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Ashia Aubourg
The sauce on a burger can make or break the entire meal. Bite into a handheld slathered in something too sweet—or, on the flip side, overly pungent—and you’re stuck wrestling with those flavors for the rest of the sandwich. That’s why, whenever I eat out, I always ask for the aioli on the side so I can try it before committing. At home, I’ve got a few reliable recipes for “special sauce” that never disappoint. But with summer on the horizon and grilling season in full swing, I’d rather be outside barbecuing than stuck in a hot kitchen. That’s where store-bought special sauces come in: They’re a quick shortcut that can elevate any burger.
Over the years, more and more brands have introduced In-N-Out-like spreads and Big Mac-dupe sauces. With grilling season upon us, I rounded up a few to see which ones are worthy of slathering on your burgers this summer. Some rose to the top, while others are best avoided. The results surprised me and made it clear which ones I’ll always have stocked in my fridge.
How I Chose the Store-Bought Burger Sauces
To find an assortment of store-bought burger sauces, I went to major retailers like Walmart and Whole Foods, as well as smaller grocery stores like Shaw’s and Market Basket. I scanned the aisles for anything that resembled a special sauce—with a mayo-like base, plus spices and add-ins like pickles. In short: something that felt like at least a couple of other condiments combined into one, for complexity. While there are plenty of options online and at local specialty shops, I stuck to picks that are easy to spot nationwide.
Ashia Aubourg
How I Tested the Store-Bought Burger Sauces
I made sliders, kept the beef lightly seasoned with just salt and pepper, and skipped any toppings like lettuce, onion, or tomato. I served them on brioche Hawaiian rolls. For each slider, I added about a teaspoon of burger sauce and tasted each brand carefully. I paid attention to flavor—were any overpowering or underwhelming?—and to texture, noting which ones had a creamy mouthfeel and which didn’t. I never tested more than four sauces in one sitting, to give each brand a fair shot without overloading myself with aiolis. Between rounds, I cleansed my palate with plain sparkling water.
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7th Place: Sir Kensington’s Special Sauce
Ashia Aubourg
I’m a big fan of Sir Kensington’s condiments, but the brand’s special sauce didn’t live up to expectations. It was chunky, but not in the satisfying way like Great Value’s proved to be. Instead of tangy pickle bits, it had chunks of cucumber (or jalapeño—it wasn’t clear) that felt bland and out of place. The flavor lacked the balance found in the top contenders, with a punchy savoriness that just didn’t quite work.
6th Place: Hidden Valley Secret Sauce
Ashia Aubourg
This Hidden Valley Ranch condiment has a creamy consistency, which I appreciated. The squirt-bottle design was another plus—this design made adding the sauce to my sliders clean and easy. However, compared to some of the other brands, it tasted a bit artificial, with sharp, vinegary notes. For me, the flavor was overpowering, and I’d only use it sparingly on a burger.
5th Place: Great Value Secret Sauce
Ashia Aubourg
This pick from Great Value really caught me off guard—I wasn’t expecting much after seeing it squeeze out of the bottle chunky and less smooth than the other contenders. But one bite flipped the script. Designed for pickle lovers, this special sauce delivers a sweet-and-sour kick with bits of pickle blended throughout. A touch of paprika adds smoky depth that ties everything together. It’s a surprisingly solid choice, especially if bold, tangy flavors are your thing.
4th Place: Heinz Mayochup
Ashia Aubourg
Growing up with Caribbean roots, there was one condiment always on the table—a creamy pink sauce that begged to be paired with fried tostones, shrimp, yucca fries, empanadas, and more. Heinz’s Mayochup perfectly captures that nostalgic flavor, with a rich, custard-like texture. It combines the sweet, tangy, and umami notes from ketchup with the milky, buttery richness of mayonnaise. Lathering it on my burger felt like an ideal union.
3rd Place: Chick-Fil-A Sauce
Ashia Aubourg
Some might argue that Chick-fil-A’s all-star condiment doesn’t count as a burger sauce—but I’d push back on that. Made with a mayo-like emulsion, barbecue sauce, yellow mustard, honey, and lemon juice, it delivers a creamy, sweet, tangy, smoky, and subtly sharp flavor. Its consistency leans more toward honey mustard than aioli, which I appreciated for its bright, vinegary kick that cuts beautifully through rich, melted cheese.
2nd Place: Primal Kitchen Special Sauce
Ashia Aubourg
Primal Kitchen came surprisingly close to seizing the top spot—it’s a seriously well-crafted condiment. Slightly thicker than the winning special sauce, it has a mayo-like texture that I didn’t mind, thanks to its ultra-creamy consistency. Its emulsion relies on avocado oil—a lighter, more neutral fat—which allows the other ingredients to shine. This burger sauce follows the classic balance of acidity, sweetness, fat, and heat, but introduces standout additions like pickle relish, apple cider vinegar, pear juice, paprika, tamarind, and mustard. The result? A traditional flavor with enough nuance to make you wonder if a pro chef whipped it up.
1st Place Winner: Sweet Baby Ray’s Special Sauce
Ashia Aubourg
There’s nothing I’d rather spread onto my burger than this special sauce from Sweet Baby Ray’s. Its smooth, creamy consistency took the juiciness of my slider up a notch. It also strikes a balanced, sweet profile without being cloying. A sharp tang from the horseradish keeps things lively. Infused with paprika, mustard seed, and turmeric, it delivers smoky and floral notes. It’s the kind of topping I want to put on everything—fries, subs, tenders—anything that could use that golden-ticket combo of acidity, sweetness, fat, and heat. It currently sells at Walmart for under $2.50, so you have every reason to buy the best.
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