11 Burger Sauces Ranked: From Flavor Fails to Must-Try Store-Bought Favorites

Finding the perfect burger sauce can elevate any homemade creation. A taste test of 11 store-bought sauces reveals some surprising winners and unfortunate misses, helping you decide which bottle belongs in your kitchen.

Discover the Best Bottled Sauces to Transform Your Homemade Burgers Into Restaurant-Quality Creations

Creating restaurant-style burgers at home can be as simple as finding the proper sauce to enhance your handcrafted creation. While some eateries guard their secret sauce recipes, many home cooks rely on their taste buds to recreate the flavors. For those without a knack for culinary decryption, bottled sauces offer a quick solution to elevate any burger, regardless of the protein.

According to the Mashed report, various famous bottled sauces have been tested and ranked to save time sifting through countless options. While many might assume all burger sauces are created equal, the taste test reveals surprising differences—some elevate the burger to restaurant quality, while others fall flat.

Kraft Leads the Pack in Burger Sauces with a Smoky, Bacon-Infused Aioli

11. G. Hughes Sugar-Free Secret Burger Sauce

This sauce is designed for those watching their sugar intake, offering a healthier alternative without sacrificing flavor. However, sucralose overwhelms the other ingredients, producing an overly sweet sauce that needs more balance. Garlic, onion, and mustard flavors are absent, making this sauce a disappointing addition.

10. Chosen Foods Burger Sauce

Known for using avocado oil, Chosen Foods aims to provide a more upscale, mindful burger topping. While the ingredients appear promising, the sauce's thin consistency and peculiar nutty flavor fail to justify its premium price. Despite herbal notes from dill, celery seed, and rosemary, this sauce lacks the punch needed for a great burger experience.

9. Top Secret Recipes Burger Sauce

Attempting to replicate McDonald's famous special sauce, Top Secret Recipes must overcome its overly oily texture. Despite bold claims of authenticity, this sauce needs more flavor balance than fans would expect. Those looking for a fast-food replica might prefer Thousand Island dressing.

8. Kroger Burger Special Sauce

As a budget-friendly alternative to McDonald's special sauce, Kroger's offering misses the mark with an overly vinegary flavor that tastes cheap. While it may serve as a quick fix, its lack of depth makes it less desirable for those seeking quality burger enhancements.

7. Kraft Chipotle Aioli

This chipotle aioli aims to add a smoky, spicy kick to burgers. While the flavor is enjoyable, with a subtle heatthat lingers on the palate, it doesn't stand out enough to warrant its price. A simple combination of mayonnaise and pepper could achieve a similar result at a lower cost.

6. Great Value's Secret Sauce

You'll almost always stumble upon a Great Value version of a popular product in any Walmart grocery aisle. Among the condiments, Great Value offers its take on the secret sauce, which is ideal for those looking to top their burgers without crafting a homemade recipe. However, not every Great Value product is worth the purchase. The question remains: Can Walmart's house brand compete in the crowded burger sauce market, especially with many available alternatives?

While it may not be groundbreaking, Great Value Secret Sauce delivers a balanced mix of souped-up mayonnaise, enhanced with relish for tang and sweetness for balance. It's an enjoyable sauce that could easily be found in any pantry when burgers need a bit of flair. While it lacks a standout quality to make it exceptional, it's certainly a solid, budget-friendly option for burger enthusiasts.

5. Kinder's The Burger Sauce

Kinder's has established itself as a leader in meat sauces, offering various flavorful burgers, chicken, and ribs drizzles. Confidently named "The Burger Sauce," Kinder's product is the go-to option for burger lovers. The tall bottle with its distinctive red squeeze top mimics the look of classic BBQ condiments, adding a backyard cookout vibe to any meal.

Fortunately, the flavor matches the hype. Rather than mimicking the familiar Big Mac-style sauce, Kinder's takes a more tomato-forward approach, creating a tangy sauce packed with spice. The peppery kick is bold and might even overwhelm at first bite, making it a fun experience for heat lovers, though it may require moderation to avoid overpowering the burger. While it may lack subtlety, those craving a spicy burger will thoroughly enjoy Kinder's offering.

4. Kraft Burger Aioli

Kraft Burger Aioli might seem like just another aioli, but its versatility makes it a standout purchase for any kitchen. While it can be used in various dishes, its true strength is giving burgers a garlicky punch. Kraft's decision to create a specialty version specifically for burgers suggests there's something unique in their approach.

That uniqueness comes through with a peppery honey mustard mayonnaise that stands out for its sweet heat, making any burger taste exceptional, no matter how it's cooked. This sauce could easily elevate pasta salads and sandwiches, proving it a deli-style favorite that strays from traditional burger sauces in all the right ways.

3. Whataburger Patty Melt Sauce

When a fast-food giant like Whataburger decides to sell its signature sauce to the public, it indicates the company's confidence in its product. Whataburger Patty Melt Sauce allows fans to bring home the distinctive taste of the chain's patty melts, allowing them to recreate the flavor at any meal. Despite its name, this sauce isn't confined to patty melts; it works just as well on any burger, offering a taste that often comes only from a fast-food drive-thru.

The bold, spicy flavor of Whataburger's Patty Melt Sauce stands out. A chipotle purée adds heat, balanced by buttermilk for a subtle, buffalo-style twist. Its versatility extends beyond burgers and can serve as a fry dip. While priced just under $5, the generously sized bottle delivers enough unique flavor to justify the cost, making it a worthwhile addition to the kitchen for any burger enthusiast.

2. Top Secret Recipes Burger Spread

Top Secret Recipes attempts to capture the magic of In-N-Out's famous burger spread, offering a home-friendly version for fans of the beloved burger chain. Initially, there's skepticism—why create two similar burger sauces, with one mimicking McDonald's and another In-N-Out's signature spread? Yet, despite this, the Burger Spread stands apart, capturing the tangy, vinegary kick and the pickle-laden creaminess that In-N-Out fans adore.

The surprise lies in how well this sauce mimics its inspiration. Adding tomato paste gives the spread a distinctive edge, proving that formulation is critical to recreating an authentic burger experience at home. For those longing for the unique flavor of an In-N-Out burger, this sauce is a must-have for recreating that experience in the comfort of their kitchens.

1. Kraft Smoky Hickory Bacon Flavored Aioli

Kraft Smoky Hickory Bacon Flavored Aioli steps in to save the day for burgers missing that smoky, bacon-infused richness. This sauce is more than just a combination of mayo and barbecue flavors; Kraft has crafted a garlic-based aioli infused with hickory and bacon essences, providing a flavorful punch without overwhelming the burger.

Kraft hits the mark with this burger sauce, delivering a taste reminiscent of a bacon cheeseburger—without the need for actual bacon. With ingredients like bacon fat and pork stock, the sauce creates a savory depth that makes any burger feel gourmet. Even for those who usually avoid meat-heavy products, the sauce is irresistible. This spread quickly takes the crown as the top burger sauce, providing a cost-effective alternative to adding bacon while delivering an exceptional burger experience.

Exploring the Unique Flavors of Burger Sauces: A Taste Test Journey

Who would have thought that burger sauces could vary so widely in flavor? Initially expecting them all to taste the same, it was a pleasant surprise to discover how each company adds its unique twist to the formula. Some sauces took a more traditional approach, while others carved out their niche in the crowded market of burger toppings.

To fairly assess each sauce, they were tasted on their own—without the interference of a burger—to get a clear sense of their flavors. Each sauce received two tastings, one for a first impression and another to catch any subtleties. A second comparison round was conducted in cases where two sauces were similar. A palate cleanser between tastings ensured an accurate judgment. After careful consideration, the sauces were ranked based on their ability to elevate a burger, leaving behind a newfound appreciation for the diversity of burger sauces—and a craving for a good burger.