What Sauces Does Burger King Have, Taste Test & Pairings
Known for its juicy burgers and delicious sides, Burger King really is the king of burgers. Still, the magic of their delicacies doesn’t consist only of the patty, the fries, or the veggies. The true Burger King magic is in the sauce. And I have a lot to say about sauces! So, what sauces does Burger King have?
Burger King has seven main sauces: ketchup, mayo, garlic sauce, extra hot, BBQ sauce, sweet and sour sauce, and sour cream sauce. There are also nine dips, such as curry dip, BBQ dip, sour cream dip, tartar dip, sweet and sour, chili cheese, garlic dip, ketchup, and mayo.
When it comes to Burger King sauces, there seems to be a general misunderstanding as to the types of sauces they offer. You will likely find some misinformation online, which is what compelled me to write this article and set things straight. In the following paragraphs, I will tell you everything about their sauces and dips and how to pair them. And there’s a table summary, so you can check that out if you don’t want to get all the details.
List of Burger King Sauces
When it comes to Burger King sauces, there are many misconceptions as to what sauces they offer. The sauces are often named with the wrong names and confused for dips. Below are the seven main Burger King sauces.
Ketchup Sauce/Dip
Although it sounds very basic, the Burger King ketchup is definitely not an ordinary one. You can’t just buy it and be done with it. I love it for its tangy and sweet notes, intertwined with a slightly savory dimension with a zesty and acidic tomato note.
Because it does a great job piercing through stronger flavors, I recommend the Burger King ketchup sauce for meaty treats such as burgers, hot dogs, or chicken nuggets, but also for dip-fried veggies such as fries and onion rings. Maybe it’s just me, but the crispier the food, the better the ketchup sauce works.
Even though you can’t buy it, you can make a pretty close version of it at home. Mix tomato ketchup, sugar, vinegar, and spices such as onion powder and garlic powder, and salt to taste. I’ve made this Burger King ketchup sauce replica many times, and I always play it by ear.
Add the ingredients in small amounts and see how it feels. Finally, customize as needed.
Mayo Sauce/Dip
The Burger King mayo sauce is a true creamy delight. It’s rich and slightly tangy with a smooth texture. I love it for its perfect balance between tangy and salty, with a very subtle savory note you just can’t get from another place.
It fits perfectly in many Burger King items, but I find it best in sandwiches, burgers, and chicken nuggets. Still, you can pair it any way you like.
Just like the ketchup sauce, you can’t just buy the mayo sauce, either. But do not despair, because you can easily make it at home. Whisk together egg yolks, oil, vinegar or lemon juice, mustard, and salt until you get a creamy mayo-like consistency.
Garlic Sauce/Dip
This Burger King sauce is a story your breath will tell, and it will be absolutely worth it. Creamy and smooth with a strong garlic flavor and a hint of tanginess, this sauce is a gift that keeps on giving. Just a little smear will make your food absolutely irresistible.
I love it with their crunchy chicken sandwiches, as well as wraps, but it also does a great job paired with their flame-grilled burger line. I don’t recommend having it with fries because it just doesn’t work as well as you may think. It works great with the plant-based burger!
And the best news is you can make it at home! Mix mayonnaise, fresh garlic, lemon juice, salt, and perhaps some yogurt for a smoother texture. It turns out delicious!
Extra Hot Sauce
I think that the extra hot sauce is the one known as Buffalo sauce, but the official Burger King website doesn’t list it as a separate sauce. Still, based on the ingredients and flavor, it is safe to say that it may be this one.
Even though this sauce isn’t exactly my cup of tea because I’m not a big fan of hot sauces, I cannot underestimate its greatness. For people who love the hot sensation, this sauce is their ticket to heaven.
It is intensely spicy and fiery, and it typically contains chili peppers, though the precise Burger King recipe is shrouded in mystery.
Pair it with the greasiest and juiciest Burger King burger you can find, and thank me later. I would recommend the Big King XXL, the Double Cheeseburger, and the Extra Long Chili cheese, but feel free to go another way if that’s what you want.
To make this hot delicacy at home, blend hot chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, and salt until smooth, or use a favorite store-bought hot sauce.
BBQ Sauce/Dip
I may not be the best person to talk about BBQ sauce because I am too biased about it. I love the Burger King BBQ sauce, and I could eat it with plain bread and still have the time of my life. Sweet, smoky, tangy, and slightly spicy, the Burger King BBQ sauce makes the meaty meals even meatier and the veggie meals even fancier.
Take your pick from the entire Burger King menu and enjoy a burger, a crunchy chicken sandwich, or a veggie delight with this delicacy. Fries are also a great idea.
Mix ketchup, molasses, vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and spices like paprika and onion powder to make it at home. It’s a simple and rewarding process.
Sweet and Sour Sauce/Dip
The sweet and sour Burger King sauce is simply irresistible. It is gentle yet pungent and very flavorful. It is sweet, tangy, and slightly savory, with a balance of sugar and vinegar perfectly balancing the different flavors, creating a delicious result.
I recommend the sweet and sour sauce/dip for lighter Burger King meals, such as crunchy chicken sandwiches or the plant-based option. Fries are, of course, a great pairing.
To make it at home, combine sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, ketchup, and pineapple juice with optional cornstarch to thicken. You will get a great condiment to enrich even the dullest of dishes.
Sour Cream Sauce/Dip
The King Burger sour cream sauce is definitely a unique and original sauce/dip you can’t find anywhere except Burger King. It is creamy, slightly tangy, and rich with a smooth texture, creating a delightful mouthwatering sensation.
Honestly, I love everything Burger King offers, from a big juicy burger to a crunchy chicken sandwich, a plate of fries, or a plant-based sandwich. I also find it most delicious when I mix it with the garlic sauce.
You can easily make it home, so you can have it anytime you want. Mix sour cream, some vinegar or lemon juice, salt, and herbs like dill or chives. It also works great with a spoon of Greek yogurt.
List of Burger King Dips
Burger King has nine main dips, some of which are the same as the sauces, for example, the ketchup dip, mayo dip, sweet and sour, sour cream dip, the garlic dip, and the BBQ dip. The difference between these dips and sauces is the consistency, i.e., the dips are thicker than the sauces, but the flavor is hardly any different.
Curry Dip
The Burger King curry dip is a classic curry-flavored dip that fits excellent in many combos. I love its intensity and mild sweetness, with a whole lot of spiciness and pronounced curry flavor.
Fries are the by-far best option to pair with curry dip, but crunchy chicken sandwiches, chicken nuggets, onion rings, and the plant-based menu also go great with this dip.
This is probably the easiest dip to replicate at home. Just mix mayonnaise, curry, turmeric, and perhaps a bit of sour cream, and you’re all set.
Tartar Dip
Tartar dip is definitely one of my favorite dips at Burger King. Creamy, tangy, slightly sweet, and delicious, it is a zesty delicacy I simply can’t get enough of. There is something about the Burger King tartar sauce that makes it irresistible to the taste buds.
Since it is light and very versatile, you can pair it with nuggets, fries, and veggie options, as well as onion rings, fish nuggets, hash browns, or Mexican drumlets.
For a DIY version, blend mayonnaise, pickles, capers, mustard, and a touch of lemon juice, and you’ll have a delicious tartar sauce.
Chili Cheese Dip
This dip is a spicy, cheesy, and slightly smoky miracle you just can’t get from another place. I love it for its chili, cheese, and hot sauce notes, making this dip an absolute delight.
I love this dip with the Supreme Nachos Deluxe Tendercrisp, but it also pairs great with chicken nuggets, veggie burgers, as well as fries.
I love making this one at home! You just need to combine chili powder, cheese, paprika, and hot sauce with melted cheese or a cheese sauce base. That’s it!
Extra mysterious burger sauce: Burger King Brazil has announced a Barbie-inspired burger with a pink sauce —I would love to try it out, but unfortunately cannot spare a trip to Brazil. How do you feel about the pink sauce?
| Burger King Sauce | Taste | Pairings | DIY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketchup | Classic tangy tomato flavor | Burgers, fries, onion rings | tomato paste, vinegar, sugar, and spices |
| Mayonnaise | Creamy and rich | Burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries | egg yolks, mustard, lemon juice, and oil |
| Garlic sauce | Creamy, tangy, and herby | Chicken nuggets, fries, salads | mayonnaise, herbs, and spices |
| BBQ Sauce | Sweet, smoky, and tangy | Burgers, chicken sandwiches, onion rings | ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and spices |
| Extra hot sauce | Spicy and tangy with a hint of butter | Chicken drums, burgers | hot sauce, butter, vinegar, and spices |
| Sweet and Sour Sauce | Sweet, tangy, and slightly fruity | Chicken nuggets, onion rings, fries | pineapple juice, vinegar, sugar, and spices |
| Sour cream Sauce | Creamy and slightly spicy | Onion rings, chicken sandwiches, fries | sour cream, and spices |
| Burger King Dip | Taste | Pairings | DIY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curry Dip | Savory with a hint of sweetness and spices | Chicken nuggets, onion rings, fries | mayonnaise, curry powder, turmeric, and spices |
| Tartar Dip | Creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet | Nuggets, burgers, crunchy chicken sandwiches, veggie menu | mayonnaise, pickles, capers, mustard, or relish |
| Chili Cheese Dip | Spicy, cheesy, and slightly smoky | French fries, onion rings, | chili powder, cheese, paprika, hot sauce |
Which Burger King Sauces Are Vegan?
Burger King has vegan-friendly sauce options such as ketchup and BBQ, but you may want to ask for another option at the location because they have them.
What Is the Best Burger King Sauce for Nuggets?
For me, it’s the curry and tartar dips, but it’s a subjective matter.
This is a hard question since Burger King nuggets are very versatile in terms of pairing with sauce. The bottom line is — choose the sauce you like best.
What Is the Best Burger King Sauce for Onion Rings?
The tartar dip is great for onion rings, as well as the curry dip and the honey-mustard sauce. Still, the honey-mustard sauce isn’t displayed on the official Burger King website, so it may not be a part of their standard sauce menu, though I’ve had it many times there.
What Is the Best Breakfast Sauce at Burger King?
That would be the King Burger Breakfast Burrito Sauce. Tangy, creamy, and fresh, it is a perfect way to start your day.
How do you feel about Burger King sauces? I’m excited to read about your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
