Burger Sauce

Last Updated July 20th, 2022 at 07:09 am by Lisa

Make one of the best burger sauces just like the In-N-Out spread from the west coast drive-through chain that started in Southern California.

In So Cal, an In-N-Out Double Double "animal style" with fries and a soda is a way of life. There is actually a whole secret language and ways to order off-menu, more on that later.

When you crave the real thing, here is my favorite way to make a copycat recipe of the In-N-Out burger spread special sauce. It is well, a very messy burger situation, with all that drippiness and melted cheese...

In-N-Out Sauce Copycat Ingredients

½ cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons ketchup

2 tablespoons Dill Pickle Relish (avoid sweet relish to keep it authentic)

2 teaspoons White Wine Vinegar (or swap regular white vinegar)

½ teaspoon sugar

In-n-Out Copycat Sauce Recipe

In a medium bowl, whisk these simple ingredients together. Combine mayonnaise, dill pickle relish, ketchup, sugar, and white wine vinegar.

Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to a month. I love to use those condiment squeeze bottles for the summer, it makes it so easy for cookouts. Just be sure to not leave at room temperature for more than an hour.

While I tested a sweet pickle relish (sweet relish) for this recipe, I found the main difference is that it adds too much sweetness and is not the same as the original In-N-Out sauce recipe. The dill pickle juice and the tart dill relish adds a tanginess that gets it very close to the original.

Also, that tiny splash of vinegar adds the right amount of acid to counterbalance the pinch of sugar in this tangy sauce adding complexity.

Perfect Copycat In-N-Out Burgers

For the perfect copycat for real In-N-Out restaurant burgers, start out with quality ingredients. One of the hallmarks of this famous burger chain is they do not cut corners and use the finest quality ingredients available.

• Grill your all American ground beef hamburger patty on a flat top in a bit of yellow mustard for that authentic taste! Try to form meat for each patty pretty thin like In-N-Out does it. You can sear the beef patties in an iron skillet or on your outdoor grill over medium-high heat.
• Use quality American cheese, add slices of cheese and let it get melty.
• Toast the buns on the grill or griddle until golden brown.
• On the bottom bun and the top bun, spread a couple of tablespoons of sauce.
• Next, add the dill pickles, try my homemade quick recipe and add 5 or so pickle chips on the bottom bun.
• Then add a tomato slice or two, a piece of Iceberg lettuce, and an onion slice if you wish.
• Now add your mustard cooked hamburger patties with melted cheese.
• And finally top with this In-N-Out burgers sauce recipe and finely diced caramelized onions if you like it "Animal Style".

In-N-Out Burger FAQ

Best Topping Ideas For Burgers

There are endless options, these are just a few inspiring ideas to top a grill cheeseburger at your cookout. Whether you keep it classic or go wild, it is so fun to try out new flavors and ingredients...

• Crispy Bacon
• Grilled Onions
• Sauteed Mushrooms
• Burger Sauce (In-N-Out Copycat)
• Pickle Chips
• Ketchup, Mustard, Mayonnaise, Remoulade
• Ortega or Hatch Chiles
• BBQ Sauce
• Creamy Horseradish Sauce
• Cheeses: Blue Cheese, Pepper Jack, etc.
• Guacamole
• Ranch Dressing
• Jalapenos
• Fried Onions

More Burger Recipes

Grilled Hamburgers (Cheeseburgers) with burger sauce plus all my tips to make the perfect hamburger patties with easy toppings for summer grilling, BBQs, and cookouts.

Burger Seasoning makes the flavor-filled juicy hamburgers. Mix up a batch of hamburger seasoning for your next cookout, grill, or BBQ party.

Cheeseburger Sliders are mini burgers stuffed with cheddar cheese, spread with burger sauce, and oven-baked. The perfect party food for summer cookouts or celebrations like birthdays and graduation.