This copycat In-N-Out sauce recipe is a creamy, tangy sauce that takes burgers and fries to the next level! Make this famous fry and burger sauce easily in minutes with a handful of condiments you likely already have in the fridge.
Why You’ll Love This In And Out Sauce Recipe
If you love the sweet-meets-tangy In and Out burger sauce, you’re going to love how easy it is to make at home! Here’s what makes this copycat sauce recipe the best:
- Creamy and Tangy: This sauce has the creaminess of mayo mixed with sweet pickle relish, ketchup, and tangy vinegar. Basic ingredients, BIG flavor!
- So Quick: Gather the simple ingredients that you likely already have on hand, whisk them together, and enjoy. It really is that easy!
- Not Just a Burger Sauce: We drizzle this copycat In-N-Out spread on everything! It is perfect for spreading on burgers, drizzling over fries, and so much more.
Looking for more homemade versions of your favorite dips and sauces? Try our homemade honey mustard recipe and this sweet and spicy bang bang sauce.
What Is In-N-Out Sauce?
In-N-Out burger sauce is the West coast fast food chain’s answer to MacDonald’s Big Mac Sauce! It’s a tangy, slightly sweet spread that gives In-N-Out burgers their signature flavor. It’s a creamy blend of mayo, sweet pickle relish, and ketchup. A bit like Thousand Island dressing, with some extra seasonings that set it apart.
What You’ll Need
Burger joints might call this “secret sauce”, but the ingredients are actually very simple. You’ll be surprised to find most of them in your fridge and pantry already! Scroll down to the recipe card for exact amounts.
- Mayo: We recommend using regular mayo rather than Miracle Whip, which is sweeter.
- Ketchup: Ketchup is the ingredient that sets In-N-Out sauce apart from Big Mac Sauce, which doesn’t include anything tomato-y. The tomato flavor here is subtle.
- Pickle Relish: If you don’t have relish, you can finely dice up pickles (or sweet bread and butter pickles) to use instead. (See “cook’s tips” section below for notes on sweet relish vs dill relish.)
- Vinegar: White vinegar works perfectly. You can also substitute another light vinegar, like apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika round out the other flavors. For a little smoked flavor, go for smoked paprika.
- Sugar: If needed, you can add a little granulated sugar to balance out the tangy flavors.
How to Make In-N-Out Sauce
Making this homemade In and Out sauce couldn’t be any easier. All you do is add the ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Let the finished sauce chill in the fridge for 15 minutes (or as long as you’d like), and then serve!
Cook’s Tips and Variations
- Adapt the sweetness to taste. We did not add sugar to our sauce. We felt the sweet relish added enough sweetness, but if you like a sweeter taste go ahead and add a little granulated sugar.
- Make it savory. If a sweet sauce is not your thing, use dill relish (or chopped dill pickles) in place of sweet pickle relish, and skip the sugar altogether. You can boost the flavors with a splash of Worcestershire sauce or a spoonful of mustard if you’d like.
- Different mayo. We used regular mayonnaise. You can use low-fat mayo if you prefer, the spread just won’t have the same creamy texture and rich flavor.
- Make it spicy. If you like your burger spread with a bit of kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, or a couple of dashes of hot sauce, like Sriracha.
Ways to Use In and Out Burger Sauce
This copycat In and Out sauce tastes great on top of burgers or a fried chicken sandwich, but it’s also surprisingly yummy on hot dogs! We also like to use it for dipping French fries, crispy zucchini fries, or fried pickles. Our husband’s like to drizzle it over servings of cheeseburger casserole.
You can also use this as a dip for chicken wings or as a marinade! Toss the raw chicken with the sauce and let it marinate in the fridge for an hour before grilling or baking. (Follow our grilled chicken breast recipe for how to grill your marinated chicken.)
How to Store
Store your homemade sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. We do not recommend freezing this sauce as the mayo will separate once thawed.
In-N-Out Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ to 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, optional
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a small bowl, whisk until well combined.
- Cover and place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or longer to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve as desired, it’s wonderful over hamburgers and fries!
I used smoked paprika and it was absolutely delicious! This recipe is a definite keeper!!