✔ Published · new copycat sauce + Stacker-style burger build
This copycat Burger King Stacker sauce is creamy, tangy and pale orange, the kind of burger sauce you'll want on absolutely everything. Five minutes, one bowl, a handful of pantry staples: let's make it!
What Is Burger King Stacker Sauce? (Quick Answer)
Stacker sauce is the creamy, tangy, pale-orange special sauce used on Burger King's Stacker burgers (they come and go from the menu depending on where you live), which stack thin beef patties, American cheese and bacon. To make a copycat at home, whisk 1/2 cup mayonnaise with 2 tablespoons ketchup, 2 teaspoons yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon pickle relish, a splash of pickle brine and a pinch of smoked paprika, onion and garlic powder, then chill for 30 minutes.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Give it 30 minutes in the fridge before you dig in. The onion and garlic powders soften, the flavors melt together, and the sauce goes from good to wow, I promise it's worth the wait.
Why You'll Love This Stacker Sauce
- Pantry ingredients, with no cooking and nothing hard to find.
- Creamy, tangy and a little smoky, so it suits burgers, fries and chicken alike.
- Make-ahead friendly: it keeps for a week in the fridge and gets better on day two.
Stacker Sauce vs. Zesty Sauce vs. Big Mac-Style Sauce
Fast-food sauces can look alike, but each has its own job. Here is how this copycat compares with two close cousins.
| Sauce | Main flavors | Best on |
|---|---|---|
| Stacker-style sauce (this recipe) | Mayo, ketchup, mustard, relish, smoked paprika | Stacked bacon cheeseburgers, fries |
| Zesty sauce | Mayo, horseradish, cayenne, ketchup | Onion rings, fried snacks |
| Big Mac-style special sauce | Mayo, relish, French dressing, onion | Double-patty burgers |
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 full-fat mayo. It gives that thick, glossy body that clings to a burger instead of sliding off the side. Light mayo works, it's just a little thinner.
- Drain the relish. Press it in a spoon to squeeze out the extra liquid, then add brine a teaspoon at a time. You're the boss of the tang here.
- Smoked paprika, not hot. Just a pinch adds a grilled, smoky whisper that's perfect with flame-grilled beef. Want it milder? Sweet paprika it is.
- Chill before serving. I know, waiting is the hardest part. But 30 minutes lets the dried onion and garlic hydrate, so the sauce is silky, not gritty.
- Keep it cold. Like any mayo-based sauce, don't leave it out for more than 2 hours. Spoon out what you need and pop the jar back in the fridge.
Copycat Burger King Stacker Sauce
12
tablespoons5
minutes0
minutes70
kcal35
minutesA creamy, tangy, pale-orange burger sauce inspired by the one on Burger King’s Stacker burgers: mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, sweet pickle relish, a splash of pickle brine and a pinch of smoked paprika, onion and garlic. Stir, chill 30 minutes and spread on burgers or use as a dip. Makes about 3/4 cup.
Ingredients
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish, lightly drained
1 teaspoon dill pickle brine (from the jar)
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon black pepper, finely ground
Directions
- Measure all of the ingredients into a small mixing bowl.
- Whisk the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle relish, pickle brine and Worcestershire sauce until smooth and evenly pale orange.
- Add the sugar, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and black pepper and whisk again until no streaks of spice remain.
- Taste and adjust: a little more brine for tang, a pinch more sugar for sweetness or paprika for smokiness.
- Transfer to a jar, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors blend and the onion and garlic powders soften.
- Stir, then spread on toasted buns, layer into stacked cheeseburgers or serve as a dip for fries and onion rings.
Like this recipe?
Follow us @recipefairy on Pinterest
How to Build a Stacker-Style Burger
This sauce was made for stacked burgers, so here's a simple copycat-style build for 2 burgers. Press 8 ounces of 80/20 ground beef into four thin 2-ounce patties, season with salt and pepper and cook in a hot skillet or on the grill for about 2 minutes per side, until 160°F (71°C) in the center.
Top each patty with a slice of American cheese as it finishes so it melts. On a toasted bun, stack patty, cheese, a strip or two of crisp bacon, the second patty and cheese, then spread a generous tablespoon of Stacker sauce on the top bun. Add more patties for a triple or quad stack, or try our copycat Whopper for the classic flame-grilled burger.
Variations
- Spicy: add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne or 1 teaspoon hot sauce.
- Lighter: swap half the mayonnaise for plain Greek yogurt.
- Dill-forward: use dill relish instead of sweet relish and skip the sugar.
- Big batch: the recipe doubles or triples easily for a cookout.
Storage and Food Safety
Store the sauce in a covered jar in the fridge for up to 1 week and stir before using. Serve it in a small bowl and refill from the fridge rather than leaving the whole jar out; mayonnaise-based sauces shouldn't sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F. Don't freeze it, because it separates when thawed.
More Burger King Copycat Recipes
Pair this sauce with our Burger King onion rings and zesty sauce, or a copycat Whopper. Browse all of our Burger King copycat recipes for more drive-thru favorites to make at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Burger King Stacker sauce made of?
Burger King doesn't publish its recipe. The sauce on its Stacker burgers tastes like a creamy, tangy, mayo-based special sauce with ketchup, mustard and pickle notes, and that's exactly what this copycat delivers: mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, sweet pickle relish, pickle brine, Worcestershire, sugar, smoked paprika, onion and garlic powder.
Is Stacker sauce the same as Big Mac sauce?
They're similar: both are creamy, pale-orange, mayo-based sauces with pickle relish. This Stacker-style version leans a little more toward ketchup and mustard and adds smoked paprika for a smoky note that suits flame-grilled beef.
Is Stacker sauce the same as Burger King zesty sauce?
No. Zesty sauce is the onion ring dip, and it gets a sharp kick from horseradish and cayenne. Stacker sauce is milder and tangier, closer to a classic burger special sauce.
How long does homemade Stacker sauce last?
Keep it in a covered jar in the fridge for up to 1 week (if it lasts that long!). Use a clean spoon each time and stir before serving. Don't freeze it; mayonnaise-based sauces separate when thawed.
What can I use Stacker sauce on?
Spread it on burgers and chicken sandwiches, use it as a dip for fries, tots, onion rings and nuggets, or thin it with a little pickle brine as a dressing for a burger bowl or wedge salad.
