33 Comments
If you’ve eaten at any burger joints in Utah or Idaho (like Crown Burger, Arctic Circle, or Sconecutter), you might be familiar with our favorite dip and condiment: fry sauce. In fact, I think you would be hard-pressed to find a Utahn who doesn’t think fry sauce is the best-tasting condiment for burgers and fries!
Jillee’s Take:
Utah-based burger chain Arctic Circle claims to have invented the original fry sauce in the 1940s, but combinations of ketchup and mayo are not exactly unique! Variations of this ketchup mayo sauce recipe are enjoyed worldwide, from Argentinian salsa rosada (“golf sauce”) to German rott weiss (“red white”).
It wasn’t until a friend of mine opened a hamburger joint that I cracked the code to making great homemade fry sauce. A splash of pickle juice elevates the somewhat pedestrian combination of mayonnaise and ketchup, transforming it into the creamy, savory fry sauce we Utahns know and love.
If you’re looking for a delicious french fry sauce to try, make this easy fry sauce recipe the next time you make fries or reheat leftover fries at home.
Table Of Contents
How To Make Fry Sauce
What is fry sauce, you ask? Fry sauce is typically made with mayo and ketchup and may include pickle juice, vinegar, or various seasonings. (Fry sauce is similar to Thousand Island dressing, but uses pickle juice rather than pickle relish.)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 3-4 tsp pickle juice
Directions:
Add the mayo, ketchup, and onion powder to a small bowl and whisk thoroughly to combine. Add the pickle juice one teaspoon at a time, stirring and tasting after each addition. Store your finished homemade fry sauce dip in an airtight container in the fridge.
You can use juice from any jarred pickles in this recipe — dill, bread and butter, and even sweet pickles are all great options!
How to Enjoy Leftovers
Store leftover fry sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Using Your Homemade Fry Sauce
Fry sauce makes a great dipping sauce for crispy oven-baked french fries, potato wedges, onion rings, corn dogs, chicken wings, jalapeño poppers, chicken nuggets, and hush puppies. You can dip most crispy snack foods into this amazing sauce!
This homemade fry sauce recipe makes a delicious dressing and condiment too. It’s a fantastic burger sauce and a great addition to hot dogs and sandwiches. It has a wonderful sweet and tangy flavor, but a dash of Worcestershire sauce is great for added umami.
Customizing Your Fry Sauce
The basic recipe is tried and true, but there are endless delicious variations on fry sauce for those who want to expand their flavor horizons. Some people swap out the ketchup for BBQ sauce or chili sauce, while others use Miracle Whip rather than standard mayonnaise.
Here are a few flavorful additions you might like to try:
More Ideas You'll Love
- Mustard: Adds a sharp, tangy flavor.
- Relish: Swap the pickle juice for relish for added texture and crunch.
- Paprika: Adds a rich, smoky flavor and a hint of sweetness.
- Salt: Use to balance a sweeter sauce or enhance overall flavor.
- Honey: Adds sweetness.
- Lemon juice: Use instead of pickle juice for a tangier sauce.
- White vinegar: Use instead of pickle juice for tanginess without the pickle flavor.
- Minced pickles or capers: Use instead of pickle juice.
- Horseradish: Adds heat and flavor.
- Seasoned salt: Use instead of onion or garlic powder.
- Hot sauce: Adds heat.
- Spicy brown mustard: Adds heat and tangy flavor.
- Black or white pepper: Adds subtle heat and great flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce: Use for a savory flavor without adding more salt.
- Ground cumin: Adds earthiness and umami.
“I use red wine vinegar in [fry sauce] to cut the sweetness. I also like to season it with Canadian steak spice.”
– OGT Reader Ellen D.
BONUS: Restaurant Fry Sauce Copycat Recipes
Think a certain restaurant chain has the best fry sauce ever? These copycat fry sauce recipes will help you replicate that fry dip at home!
| Mayonnaise | Ketchup | Acid | Seasonings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Circle Fry Sauce | 1 cup | 1/2 cup | 3-4 tsp pickle juice | 1/2 tsp onion powder |
| Crown Burger Fry Sauce | 1/2 cup | 1/4 cup | 1 Tbsp vinegar | 1 Tbsp sugar, 2 tsp relish, pickle juice, salt to taste |
| Zips Fry Sauce | 1 cup | 1/2 cup | 1 Tbsp vinegar or pickle juice | Sriracha, seasoned salt, onion or garlic powder, black pepper (all to taste) |
| Five Guys Fry Sauce | 1 cup | 2/3 cup | 1 Tbsp pickle juice | 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp paprika, pinch of cayenne (optional) |
(Looking for Dairy Queen fry sauce? Unfortunately, it no longer appears on their menu or website, but any of the variations above are sure to be fairly close!)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fry Sauce Gluten-Free?
To make homemade fry sauce gluten-free, ensure that the mayonnaise you’re using doesn’t contain soy. Most ketchups and pickles are gluten-free as they don’t contain malt.
Does Fry Sauce Contain Dairy?
Fry sauce gets its creamy quality from mayonnaise, which is made using oil and eggs. No dairy here!
Where Did Fry Sauce Originate?
Utah-based burger chain Arctic Circle claims to have invented fry sauce in the 1940s, but whether they were truly the first to combine ketchup and mayo is uncertain.
Is Fry Sauce Vegan?
Since most mayonnaise is made with eggs, most fry sauces are not vegan. You can make vegan fry sauce at home using store-bought or homemade vegan mayo.
Conclusion
Now that you know exactly what is in fry sauce, you can enjoy it at home anytime you like! This easy dipping sauce for fries is sure to become a new family favorite.
What’s your favorite dipping sauce for french fries?
Fry Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 3-4 tsp pickle juice
Instructions
- Combine mayo, ketchup, and onion powder in a small bowl.
- Add pickle juice one teaspoon at a time, to taste.
Video
Nutrition
More Ideas You'll Love
