Smash Burger Sauce
Make this creamy smash burger sauce at home with simple ingredients. It’s the perfect finishing touch for burgers, fries, and more.
My oldest son is obsessed with bacon cheeseburgers. When we took a family trip to Disney World a few years ago, he practically ate his way across the park one cheeseburger at a time. Since buying our Blackstone griddle last year, we’ve gone all in on the homemade smash burgers.
While a great burger depends on plenty of factors—melty American cheese, your favorite toppings, and lightly toasted buns—true burger lovers know the real magic comes from the special sauce. It’s the finishing touch that brings those crispy edges and juicy centers together, and this sauce tastes just like the classic “secret sauce” you’d expect from your favorite burger joint.
In addition to smash burgers, this sauce recipe also pairs well with these avocado chicken burgers or pepper jack stuffed hamburgers.
“Excellent!”
– Dottie
Recipe at a glance
- Quick and easy: One bowl, one whisk, and you’re done.
- Classic flavor: Inspired by diner-style burger sauces everyone loves.
- Versatile: Perfect for burgers, sandwiches, fries, and more.
- Make-ahead friendly: Even better after chilling in the fridge.
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What is a smash burger?
A smash burger is made by cooking ground beef on a very hot griddle over high heat. Instead of shaping thick burger patties, the beef is loosely formed into balls of meat, placed directly onto the hot surface, and then pressed flat.
We use a cast iron burger press, but any heavy, flat object—like a large skillet or big flat spatula—will do the job. This method creates a deeply seared crust and crisp edges that locks in the juicy interior while the thin patty cooks quickly. And if you don’t have an outdoor griddle, don’t worry—you can make delicious smash burgers just as easily on an indoor electric griddle or in a cast iron skillet.
Ingredients you will need
It’s likely you already have everything you need in your kitchen to whip up this quick and delicious sauce. To make a classic smash sauce, you will need:
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Mayonnaise: The creamy base that gives the sauce its rich texture. Out of mayonnaise? Make your own homemade mayonnaise with just oil and eggs!
- Ketchup: Adds sweetness and tang for that classic burger flavor.
- Vegetable oil: Helps smooth and thin the sauce slightly.
- Mustard & Worcestershire sauce: Bring depth and savory balance.
- Hot sauce: Just enough heat without overpowering the sauce.
- Sweet pickle relish: Adds texture and that signature sweet-tangy bite.
Substitutions and variations
- Mayonnaise: Use light mayonnaise or avocado oil mayo if preferred. For extra zip, substitute a couple of tablespoons of the mayonnaise with prepared horseradish.
- Ketchup: Swap regular ketchup for sugar-free ketchup, or replace a few tablespoons with chili sauce for a deeper, slightly spicy flavor.
- Vegetable Oil: Canola oil or avocado oil work well as substitutes.
- Mustard: Yellow mustard keeps it classic, but Dijon mustard, spicy brown, or whole grain mustard all add extra depth.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Soy sauce or coconut aminos can be used in a pinch, though the flavor will vary slightly.
- Hot Sauce: Use any variety you like, from mild to extra spicy.
- Pickles: Use dill pickle relish instead of sweet pickle relish for a more savory bite, or finely chop whole dill pickles if that’s what you have on hand.
- Jalapeños: Add finely chopped jalapeños in place of—or in addition to—the pickle relish for extra heat and texture.
- Extra Heat: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or an extra dash of hot sauce to turn up the spice.
- Flavor Boost: A splash of pickle juice or a pinch of smoked paprika adds tang or smokiness.
How to make smash burger sauce
Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, vegetable oil, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, water, and hot sauce. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
Step 2: Add the salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, and sweet pickle relish. Stir until all ingredients are evenly mixed throughout.
Step 3: Transfer the sauce to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve. Chilling allows the flavors to meld and makes the sauce even better.
Pro tip: Give the sauce at least 30 minutes in the fridge for the best flavor.
Want to boost your homemade burgers even more? Consider adding these bourbon and brown sugar caramelized onions to the top.
Serving suggestions
This sauce was made for smash burgers, but don’t stop there.
- Use it as a dipping sauce for oven baked French fries or beer battered onion rings.
- Spread it on Baja grilled catfish sliders, or drizzle it over hot fried green tomatoes.
Once you try it, you’ll want to keep a jar of this smash burger sauce in your fridge at all times—it’s that good.
Storage instructions
Store smash burger sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5–7 days. For best flavor, stir the sauce before serving, as some separation may occur over time. This recipe does not freeze.
Smash burger sauce FAQ’s
Yes. When stored properly, the sauce should keep for at least one week in the refrigerator.
If you have eggs and oil, you can make your own mayonnaise from scratch. Sour cream will give your sauce a slightly different taste and texture.
I don’t recommend it. Because it is a creamy sauce, the high heat from the canning process will cause the sauce to separate and turn watery.
Yes. You can leave the pickle relish out or substitute them with some of the variations I listed above.
Use smash burger sauce as a dipping sauce for
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If you made Smash Burger Sauce, I’d love to hear how it turned out! Your ratings and reviews help others find the recipe and give me great feedback too.
Smash Burger Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 dashes hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, vegetable oil, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, water, and hot sauce. Whisk until smooth.
- Add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and sweet pickle relish. Stir until evenly combined.
- Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to serve.
Video
Notes
- For the best flavor, refrigerate the sauce for at least 30 minutes before serving to give the flavors time to blend.
- Yellow mustard gives the sauce a classic burger-joint flavor, but Dijon, spicy brown, or whole grain mustard can be substituted.
- For more heat, add extra hot sauce, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or finely chopped jalapeños.
- Dill pickle relish can be substituted for sweet pickle relish for a tangier, less-sweet sauce.
- For extra zip, replace a couple tablespoons of the mayonnaise with prepared horseradish or a couple tablespoons of the ketchup with chili sauce.
- The sauce may separate slightly as it sits. Stir well before serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Freezing is not recommended because the mayonnaise may separate after thawing.
Excellent!