In-N-Out Spread Copycat Recipe: How to Make the Famous Sauce

If you love restaurant copycats, you’ll adore this In N Out sauce recipe. It yields a creamy, tangy hamburger sauce that closely resembles the restaurant’s version. This homemade condiment is perfect on a chicken club sandwich or as a dip for fries, sausage balls, and many other favorites.

Looking down into a bowl of creamy fry sauce.

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Why This Sauce Is So Popular

In-N-Out has earned a devoted following for its simple, well-executed menu. Part of that appeal is the signature burger sauce: creamy, slightly sweet, and tangy. It elevates burgers, fries, and more, making it one of the chain’s most talked-about components.

The good news: you can recreate the flavor at home quickly with a straightforward copycat recipe. Once you have this sauce on hand, it’s easy to transform ordinary sandwiches and snacks into something special.

Plated burger and fries next to a small bowl of In n Out sauce.

Enjoy making copycat recipes?
Try recreating other favorites like spicy rigatoni or a green goddess chicken salad for a tasty homemade meal.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Bowls of mayo, ketchup, relish, and vinegar for In and Out sauce recipe.
  • Mayonnaise – Provides the creamy base and smooth texture. Substitute light mayo, sour cream, or plain Greek yogurt for a lighter result, though flavor will vary.
  • Sweet pickle relish – Adds sweet tang and texture. If you don’t have relish, finely chop bread-and-butter pickles or use dill relish as an alternative.
Small glass serving bowl filled with the best burger sauce!

How to Make In N Out Sauce

  1. Combine the ingredients. Measure everything into a medium bowl and whisk until smooth.
  2. Taste and adjust. Add more relish for sweetness, more vinegar for tang, or a dash of hot sauce or cayenne if you prefer heat.
  3. Chill before serving. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour to allow flavors to meld for the best taste.
Pickle relish, ketchup, and mayonnaise in a small glass bowl.

Other Uses For Hamburger Sauce

  1. As a dip: Great with fries, onion rings, sausage balls, raw vegetables, fish, or chicken tenders.
  2. Sandwich spread: Use it on burgers, sliders, or deli sandwiches for an instant flavor boost.
  3. Salad dressing: Thin it slightly with a splash of milk or buttermilk and use it on a Cobb or as a creamy dressing for pasta or potato salad.
Dipping a burger into hamburger sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will this last in the refrigerator?

Stored in an airtight container, the sauce keeps up to one week in the fridge.

Is this the same as Thousand Island dressing?

They’re similar in appearance, but not identical. This burger sauce typically contains vinegar for extra tang and has a slightly different balance of ingredients compared with thicker Thousand Island dressing.

Sandwich on a bun cut in half with French fries on a white plate.

Consider these Condiments and Sauces…

  • Bangbang Sauce Recipe
  • Shawarma Sauce
  • Velveeta Cheese Sauce
  • Easy 3-Ingredient BBQ Sauce

If you try this In N Out sauce recipe or any other recipe on this site, please leave a star rating and a comment to share how it turned out. Thanks for visiting!

In n Out sauce in a small glass bowl in front of a plated In and Out cheeseburger and fries.

In n Out Sauce

Renae Gerhardstein

4.93 from 14 votes
Make your own In N Out sauce at home with this quick copycat recipe. Enjoy the creamy, tangy burger sauce just like the restaurant version.
Course: condiment, sauce
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 servings
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Calories: 216

Equipment

  • medium bowl
  • wire whisk
  • plastic wrap
  • airtight container

Ingredients

  • ½ cup mayonnaise or light mayo
  • 3 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish or minced sweet pickles
  • ½ tablespoon distilled white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar

Instructions

  • Measure all ingredients into a medium bowl and whisk until smooth and well combined.
  • For best flavor, cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within 7 days.

Notes

Storing Instruction:

  • This will last in the fridge for up to 1 week if stored properly in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving (2 tablespoons)
|
Calories: 216kcal
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Carbohydrates: 7g
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Protein: 0.4g
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Fat: 21g