Smash Burger Sauce

This easy smash burger sauce recipe comes together in less than ten minutes! Inspired by Shake Shack's secret sauce, it's creamy, tangy, and the perfect pairing for homemade smash burgers. It's a simple and easy way to elevate your burger game, and it's make-ahead friendly.

A classic smash burger (you know, the type of burger with thin, crispy edges and a juicy interior) needs a special sauce, and this creamy sauce hits the spot.

The sauce really transforms ordinary burgers into something quite extraordinary. Burger lovers, it's time to roll your sleeves up and get started!

What is in The Sauce?

While Shake Shack won't reveal their *exact* recipe for the shack sauce, according to Bon Appetit, they reveal a rough template to work off of.

Their recipe calls for ½ cup Hellman’s mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard, ¾ tsp. Heinz ketchup, ¼ tsp. Kosher dill pickling brine and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

I started with their base recipe but adjusted the ratios to my taste preference. For example, I upped the ketchup and pickle brine and seasoned it generously with salt and pepper. Otherwise, the recipe is quite similar.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It's easy! My version is easy to make, straightforward, and infinitely customizable.
• Preparing a homemade sauce is a great way to make a restaurant-quality version of a burger from your favorite burger joint!

For best results, pair this recipe with my favorite impossible smash burgers (the technique works with real meat, too) and a classic seeded bun or brioche bun. Here, we smash the burger on a very hot griddle with a cast-iron press (or a metal spatula) for the crispiest result!

Key Ingredients

• Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise serves as the base for this sauce. It's creamy texture cuts through the flavors of the salted, juicy burger.
• Dijon Mustard: A bit of Dijon mustard adds a little bit of spice and tang. You can also use yellow mustard, but you may need a bit more cayenne for added heat.
• Dill Pickle Brine: The brine from a jar of dill pickles is salty and sour, and it helps contrast the fatty, creamy flavors of the mayonnaise. If you don't have pickle juice, you can use lemon juice or apple cider vinegar.
• Cayenne Pepper: Just a pinch of cayenne pepper provides some heat to the sauce. Feel free to add more if you like it spicy!

Variations

There are endless ways of switching up this sauce to suit your mood!

• For more umami: Before adding the salt and pepper, stir in a ½ teaspoon of fish sauce or 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce into the sauce and season to taste.
• For a garlicky twist: Add in 1 small clove grated garlic or a pinch of garlic powder.
• For an oniony twist: Add 1 tablespoon finely minced white onion or shallot.
• For a smoky twist: Substitute the cayenne pepper for ¼ teaspoon chipotle chili powder.

When researching this recipe, I noticed several other online versions including other ingredients, such as Worcestershire sauce or finely chopped pickles. Feel free to play around as you like!

Note: I debated adding finely chopped pickles for a bit of texture, but because I typically add slices of pickles in my own smash burger recipe, I didn't feel this was necessary. If you'd like, you can try adding these in!

How to Make Smash Burger Sauce

Step 1: Add all of the ingredients, including the mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, dill pickle brine, and cayenne pepper into a small bowl.

Step 2: Mix everything together...and season with salt and pepper. on the products you use and your own flavor preference, you may want something sweeter, spicier, or saltier. So don't be afraid to change things up as you like it!

Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions

The sauce will last up to a week in the fridge stored in an airtight container. You can easily make this ahead of time and warm to room temperature before serving.

Recipe FAQs