Sauces for hamburgers: 13 simple, healthy and gourmet recipes

A good sauce can give your burger a masterful twist, but it can also define its failure if it does not combine well with the ingredients. If you want to show off with a gourmet hamburger or a classic American, we invite you to try the best sauces for hamburgers  we offers you. They are finger licking good!

The best sauces for burgers

Believe it or not, there are too many sauces that deserve to be here: German sauce, tartar sauce, garlic mayonnaise, among others. The decision was difficult, but throughout the following sections we will tell you our chosen ones as the best sauces for hamburgers, which ones would you nominate?

Jack Daniel’s BBQ Sauce

To start, we start with a classic sauce that we will give a different twist: a barbecue or BBQ sauce with Jack Daniel’s whiskey. You will need these ingredients to prepare it:

• 200 grams of ketchup
• 50ml Jack Daniel’s whiskey
• 60 ml of honey
• 40ml apple cider vinegar
• 10ml lemon juice
• 10 ml Worcestershire sauce
• 10 ml soy sauce
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1 tsp. mustard powder
• 1 tsp. garlic powder

Does your mouth water just knowing the ingredients? The final sauce is even better! To prepare it, just follow these steps:

1. Pour all the food into a saucepan and mix very well, until completely integrated. Cook over low heat.
2. Wait until it starts to boil, then lower the flame and continue cooking over low heat.
3. Wait until the mixture reduces, about 10-15 minutes. You will know that the sauce is ready when the alcohol has evaporated and the mixture has body (thickness).
4. Before consuming it, transfer the sauce to a container to cool. You can keep what is left in a well-closed jar and keep it in the refrigerator.

Other top sauces:

• honey barbecue sauce
• Cheddar cheese sauce with milk

The easiest and fastest burger sauce

To choose the best sauces for burgers, we take into account aspects such as the time it takes to make the recipe. In this case, we present you a sauce that you can have ready in a very short time.

Special sauce for hamburgers

This special sauce is inspired by the original sauce of a famous fast food chain. We can only tell you that you have to try it for yourself. These are its ingredients:

• 1 cup of mayonnaise
• ½ ketchup
• ¼ American mustard
• 2 tbsp. sweet and sour pickled cucumbers (finely chopped)
• 1 tsp. coffee
• 1 tbsp. white vinegar (or lemon juice)
• 1 tbsp. garlic powder
• 1 tbsp. onion powder (also works dehydrated onion, which you must grind, or fresh white onion chopped very fine)
• Hot sauce to taste (optional)
• 1 tsp. sweet paprika
• ½ tbsp. sugar
• 1 pinch of ground black pepper (freshly ground is even better)
• ¼ tsp. fine salt
• 1 pinch of Worcestershire sauce (optional)

Do you already have all the ingredients? Follow these steps to prepare it:

1. Incorporate all the ingredients into a bowl, mix energetically for 2 minutes or until they are completely integrated.
2. Cover the mixture and refrigerate for approximately 2 hours before consuming.
3. If you do not plan to consume it that same day or you have leftover sauce, preferably store it in a glass jar that is hermetically sealed, so it will be properly preserved. This sauce can be kept fresh for 5-7 days. If you use homemade mayonnaise with unpasteurized eggs, you must consume the sauce the same day. If the eggs are pasteurized, you have up to 2 days.
4. Tip: Worcestershire sauce adds depth to the mix but is optional.

American hamburger sauces

The classic American burger stands out for its simplicity. Generally, it is made up of meat, bread, some vegetables (onion, tomato, pickles and lettuce), basic sauces (mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard) and cheese (cheddar or yellow).

Homemade ketchup sauce

If you are one of those who likes classic and simple burgers, this sauce is for you! Prepare it at home and enjoy a hamburger of your own creation from the first ingredient to the last.

• 1 kg of ripe tomatoes (chopped)
• 1 onion (chopped)
• 1 green bell pepper (chopped without seeds)
• 1 garlic clove (peeled)
• 50 grams of brown sugar (also works white sugar, brown sugar, prunes or some sweetener)
• 70 ml vinegar (preferably white or apple)
• ½ tsp. sweet paprika
• ½ tsp. mustard powder
• 1 pinch of cinnamon
• 1 pinch of ground pepper (preferably freshly ground)
• 1 pinch ground cloves (preferably freshly ground)
• ½ tsp. fine salt
• 1 string bean (optional)
• ½ tbsp. thickener can be corn starch, corn flour, banana or cassava (optional).

The preparation of this sauce for American hamburgers only takes these steps:

• Place all the solid ingredients in a saucepan and cook for 40 minutes or until the ingredients are tender.
• After the time, remove the preparation from the heat and let it cool.
• Pour the preparation into the blender and blend until a homogeneous consistency is achieved.
• Add the spices, sugar and vinegar.
• Cook for 1 hour, over low heat. Stir frequently until a kind of thick puree remains.
• Strain in case there are any remains of vegetables.
• Store the sauce in a clean glass jar, let it cool and then cover it very well. Store in the fridge until serving.

American mustard

Mustard is one of the most emblematic sauces in American fast food, so it could not be missing from this list. Prepare it at home with these ingredients:

• 1 ½ cup old-fashioned mustard
• ½ cup wine or apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp. grated ginger, juice only (optional)
• 2 tablespoons of turmeric
• 1 ½ Water the same amount as the mustard
• 2 tsp. honey or brown sugar
• Salt to taste

Follow the instructions and enjoy your homemade mustard:

• Pour the old mustard and water into a saucepan, mix both very well.
• Cook the mixture and stir constantly.
• Add turmeric and keep stirring.
• Cook until mustard thickens. Once cooked, let it cool. When cooked, the turmeric will accentuate the yellow color that characterizes this sauce.
• Process the mixture in the blender, add vinegar, honey and rectify the salt (to taste).
• Strain the preparation if you prefer it to be smoother.

Another sauce that cannot be missing in your American hamburgers:

• Homemade Mayonnaise

Sauces for vegan and vegetarian burgers

When it comes to healthy, animal-free burgers, you’re sure to enjoy the vegan tartar sauce, the vegan soymilk sauce, and the vegan avocado sauce, all with no regrets! None of these sauces contain eggs or dairy, and they are great!

Vegan tartar sauce

Tartar sauce is one of those sauces that go well with just about anything, but especially hamburgers, hot dogs, and other fast food dishes. Prepare this vegan version with these ingredients:

• 1 cup vegan
• 1 tbsp. purple or white onion (grated)
• 1 tbsp. canned pickles (chopped)
• 1 tbsp. green olives or capers (chopped)
• 1 tbsp. parsley (finely chopped)
• 1 tsp. apple (grated)
• 1 pinch of salt and pepper (to taste)
• 1 pinch liquid powdered sweetener (optional)
• 1 tsp. grated turmeric or prepared mustard (optional)

These are the steps you must follow to make the vegan tartar sauce:

• Incorporate all the ingredients into a bowl (except the mustard and salt).
• Mix them with a wooden spoon, in an enveloping way.
• Taste and adjust the salt and pepper, if necessary.

Healthy burger sauces

If you want to take a culinary getaway, but you’re on a diet, don’t worry, you can get away with it without feeling so guilty. Both yogurt and vegan mayonnaise will delight you, just like any mayonnaise made from eggs.

Yogurt mayonnaise

If you want to prepare this delicious low-calorie yogurt mayonnaise, look for these ingredients now:

• 175 g plain yogurt (low calorie)
• 5 tablespoons of virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. mustard
• 1 pinch ground black pepper (freshly ground is best)
• 1 pinch of salt

Proceed with crafting and pay attention to these steps:

• Incorporate all the ingredients in the blender, except the oil.
• Mix until you get a homogeneous consistency.
• Slowly add the oil, in the form of thread, while you beat the preparation. Do it at low or medium speed, until it emulsifies.
• Refrigerate and serve.

Sauces for gourmet burgers

When talking about gourmet sauces, it is about putting creativity at the service of the palate. That is, knowing how to combine the ingredients of the sauce, so that they harmonize with the flavors of the hamburger. The result of this? A true sensory spectacle.

Andalusia sauce

The first gourmet sauce that we bring you is this Andalusia sauce made with bell peppers. We love it and we know you will too! These are the ingredients:

• 50 gr of red bell pepper (chopped brunoised or very small)
• 50g green bell pepper (chopped very finely or brunoised)
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 100 gr of mayonnaise (commercial or homemade)
• Pepper to taste
• Salt to taste

Prepare the best Andalusia sauce following the steps that we detail below:

• Pour the mayonnaise into a bowl; add the chopped red and green peppers. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Mix all the ingredients until they are completely integrated.
• Cover the bowl with cling film.
• Let stand for a few minutes in the fridge.