✔ Updated · new copycat recipe with step photos
This copycat KFC sauce is the tangy, slightly sweet, slightly smoky orange dip that KFC made its signature sauce for tenders. It's 13 pantry ingredients stirred together in one bowl, and it tastes even better after half an hour in the fridge.
How Do You Make KFC Sauce? (Quick Answer)
Whisk 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons ketchup, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon each molasses, brown sugar and cider vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon each Worcestershire and smoked paprika, 1/4 teaspoon each garlic and onion powder, and a pinch each of black pepper, cayenne and salt. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: The molasses is what makes it taste like KFC sauce and not just fry sauce. Use a measuring spoon, because a little goes a long way.
Why You'll Love This KFC Sauce
- Tangy, sweet and smoky the exact balance KFC describes, all in one dip.
- Pantry ingredients no special shopping trip.
- Kid friendly mild enough for little dippers.
- Big batch easy double it for game day and keep it all week.
- Not just for chicken try it on burgers, fries and wraps.
What Is KFC Sauce?
KFC Sauce is the chain's own signature dipping sauce, made to go with its tenders, nuggets and fries. It's a creamy orange sauce that KFC describes as tangy and sweet with a bit of smokiness, and a lot of people compare it to a mustardy Carolina gold barbecue sauce mixed with mayo.
My test for any copycat is simple: does it taste like the original, can a home cook make it reliably, and is there a shortcut? The shortcut here is the pantry: everything is probably already in your fridge door.
Ingredient Notes
Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.
- Mayonnaise: the creamy base. Full-fat is best.
- Ketchup and yellow mustard: the tangy, sweet backbone and the orange color.
- Molasses and brown sugar: a deeper, rounder sweetness than plain sugar.
- Cider vinegar and Worcestershire: brightness and a savory edge.
- Smoked paprika: the smoky note, no liquid smoke needed.
- Garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne and salt: the seasoning that makes it taste like a restaurant sauce.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Use real mayonnaise. Salad dressing style spreads are sweeter and tangier, and they throw off the balance.
- Plain yellow mustard, not Dijon. Yellow mustard gives the bright, mild tang. Dijon is too sharp here.
- Warm the molasses spoon. Run the measuring spoon under hot water first and the molasses slides right off.
- Give it time. Straight after mixing it tastes like ketchup and mayo. After 30 minutes in the fridge the smoke and spice come forward.
- Make it spicier. Add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne or a few dashes of hot sauce for a grown-up version.
- The family verdict. Max dunked a potato wedge in the first batch, thought about it very seriously, and announced it was better than ketchup. It's been on our tender nights ever since.
KFC Sauce
12
tablespoons5
minutes75
kcal35
minutesA copycat version of the KFC signature dipping sauce: creamy mayonnaise with ketchup, yellow mustard, a touch of molasses and brown sugar, cider vinegar and smoked paprika for that tangy, sweet and smoky flavor. Makes about 3/4 cup.
Ingredients
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon molasses
1 teaspoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 pinch fine salt
Directions
- Add the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, molasses, brown sugar, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce to a small bowl, then sprinkle the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne and salt over the top.
- Whisk for about 30 seconds, until the sauce is smooth, glossy and an even orange color with no streaks of molasses.
- Taste. Add a pinch more brown sugar for sweeter or a few more drops of vinegar for tangier. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes so the smoky flavor comes through.
- Stir and serve with chicken tenders, nuggets, popcorn chicken, fries or potato wedges.
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Storage
Keep the sauce in a covered jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. Don't freeze it, because mayonnaise-based sauces separate when they thaw.
What to Serve It With
For a KFC night at home, serve it with my copycat KFC chicken tenders or KFC popcorn chicken, plus a batch of KFC potato wedges for dunking. If you want the full spread, add KFC biscuits and a pot of KFC gravy. You'll find the rest of my KFC copycats in my KFC recipes collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does KFC sauce taste like?
KFC describes its signature sauce as tangy and sweet with a bit of smokiness. To me it tastes like a cross between fry sauce and a mild, mustardy barbecue sauce.
What is KFC sauce made of?
KFC hasn't published its recipe. My copycat uses mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, molasses, brown sugar, cider vinegar, Worcestershire and smoked paprika, which gets you the same creamy, tangy, smoky flavor.
Is KFC sauce spicy?
No, it's mild. There's a pinch of cayenne for warmth, but kids usually love it.
How long does homemade KFC sauce last?
Up to 1 week in a covered jar in the fridge. Stir it before serving.
Can I make it without molasses?
Yes. Use 2 teaspoons of brown sugar in total instead. You'll lose a little depth, but it's still very close.
What goes well with KFC sauce?
Chicken tenders, nuggets, popcorn chicken, fries, potato wedges and chicken sandwiches. It also makes a good burger sauce.
