• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Kathy's Vegan Kitchen
  • Recipes
  • Categories
    • Vegan Entrees
    • Breakfast
    • Sandwiches
    • Small Bites
    • Vegan Desserts
    • Sauces, Dips & Dressings
    • Vegan Sides
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • How-To
    • Our Vegan Life
  • Vegan Reviews
    • Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service
    • Purple Carrot Review
    • Veestro Review
    • Fresh N’ Lean Review
  • About
  • TOP 50 EBOOK
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPES
  • COMFORT FOOD
  • COOKBOOK
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ABOUT
    • RECIPES
    • COMFORT FOOD
    • COOKBOOK
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home / Recipes / Sauces, Dips & Dressings

    Secret Sauce

    Published: Aug 29, 2020 · Modified: Feb 6, 2023 by Kathy Carmichael · This post may contain affiliate links.

    67 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    What's in the secret sauce? Everyone loves sauce, but it's usually unhealthy! Not my secret sauce recipe. Mix some simple ingredients, and you will have the magical secret sauce for your next burger, sandwich, or dipping pleasure.

    I am spreading secret sauce on a hamburger bun for a tofu burger with tomatoes and cucumbers. Vegan macaroni salad is on the side in a bowl.

    When I was a kid, believe it or not, I didn't like McDonald's. I used to tell my mom the burgers smelled like my dad's feet. Back then, my parents considered a trip to McDonald's a great night out. And, my reaction didn't go over well with my dad. Thank goodness, my mom always stasheed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in her purse for me. There was, however, one food I loved at McDonald's, french fries with secret sauce. Of course, the secret sauce wasn't vegan. My secret sauce recipe tastes fabulous.

    Jump to:
    • Sauce Ingredients
    • Sauce Ingredient Substitutions
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Tips
    • The Best Vegan Sauces
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    For those of you who know me, you know I love sauce. I'm all about it, if it's a dip, sauce, or dressing. So, I nailed my own version of a secret sauce recipe when I decided to make it.  

    Sauce Ingredients

    Secret sauce ingredients in a bowl.

    You only need some typical ingredients in your refrigerator to make an incredible sauce recipe. First, you need some plant-based mayo. Because I cook without oil, I make my vegan cashew mayo. Then, you need a few more ingredients:

    • Ketchup: I use organic ketchup, which is tangy and delicious.
    • Dill Pickle Relish: Pickle relish is a jam-like condiment made from pickled or fresh cucumbers seasoned with vinegar, salt, and spices. 
    • Whole-Grain Mustard: Whole-grain mustard is a prepared condiment that is only partially blended, with some of the mustard seeds still visible, creating an overall coarse and slightly pasty texture.
    • Garlic: I prefer using fresh garlic whenever possible.
    • Onion Powder: Onion powder is basically dried onion that's been ground. Although dried onion is just the onion flesh, onion powder can also include dehydrated onion skins and roots.
    • Dried Dill: Dried dill is made by drying fresh dill leaves, stems, and flowers. This process removes moisture from the plant, which makes it easier to transport and preserve.
    • Salt: Salt brings out the flavors in the secret sauce.
    • Pepper: Fresh ground pepper is preferred for this recipe.

    Sauce Ingredient Substitutions

    • For a nut-free option, substitute the cashews in the vegan mayo with sunflower seeds.
    • Or, instead of cashew mayo, opt for vegan unsweetened, unflavored yogurt or silken tofu.
    • Another nut-free option is to make the cashew mayo with white beans instead of cashews.
    • Tomato paste is often used as a substitute for ketchup. Add 2 Tablespoons of water, and it works well.
    • Stone-ground mustard is similar in taste to whole-grain mustard.
    • One clove of garlic equals about ⅛th of a teaspoon of garlic powder.
    • Onion powder is three times more potent than dried onion, so for 1 cup of fresh onion, you would substitute only 1 tablespoon of onion powder.
    • Here's the substitution ratio for substituting fresh and dried herbs: Ratio: 1 tablespoon fresh dill = 1 teaspoon dried dill. This substitution ratio works for any dried herbs.

    Then, stir, cover, and place the secret sauce in the refrigerator until you can put the sauce on your favorite burger or sandwich. 

    Secret  sauce recipe in a bowl with a spoon.

    Recently, I made a tofu burger and spread this sauce on my burger buns. And it was a big hit with the family. 

    Tofu burger with secret sauce on the bun.

    Additionally, I serve secret sauce when I grill beet burgers as well. 

    Beet burger with secret sauce on the burger bun.

    And this sauce is great on a grilled portobello mushroom burger. 

    Portobello burger with sauce.

    So, the next time you plan to cook burgers, make a little yummy sauce to add something-something to your burgers. 

    Recipe FAQs

    How do I make my secret sauce healthy?

    You can make secret sauce healthy by making plant-based mayo. You can use tofu, cashew, avocado, or even cauliflower. 

    How long does homemade vegan mayo last in the fridge?

    It takes about 4-7 days. Leftover vegan mayo for secret sauces should be in an airtight container and placed in the fridge for 4 to 7 days. 

    What is a traditional secret sauce made of?

    There are many variations of secret or special sauce. Generally, they consist of a base of mayonnaise, ketchup, and relish. In addition, other ingredients like mustard, vinegar, or Worcestershire are often added.

    Tips

    • Instead of dill pickle relish, chop your favorite pickles for a less processed option.
    • Try sweet or spicy pickle relish for a different flavor.
    • To use this sauce as a dressing, instead of a spread or dip, think it out by adding ¼ more water.
    • This secret sauce recipe lasts 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
    • I do not recommend freezing this sauce recipe.

    If you love sauce, give this vegan secret sauce recipe a try. It's a fabulous dipping sauce for veggies or fries and tastes incredible on your favorite plant-based burgers.

    The Best Vegan Sauces

    • vegan calamari recipe
      Vegan Calamari
    • cashew mac and cheese recipe
      Cashew Mac and Cheese
    • Thai peanut dressing
      Peanut Thai Dressing
    • Beet Dip Recipe
      Beet Dip

    If you love this secret sauce recipe, give us a 5-star review and comment below. We would love to hear from you!

    📖 Recipe

    Secret sauce

    Secret Sauce

    Kathy Carmichael
    What's in the secret sauce? Everyone loves sauce, but it's usually unhealthy! Not my secret sauce. Mix some simple ingredients, and you will have the magical secret sauce for your next burger, sandwich, or dipping pleasure.
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 7 mins
    Total Time 7 mins
    Course Sauces, Dips & Dressings
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 66 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup cashew mayo or vegan mayo of choice
    • 2 tablespoons ketchup
    • 2 Tablespoons dill pickle relish or chopped dill pickles
    • 1 teaspoon whole grain mustard
    • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon dried dill
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper

    Instructions
     

    Secret Sauce

    • Make cashew mayo and place ½ cup into a bowl.
    • Add all the other ingredients.
    • Stir, cover, and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
    • Secret sauce will last 5 days in the refrigerator but only last briefly at my house.

    Notes

    • Instead of dill pickle relish, chop your favorite pickles for a less processed option.
    • Try sweet or spicy pickle relish for a different flavor.
    • To use this secret sauce as a dressing, instead of a spread or dip, think it out by adding ¼ more water.
    • This secret sauce recipe lasts 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
    • I do not recommend freezing this sauce recipe.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 66kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 0.1gFat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 205mgPotassium: 14mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 20IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.1mg
    Tried our recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Kathy Carmichael

    Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂

    www.kathysvegankitchen.com/about-me/

    More Sauces, Dips & Dressings

    • cranberry orange sauce recipe
      Cranberry Orange Sauce
    • vegan sour cream recipe
      Vegan Sour Cream
    • vegan pumpkin dip recipe
      Vegan Pumpkin Dip
    • vegan caramel sauce recipe
      Vegan Caramel Sauce

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    1. Robin

      August 30, 2020 at 7:39 am

      HI Kathy could I get your tofu burger recipe? also did you use oil to fry them?

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        August 30, 2020 at 9:52 am

        Hi Robin, I grilled the tofu burgers. If you go on the blog, the tofu burger recipe is on the front page. Or use the active link on the secret sauce recipe.

        Reply
    2. Anonymous

      August 29, 2020 at 9:17 pm

      5 stars

      Reply
    3. Anonymous

      August 29, 2020 at 9:17 pm

      4 stars

      Reply
    4. Anonymous

      August 29, 2020 at 5:14 pm

      5 stars

      Reply
    5. Anonymous

      August 29, 2020 at 4:36 pm

      5 stars

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Kathy! I love creating delicious whole foods plant-based recipes. I believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet!

    More about me →

    Vegan Comfort Food

    • lentil meatloaf
      Vegan Meatloaf
    • Vegan Crunchwrap Supreme
      Vegan Crunchwrap Supreme
    • vegan goulash recipe
      Vegan Goulash
    • vegan drunken noodles recipe
      Vegan Drunken Noodles
    • vegan chicken salad recipe
      Vegan Chicken Salad
    • BEET BURGER
      Beet Burger

    Top 50 Recipes Cookbook

    Popular

    • vegans tir fry recipe
      Vegan Stir Fry
    • mango salad
      Mango Salad
    • lentil meatloaf
      Vegan Meatloaf
    • vegan chicken salad recipe
      Vegan Chicken Salad
    • Bean Salad With Oil Free Dressing
    • vegan drunken noodles recipe
      Vegan Drunken Noodles

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Affiliate Policy

    Cookbook

    • My Top 50 Recipe Cookbook!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About Me
    • Work With Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Made with ♥️ in Arizona.

    Copyright © Kathy's Vegan Kitchen :)

    67 shares