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Burger sauce spreading on burger bun using a spoon on a wooden counter.
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Smash Burger Sauce

Smash Burger Sauce is creamy, tangy, and made for crispy-edged burgers hot off the griddle. Mayo, ketchup, mustard, pickles, pickle juice, garlic, and smoked paprika come together in a quick sauce that tastes perfect on smash burgers, or any burger for that matter. It is the missing ingredient to take your burgers to the next level!
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Sauces
Cuisine: American
Keyword: burger sauce, smash burger sauce
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Joshua Boquist

Equipment

Ingredients

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tbsp pickles finely chopped, or relish
  • 1 tsp pickle juice
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika

Instructions

  • Stir the mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, chopped pickles or relish, pickle juice, garlic powder, and smoked paprika together in a small bowl until smooth and evenly combined.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 to 30 minutes if time allows, then stir again before spreading on burgers or serving as a dip.

Notes

Flavor Balance

Let the sauce rest to develop flavor. The garlic powder, smoked paprika, mustard, and pickle juice taste more balanced after 15 to 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
Adjust the tang after chilling. Add a little more pickle juice or mustard if you want it sharper, or a small spoonful of ketchup if you want it sweeter.

Pickles Or Relish

Dill pickles make it tangier. Finely chopped dill pickles or dill relish give the sauce a sharper flavor.
Sweet relish makes it sweeter. Use sweet relish or bread-and-butter pickles if you want the sauce closer to a classic special sauce.

Heat And Smoke

Heat it up. Hot sauce, cayenne, or finely chopped pickled jalapeños all work, but keep the amount small so the sauce still tastes like a burger sauce.
Use smoked paprika lightly. It adds depth and a bit of a punch without overpowering the sauce.

Storage

Store it cold and covered. Keep the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Stir before serving. The pickle juice can loosen the sauce as it sits, so give it a quick stir before spreading it on burgers.

Nutrition

Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 168mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 95IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.1mg