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In-N-Out Burger is a fast-food chain that has gained a cult following. The secret to their success?
It’s not just the burgers and fries. It’s their secret sauce. This sweet, tangy, and slightly briny concoction adds a unique flavor to their menu items.
If you’ve ever wondered how to recreate this iconic sauce at home, this guide is for you.
What is In-N-Out’s Secret Sauce?
In-N-Out’s secret sauce is often mistaken for Thousand Island dressing. But they aren’t quite the same.
Thousand Island has more of a kick, usually from Tabasco, paprika, or Worcestershire sauce. In contrast, In-N-Out sauce is sweeter and not spicy at all.
The iconic sauce is made with a mixture of ketchup, mayo, and sweet pepper relish. It’s similar to Chick-Fil-A’s signature sauce or Boom Boom Sauce but tastes more sweet and briny.
Once this trio gets together, they transform into the ultimate burger and fry sauce.
Ingredients Needed
This simple sauce is easy to make with only 6 ingredients:
- Mayonnaise – Real, full-fat mayonnaise is best for the real-deal flavor. You can use light mayo, but the sauce won’t be as thick and velvety.
- Ketchup – For 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.
- White vinegar – For that signature tang.
- Sugar
- Salt and pepper
How to Make It
Stir the mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, sugar, and vinegar together in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Then, enjoy it with all of your favorite fried foods!
Tips and Tricks
- Let the sauce chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will give all of the flavors time to mingle and get to know each other.
- To make vegan In-N-Out sauce, substitute mayonnaise for your favorite plant-based mayonnaise.
- This DIY version of In-N-Out’s signature sauce lasts for up to 2 weeks in the fridge. Make sure to keep it in a tightly sealed container to help it stay fresh.
- You can also freeze it for 2 to 3 months. Some separation may occur, which is why refrigerating the batch is best.
Serving Suggestions
This tangy sauce is perfect for dipping, spreading, drizzling, and more. Here are the best ways to indulge:
- Spread on a juicy cheeseburger or air fryer burgers.
- Drizzled over french fries with melted American cheese and caramelized onions (AKA homemade Animal Fries).
- As a dip for crispy chicken tenders, tater tots, onion rings, air fryer fries, green bean fries, zucchini fries, and fish and chips.
- Brushed over grilled chicken or pork.
- Spread on top of meatloaf instead of barbecue sauce or ketchup.
- Drizzled over baked potatoes and roasted sweet potatoes.
Variations
Spicy Kick: Add a dash of hot sauce, pinch of cayenne pepper, or some red pepper flakes to the special sauce recipe to give this burger spread a fiery kick.
Smoky: Incorporate a teaspoon of liquid smoke to infuse the sauce with a delightful smoky flavor, reminiscent of grilled burgers. You could also add some paprika to add a sweeter smoky flavor.
Garlic: Enhance the flavor of this creamy, tangy sauce with the boldness of garlic by adding a clove of finely minced garlic or a teaspoon of garlic powder.
Savory: Make this sauce more like thousand island dressing by adding some Worcestershire sauce to the mix and replacing the sweet pickle relish with regular relish or chopped up pickles. Mustard would taste yummy too!
In-N-Out Copycat Sauce
Equipment
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Spoon
Ingredients
- Mayonaise
- Ketchup
- Sweet Pickle Relish
- White Vinegar
- Sugar
- Salt & Pepper
Instructions
- Stir the mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, sugar, and vinegar together in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and boom, done!
Notes
- Let the sauce chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will give all of the flavors time to mingle and get to know each other.
- To make vegan In-N-Out sauce, substitute mayonnaise for your favorite plant-based mayonnaise.
- This DIY version of In-N-Out’s signature sauce lasts for up to 2 weeks in the fridge. Make sure to keep it in a tightly sealed container to help it stay fresh.
- You can also freeze it for 2 to 3 months. Some separation may occur, which is why refrigerating the batch is best.
Nutrition
FAQs for In-N-Out Burger Spread
- Why is it called In-N-Out? The name “In-N-Out” reflects the chain’s commitment to serving quality food quickly and efficiently. The name signifies the speed and simplicity of the restaurant’s operations.
- Can you freeze copycat In-N-Out sauce? Since this sauce has mayonnaise in it, you do not want to freeze it. The mayo will separate and the texture won’t be creamy when thawed.
- Does In-N-Out Sauce have mustard? No, the classic In-N-Out sauce does not contain mustard. However, you can add mustard to your homemade version if you prefer.
- Are there pickles in the In-N-Out spread? Yes, the spread contains sweet pickle relish, which gives it a tangy and slightly sweet flavor.
- Is there a substitute for sweet pickle relish? If you don’t have sweet pickle relish, you can finely chop some sweet pickles and use them instead.
You should also check our other copycat recipes:
Let’s goooo!