✔ Published · new copycat recipe with homemade King sauce
This copycat Burger King Big King stacks two thin, charred beef patties with melty American cheese, pickles, onion, lettuce and creamy homemade King sauce on a sesame bun. Double-decker burger joy in just 25 minutes!
What Is the Big King? (Quick Answer)
The Big King is Burger King's double cheeseburger with two flame-grilled beef patties, American cheese, a creamy King sauce, lettuce, onion and pickles on a sesame bun. It has been on the menu at various times and still appears in some countries. To make a copycat, grill eight thin 2-ounce patties to 160°F (71°C) and stack two per bun with cheese and a Thousand Island-style sauce.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Press the 2-ounce patties paper-thin between parchment. Thin patties char fast over high heat, hit 160°F in about 4 minutes and stack up neatly, so you can actually fit the burger in your mouth!
Why You'll Love This Big King Copycat
- Two thin, charred patties for more crispy edges in every bite.
- A creamy, tangy King sauce made from pantry staples in 2 minutes.
- Ready in 25 minutes, on the grill or a stovetop grill pan.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Mince the onion very fine. In the sauce and on the burger, tiny pieces give big flavor without crunchy chunks.
- Rest the sauce. Even 15 minutes in the fridge lets the onion and garlic mellow into the mayo. Make it first, then forget about it.
- Keep patties cold until cooking. Thin patties are much easier to handle straight from the fridge, and they hold together on the grill.
- Shred the lettuce finely. Thin shreds sit flat in the sauce and don't make a break for it out of the bun.
- Check 160°F. Ground beef should reach 160°F (71°C) in the center. Thin patties get there fast, so check after 2 minutes per side.
Copycat Burger King Big King with King Sauce
4
burgers15
minutes10
minutes610
kcal25
minutesA copycat-style Big King: two thin, flame-grilled 2-ounce beef patties cooked to 160°F with American cheese, a creamy Thousand Island-style King sauce, shredded lettuce, finely chopped white onion and dill pickles on a toasted sesame seed bun, with an optional middle bun.
Ingredients
- For the King Sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon white onion, very finely minced
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- For the Burgers
1 pound ground beef, 80/20
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 slices American cheese
4 sesame seed hamburger buns (plus 4 extra bottoms for an optional middle bun)
1 1/2 cups iceberg lettuce, finely shredded
1/4 cup white onion, finely chopped
16 dill pickle chips
Directions
- Make the King Sauce
- Stir together the mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, minced onion, mustard, vinegar, sugar, paprika and garlic powder. Cover and refrigerate while you cook.
- Cook the Patties
- Divide the beef into 8 portions of 2 ounces. Press each between parchment into a very thin patty about 4 1/2 inches wide. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat a grill to high or a cast-iron grill pan over medium-high heat. Toast the cut sides of the buns for 30 to 60 seconds and set aside.
- Cook the patties for about 2 minutes per side, until charred and 160°F (71°C) in the center. Lay a slice of American cheese on 4 of the patties during the last 30 seconds.
- Build
- Spread King sauce on each bottom bun and add lettuce, chopped onion and 4 pickle chips. Add a cheese-topped patty, then a plain patty (with an optional sauced middle bun between them). Spread more sauce on the top bun, close and serve.
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Big King vs. Whopper vs. Big Mac-Style Burgers
| Burger | Patties | Sauce | Toppings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big King (this copycat) | 2 thin patties | King sauce | American cheese, lettuce, onion, pickles |
| Whopper | 1 large thin patty | Mayo and ketchup | Lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles |
| Big Mac-style | 2 patties, middle bun | Special sauce | Lettuce, onion, pickles, cheese |
Variations
- Big King XL-style: use two 4-ounce patties and 2 slices of cheese per burger.
- With a middle bun: add an extra toasted bottom bun between the patties with a little more sauce for a three-part build.
- Bacon: add 2 strips of crisp bacon to each burger.
- Different sauce: swap in our tangy, smoky Stacker sauce.
More Burger King Copycat Recipes
Try our copycat Whopper and serve with Burger King onion rings and zesty sauce. Browse all of our Burger King copycat recipes. Want even more? Make our copycat Burger King Bacon King with two quarter-pound patties and thick-cut bacon. Feeding kids? Our copycat Burger King Whopper Jr. is the smaller single-patty option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is on a Burger King Big King?
The Big King is a double cheeseburger built with two flame-grilled beef patties, American cheese, a creamy King sauce, lettuce, onions and pickles on a sesame seed bun. Versions have varied over the years and by country, including some with a middle bun.
What is King sauce made of?
Burger King doesn't publish its recipe. It tastes like a Thousand Island-style special sauce. This copycat uses mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, minced onion, yellow mustard, white vinegar, sugar, paprika and garlic powder.
Is the Big King still sold at Burger King?
It has come and gone on the US menu over the years and is sold in some other countries. Availability changes by location, so check the Burger King app near you. This recipe lets you make one at home any time.
How is the Big King different from a Whopper?
A Whopper uses one large, thin flame-grilled patty with mayo, ketchup, pickles, onion, tomato and lettuce. The Big King uses two smaller patties with American cheese and a creamy special sauce, and no tomato or ketchup.
Can I make King sauce ahead?
Yes. It keeps in a covered jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. Stir before using. Don't freeze it; mayonnaise-based sauces separate when thawed.
