemade Burger Sauce

•  ½ cup Mayonnaise
•  ¼ cup Vidalia Onion, Sweet Onion, or Shallot, finely chopped
•  2 Tablespoons Ketchup *see notes
•  2 Tablespoons Relish, Sweet Pickle or Dill Pickle
•  1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
•  1 teaspoon Paprika
•  ½ teaspoon Iodized Salt
•  ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper *optional

How To Make Homemade Burger Sauce

1. Combine all ingredients into a bowl. If you prefer an extremely smooth consistency, you can add the ingredients to the bowl of a food processor and process 15-30 seconds until ultra smooth.
2. Let the sauce sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes so the flavors meld together. Add to the bottom bun of your burger (less mess) and enjoy!
3. Store any additional sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days for best results.

Tips for making the most delicious hamburgers

• Buns: Use a quality freshly baked bun for the most delicious burger. You can also freeze freshly baked buns and thaw them in the oven to return them to their former glory.
• Cheese: Use a quality cheese with some flavor to up your cheeseburger game. We love spicy cheeses, onion or garlic cheeses, or sharp white or yellow cheddar. Try to avoid cheeses that don’t melt well.
• Meat: Use a quality meat like grass fed beef, bison, or elk. We use a wild venison and organic pork mixture.
• Toast It! Lightly brush the inside of your hamburger buns with melted butter or olive oil and throw them on the grill right as the burgers are finishing. This will give you a perfectly toasted bun with extra flavor!
• Top It! Add your favorite pickles and, of course, homemade burger sauce for great flavor.
• Don’t forget to season your meat before you put it in a patty! (see below)

My Favorite Burger Patty Seasoning Recipe

• 1.5 pounds (24 ounces) of ground meat (beef, bison, elk, venison, pork, etc.)
• 4 cloves garlic, minced (I use this handy garlic press from OXO.)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• Mix all ingredients together. I prefer to use my hands or my favorite meat & avocado masher tool.

What should I make with my burgers?

• Sweet Potato Fritters: These 5-ingredient sweet potato fritters are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. They’re incredibly simple to make and pair perfectly with any meal! Serve them as a delicious side dish or appetizer.
• American Potato Salad: Loaded with hard boiled eggs, soft potatoes, crunchy onion and celery, tossed with a mustard-y mayo dressing, this salad is everything your next summer grilling party needs.
• Caprese Salad with Pesto: Fresh tomato slices, fresh mozzarella, and fresh picked basil from your herb garden combine into a delicious & fresh salad.
• Stuffed Sweet Potatoes: Roasted sweet potatoes stuffed with melty feta cheese, quinoa, & dried cranberries.

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