Name: Smash Burger Sauce (5-minute Blender Recipe)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: ⅓ cup mayo; 2 tbsp ketchup; 1 tbsp mustard (yellow or spicy brown mustard); 1 tbsp worcestershire; tbsp Dill pickles; 1 tbsp pickle juice; ½ tsp onion powder; ½ tsp garlic powder; 1/4 tsp paprika; Salt and pepper

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Let’s be honest: a smash burger without sauce is just a sad little patty. This smash burger sauce is the one I put on everything, and it takes 5 minutes with zero cooking. You just blend mayo, ketchup, mustard, dill pickles, and pickle brine until smooth, then let it chill for 30 minutes.

As a dietitian, I am very pro-sauce. It helps my foods taste good and helps me eat my veggies! I love to drizzle it over a big protein + veggie bowl like my Deconstructed Hamburger Bowls for a quick dinner or yummy meal prep for the week.

I have tested tons of burger sauces, and this one is a perfectly classic taste without being too heavy. I keep coming back to this version: the pickle brine and Worcestershire do a lot of the heavy lifting, so you get big flavor without the sauce turning into a mayo bomb. Plus, I love that it feels like I am eating fast food at home.

close up showing texture of the orange burger sauce in small jar with spoon scooping some out

What You’ll Need

Mayo: The creamy base. Use a full-fat mayo you already like the taste of, because it’s the main flavor here. Light mayo works, but the sauce comes out a bit thinner.
Ketchup: Adds sweetness and a little acidity. Stick with classic ketchup, since flavored ones can throw off the balance.
Mustard: Cuts the richness of the mayo. Yellow gives a classic diner flavor, and spicy brown gives a little more bite. Both work.
Worcestershire sauce: Just a splash for savory tang. Start small, because it can take over.
Dill pickles: Blend them in for tang throughout, or finely chop and stir in for a chunky sauce. Use dill, not sweet pickles.
Pickle brine: The “secret ingredient.” It adds tang and thins the sauce to the right drizzle. Don’t skip it!
Spices: Onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Powders blend in smoothly, unlike fresh garlic, which can turn sharp and harsh.

How to Make Smash Burger Sauce (step by step)

all ingredients for smash burger sauce mixed in a mixing bowl

Combine all ingredients in a blender.
Blend: For a super smooth texture, use a conventional blender. Or you can use an immersion blender. **note: No blender? Just finely mince the pickles and mix everything in a bowl!
Chill: Let it sit in the fridge for 30 minutes for the best flavor.

side view of burger sauce drizzled over burger bowls in the background

Expert Tips from the Test Kitchen

Make it ahead: I typically use this on burgers and burger bowls, and love to make it ahead of time. It stores well in the fridge, and the flavors meld together over time.
Give it a stir: If you make this recipe in advance, be sure to give it a good stir before serving. Sometimes the juices rise to the top.
Don’t skimp on the pickles or the pickle juice. That is what makes this recipe so uniquely tangy and zingy!

More Healthy Homemade Sauces to Try