This copycat Sonic crave sauce recipe can be made in your own kitchen with a few simple ingredients and in just a few minutes. Skip the line at the popular fast food chain next time and make your own! Use as a dipping sauce for fries or as a burger topping.

Bowl of crave sauce next to french fries.

Why This Recipe Works

I firmly believe that one of the easiest things to create in your own kitchen that will go the farthest (with money and flavor!) is homemade sauces. Sauces can spruce up just about any food and making them at home ensures that you know exactly which ingredients are being added.

This Sonic special sauce copycat recipe tastes so similar to the one you’ll find on the menu at the popular fast food restaurant. Use it as a dipping sauce for fries or tater tots or as a topping for a cheeseburger.

You need this in your life if you’re ready to take your next juicy burger to the next level.

Recipe Ingredients

Crave sauce ingredients in little bowls, all lined up.

Mayonnaise – Use 1 cup Miracle Whip, regular mayo or light mayo. All or part of this ingredient can be replaced with plain Greek yogurt to slim down the recipe, if desired.

Chili sauce – Even if you don’t love spicy foods, add the chili sauce! The flavor it brings is essential in creating an authentic crave sauce.

Ketchup – In a pinch, combine tomato paste or tomato sauce with honey and apple cider vinegar to create a quick homemade version of tangy ketchup.

Pickle relish – If you have extra time, making homemade relish is a great way to boost the flavors.

Sugar – Granulated sugar works best, but brown sugar can be used.

Lemon juice – Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for best results.

Seasonings – Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, turmeric, salt and cayenne pepper are the perfect spices and seasonings for this yummy recipe. To turn down the heat, omit the cayenne pepper. To turn up the heat, add a little extra!

How To Make Sonic Crave Sauce

This Crave sauce copycat recipe is perhaps the world’s easiest sauce to make on the planet.

Combine the following ingredients in a mixing bowl:

Mayonnaise
Chili sauce
Ketchup
Pickle relish
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Granulated sugar
Lemon juice
Paprika
Turmeric
Salt
Cayenne pepper

Sauce ingredients in a blue bowl, ready to be combined.

Stir, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve!

Recipe Notes for Sonic Sauce

Add extra spice by increasing the amount of cayenne pepper used. Additionally, you may add crushed red pepper flakes, hot sauce or a little bit of chili powder.
For an extra creamy and flavorful sauce, replace half of the mayo with sour cream or softened cream cheese.
Add Worcestershire sauce for a flavor boost. This ingredient is one of my favorite things to add to any homemade sauce to make the taste buds sing.

How to Use Sonic Signature Sauce

This is such a versatile sauce! Browse through the following ideas for more ways to enjoy it beyond using it as a burger sauce.

The obvious choice is to douse your Sonic burger with it.
Use as a topping on your next delicious homemade burger or cheeseburger.
This is the perfect topping for hot dogs or chili dogs.
Use in place of salad dressing in your next chopped salad.
Add it to cheese or chicken quesadillas.
This is the perfect dipping sauce for French fries, tater tots or onion rings.
It acts as a great dipping sauce for chicken strips, chicken tenders or chicken nuggets.

Top view of spicy sauce sitting next to a pile of fries.

How To Make a Sonic Burger

If you want to go whole hog, assemble the delicious burgers at home! Sonic beef patties are made with a pure beef patty stuffed inside a toasted bakery bun. Toast the bun for a minute in a hot pan or on the grill, along with a little bit of butter. Place American cheese between the bottom bun and the burger.

Top with this crave sauce, fresh pickles, finely chopped white onion, tomato slices and iceberg lettuce.

How Long Is Crave Sauce Good For

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, either in a bowl covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap or in an airtight container.

Hand dipping two fries into a bowl of sauce.

Can You Freeze Mayonnaise Based Sauces

Mayonnaise based sauces may be frozen, but the quality can potentially diminish after thawing. Freezing mayo-based sauces may cause a separation of the ingredients.

It may also look different than it did when it went into the freezer and may have a lumpier texture, as well.

Best Sauce Recipes

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Sonic Crave Sauce Recipe