The Ultimate Vegan Burger Sauce Recipe (5 Minutes)

Publised on 12/08/2024. Last Updated on 23/08/2024 by Richard

Perfectly tangy vegan burger sauce for that classic Big Mac flavour. Spread on burger buns or use as a dip for fries and tofu nuggets.

You probably know by now that when I say "ultimate vegan burger sauce" I mean it literally! I've whipped up a lot of sauces for this blog, but this is the vegan sauce to end all sauces! It’s a creamy, tangy, slightly sweet concoction that mimics the famous Big Mac sauce so well, you won’t believe it’s plant-based. Imagine spooning this lush, smooth, and flavour-packed sauce on your favorite veggie burger or caramelised smash burger - absolute bliss. This vegan burger sauce is here to elevate your burger game to the next level.

It's super easy too! You won't need any fancy kitchen gear like a high-speed blender or food processor. This quick sauce just requires a few seconds of mixing before dolloping on a nice toasted sesame seed bun!

You know that iconic blend of tangy, creamy, and slightly sweet flavours that makes a burger unforgettable? Well, this recipe nails it, with some extra kicks. The texture is perfect too—smooth and velvety, with tiny bursts of crunch from the pickles. It's like a hybrid of my vegan kewpie mayo and my vegan gochujang mayo with some extra Russian dressing thrown in for good measure. Ready to dive into the best vegan burger sauce you’ve ever had? Let’s get started!

Jump to:

• Vegan Burger Sauce FAQs
• Vegan Burger Sauce

Why Make Your Own Vegan Burger Sauce?

So, why should you bother making your own vegan burger sauce? Here are four solid reasons:

1. Cost: Let’s be real—store-bought sauces can get pricey, especially the fancy vegan ones. Making your own saves you a few quid and gives you more bang for your buck.
2. Versatility: This sauce isn’t just for burgers. It’s a great addition to wraps, sandwiches, or even as a dipping sauce for crispy tofu fries. You can adjust the ingredients to suit your prefs perfectly. Want some extra crunch? Add some diced red onion! Need some heat on your vegan bun? Add a pinch of cayenne!
3. Ingredient Quality: When you make your own sauce, you control what goes in it. No weird additives or preservatives—just simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
4. Flavour: Homemade always tastes better. You get to fine-tune the flavour to your liking, whether you want a hint of spice, more tang, or a bit of sweetness.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Alright, let’s gather our simple ingredients for this homemade vegan burger sauce. Don’t worry about quantities just yet—you’ll find the full recipe card at the bottom of the page. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Vegan mayonnaise, use my vegan mayo recipe or store-bought!
• Ketchup or tomato paste
• Yellow mustard or Dijon mustard
• Hot sauce (optional, but adds a nice kick. I like Cholula!)
• Pickle relish or finely chopped pickles with a touch of maple syrup
• Apple cider vinegar or any white vinegar or lemon juice
• Pickle juice from a jar of pickles (for some reason this makes the sauce taste like it's already been spooned over a burger patty!)
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Smoked paprika (optional for a smoky flavour)
• Fine sea salt and black pepper

Ingredient Substitutions

No need to stress if you’re missing an ingredient or two. You can still make this tasty sauce from a bunch of other plant-based ingredients. Here are some handy substitutions:

• No yellow mustard? Dijon mustard works just as well and is slightly more mellow.
• Out of ketchup? Tomato paste is a great sub—just remember it’s more concentrated and less sweet, so you may want to add a teaspoon of maple syrup to balance things out.
• No pickle relish? Finely chopped pickles or gherkins with a tiny bit of sugar or maple syrup will do the trick.
• No apple cider vinegar? White vinegar or lemon juice will give you that necessary tang.

How to Make This Recipe

So you've got everything set to make your perfect plant-based burger! Now you need to whip up your classic burger sauce. Making this vegan burger sauce is a breeze. Follow these simple steps:

1. First step: Grab a medium bowl and throw in all your ingredients—vegan mayo, ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, pickle relish, apple cider vinegar, pickle juice, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, sea salt, and black pepper.
2. Mix it up: Give it a good stir until everything is well combined.
3. Taste test: Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
4. Chill out: Cover your bowl and pop it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This lets the flavours mellow together beautifully.
5. Store: If you’re not using it straight away, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge. It’ll keep for up to 2 weeks.

What is Vegan Burger Sauce For (Besides Burgers!)

Sure, it’s called vegan burger sauce, but this stuff is versatile. Here’s what else you can use it for:

• Dipping sauce: Perfect for crispy baked French fries (or potato wedges), vegan hash browns, or even tofu nuggets.
• Sandwich spread: Lather it on your sandwiches or wraps for an extra flavour kick.
• Salad dressing: Thin it out with a bit of extra vinegar and drizzle over your salads. It has a similar flavour profile to a sweet Russian dressing. 

Vegan Burger Sauce FAQs

There you have it—the ultimate vegan burger sauce recipe that’ll take your plant-based burgers to the next level. Whip it up in just 5 minutes and enjoy that classic burger flavour. Don’t forget to snap a pic of your creation and tag @schoolnightvegan on social media. I’d love to see your delicious homemade vegan burgers!

If you’re looking for more tasty vegan recipes, check out these posts on the blog: my classic tartare sauce is great for any vegan fish recipes, while my vegan gochujang mayo works perfectly on Vietnamese sandwiches! Oh, and you're gonna wanna try my vegan smash burgers!