Like many fast food chains, McDonald's has a signature sauce. But while other places like In-N-Out and Chick-fil-A serve the sauces with almost all of their menu items, McDonald's only uses a specific sauce for its Big Macs. Technically, you can ask for it on the side for a small fee, but employees may refuse to give it to you, as commenters on one TikTok pointed out. Fortunately, there's a store-bought alternative that'll allow you to have as much Big Mac-like sauce as you want.
According to avideo posted by TikTok influencer Mike Haracz, a former McDonald's corporate chef, Great Value brand Secret Sauce is the closest thing you'll get to the fast food chain's Big Mac sauce. Since Great Value is a Walmart store brand, the product isn't available at other supermarkets, however, you can order it from the Walmart website if you don't live near one. Great Value Secret Sauce is available on Amazon as well, but it's more expensive — $9 to $12 from various sellers, compared to around $2 on Walmart.com for the same 12-ounce bottle.
Big Mac sauce and Great Value Secret Sauce are nearly identical in terms of ingredients. Back in 2012, Dan Coudreaut, who at the time was the executive chef of McDonald's, revealed on"CBS This Morning" that Big Mac sauce is made with mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, mustard, white wine vinegar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and, perhaps most surprisingly,no ketchup. Sure enough, the same ingredients, with the exception of mustard, appear on the ingredients list on the back of the Great Value bottle. The ratios of these ingredients however are definitely different judging by how the two products taste.
While many customer reviews from both Amazon and Walmart describe the Great Value version as virtually indistinguishable from the real thing, a handful have also mentioned that there are noticeable differences. Mainly, Great Value's is sweeter, slightly more mayonnaise-forward, and not quite as flavorful. Regardless, the reviews are generally positive and the ingredients are as similar as it gets for a store-bought sauce.
Why McDonald's Doesn't Sell Big Mac Sauce In Stores
Considering how popular Big Mac sauce is, you'd think that selling bottles of it would be the perfect business opportunity for McDonald's. But the problem is that Big Mac sauce isn't shelf stable. As Mike Haracz explained in another TikTok, it doesn't contain any preservatives that allow it to sit at room temperature. If McDonald's were to sell Big Mac sauce in stores, it would have to be in the refrigerated section, not with the other condiments.
In the past McDonald's has sold bottles of Big Mac sauce for charity, and more recently it was made available as a dipping sauce on the official menu for a limited time in 2023. However, this Big Mac sauce wasn't the same as the Big Mac sauce served in the restaurants. "They have to reformulate the Big Mac sauce to be shelf stable so that they work in these little sauce cups," Haracz shared. "I don't know if they added more preservatives, more acids, but they basically changed the Big Mac sauce recipe." Several commenters said they could taste a difference, and that could easily be a big reason why McDonald's has decided not to sell bottles of Big Mac sauce in stores.
He noted that if you want something 'store-bought' and 'already prepared', you can count on Walmart's Great Value Secret Sauce. Mike added that this sauce is 'closest' to the Big Mac dip that is 'served in the restaurant. '
Haracz continued, saying fans of the popular fast food chain's sauce who are looking for something that's both “store-bought” and “already purchased” should try Walmart's Great Value Secret Sauce. The sauce, Haracz said, is “closest” to the Big Mac sauce that is “served in the restaurant.”
But ultimately, he made his decision. “The one that best replicated Big Mac sauce from McDonald's that you should go buy if you want it is… Great Value Secret Sauce,” he says, holding up a bottle of Walmart-brand liquid gold. “Look at the ingredients statement — it's almost identical,” Haracz adds.
Available in restaurant, in Drive-Thru, via the My McDonald's App, and also via McDelivery, now is the time to try Big Mac® Special Sauce with any McDonald's menu items whether that's Chicken McNuggets, Veggie Dippers... or perhaps a Big MacFlurry…?
And the sauce has become a thing in its own right. It became a social media craze when McDonald's gave away 10,000 bottles in the U.S. back in 2017. Creamy, tangy, slightly sweet and perfectly dippable, as McDonald's describes it, the Big Mac sauce can be ordered a la carte, apart from the McNuggets deal.
The answer is no… but they are similar. Both of the condiments have a creamy consistency and include pickle relish. But, McDonald's Big Mac Sauce includes vinegar and has a bit more pickle relish in it than Thousand Island dressing.
And you can't just walk in and ask for them — the only way to get the cups is by ordering them on the McDonald's app. According to the golden arches, fans have been asking for a side of Big Mac sauce for years on social media and beyond.
Starting Thursday, April 27, the fast food giant will begin distributing its famous Big Mac Sauce in dip cups. Unlike other popular dips like sweet and sour, BBQ and honey mustard, Big Mac Sauce has remained behind the counter at McDonald's restaurants, reserved only for the chain's signature burger.
Find your nearest restaurant and order your favorite McDonald's sauce from our full menu in the app using contactless Mobile Order & Pay* for pickup or McDelivery®. *At participating McDonald's. Delivery prices may be higher than at restaurants.
Whether you're a longtime fan of the iconic Big Mac sandwich or curious to taste its signature sauce, Big Mac sauce is now available à la carte at McDonald's. Customers can order a dipping cup of the special sauce for 50 cents to accompany french fries or nuggets, but don't expect to ask for it at counter.
In 2018, McDonald's revamped the sauce by removing potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, and calcium disodium EDTA. The sauce is occasionally available for purchase on its own for a limited time. The first time was in 2015. A 25 ml (0.85 U.S. fl oz) tube was available for purchase but only in restaurants in Australia.
According to a video posted by TikTok influencer Mike Haracz, a former McDonald's corporate chef, Great Value brand Secret Sauce is the closest thing you'll get to the fast food chain's Big Mac sauce.
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