This epic easy Fry Sauce Recipe is perfect for dipping your favorite fries or adding to burgers or chicken. This quick and easy sauce recipe tastes fantastic.

Fry Sauce text written over a waffle fry dipping fry sauce in a white bowl

Fry Sauce Recipe

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Is Fry Sauce typical in your area? I grew up with it being available at most restaurants, and many local fast-food restaurants have their variations. I realized it was a West Coast sauce when we traveled outside the region.

Almost all of our local restaurants serve fry sauce in some variation, and many have their version that tastes just slightly different.

My husband and I went on a road trip to Midwest National Park. I asked for Fry Sauce at a Sonic, and the carhop looked at me like I was crazy. She asked if I meant barbecue sauce or Ketchup.

When I explained that our Sonic has Fry Sauce, she shook her head and said she had never heard of it.

Ranch dressing appeared before me when I asked for it in Oklahoma City. LOL!

It was time to share our favorite fry sauce we make at home, along with a few variations and ways to change it up. One of our favorite local Spokane Hamburger restaurants makes their sauce with chopped-up pickles, and I love it.

We will share the basic version and then offer tips on adapting it until you make the perfect French fry dipping sauce you love.

One thing to know is that Fry Sauce differs from Thousand Island dressing. You are close to an epic French Fry dipping sauce if you have mixed ketchup and mayonnaise to dip your French fries.

This lovely fry sauce is perfect for air-fried French fries, potato wedges, and onion rings. You can dip them in it or smear it on a burger or chicken. I even dip my favorite Air Fryer Grilled Cheese in it.

Rumor is that the original French Fry Sauce comes from an Arctic Circle near Salt Lake City, Utah. This sauce condiment resembles mayoketchup in Puerto Rico, salsa golf, or salsa rosado in South America.

Fry Sauce ingredients, mayo, ketchup, pickles, black pepper

What Is Fry Sauce?

Fry Sauce is an epic dipping sauce for French Fries and many other foods, including burgers and wraps.

It is famous in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, and Idaho) and Utah.

The base for Fry Sauce is ketchup, mayonnaise, and various spices combined to make a must-try dipping sauce.

Who Invented Fry Sauce?

In researching who invented Fry Sauce, most articles pointed to Utah Restaurant Owner Don Carlos Edwards. He owned the fast food chain Arctic Circle and originally called the sauce "pink sauce” when he invented it in the 1940s.

Have You Ever Wondered Where Fry Sauce Was Invented?

Many sources trace Fry Sauce back to Utah.

Ingredients

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients for making an epic Fry Sauce! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

Mayonnaise
Ketchup
Vinegar/Dill Pickle Juice
Black Pepper

Optional Add-Ins: Worcestershire Sauce, Garlic Powder/Garlic Salt, Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne Pepper, Paprika, Hot Sauce

Equipment Needed

Mixing Bowl: We are big fans of this glass batter bowl with a handle. It makes it easy to mix ingredients and keeps the mixing bowl steady on the counter.
Whisk
Measuring Tools

Fry sauce ingredients in a glass bowl before mixing.

How to Make Fry Sauce

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

To make this easy dipping Sauce Recipe, add all ingredients to a glass bowl with a lid. Whisk ingredients together until thoroughly mixed.

Store in a small bowl in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

Fry sauce in a white bowl surrounded by waffle fries.

Preparation and Storage

Make Ahead:

This Fry Sauce is make-ahead-friendly! Resting the sauce in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes helps bring out the flavor.

When ready to use the sauce, just stir it and enjoy!

Storage:

The sauce should last 3-5 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Freezing/How to Freeze:

We do not suggest freezing this sauce. It will separate and not taste as good when thawed.

Recipe Variations

Substitutions:

When it comes to using vinegar or pickle brine, it is really up to you which flavor you like best. We enjoy the taste of the pickle juice but have heard other people love the flavor of vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

We suggest using your favorite real mayo to get the thick texture of the dipping sauce.

Vegetarian Option:

This Fry Sauce recipe is 100 percent vegetarian!

Vegan Option:

Replace the mayonnaise with plant-based veganaise to make vegan Fry Sauce.

Gluten-Free:

This recipe's ingredients should be gluten-free, as no ingredient typically contains gluten. If you are highly sensitive and want to avoid cross-contamination, look for a gluten-free label on each ingredient.

Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings:

The written recipe makes about three-quarters of a cup of Fry Sauce and adjusts quickly to a different serving size, whether you want more or less Fry Sauce.

Make It Spicy:

Add Tabasco sauce, Franks RedHot Sauce, sriracha, or red pepper flakes to spice up your fry sauce.

If you love mustard, you can add a teaspoon of yellow mustard to add this flavor to the sauce.

You can also dice up a few jalapeños and mix them into the original Fry Sauce with jalapeño juice to make Jalapeño Fry Sauce.

Add canned chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce to make Chipotle Fry Sauce.

Sugar-Free:

The written recipe contains 18 grams of sugar, with the final content depending on your ingredients. Look for sugar-free and no-sugar-added options to make sugar-free and low-sugar Fry Sauce.

Tips for the Best Fry Sauce

Add small amounts of the optional ingredients until you get the flavor you love.
Serve this Fry Sauce with your favorite potato side dishes. I like to leave it in a bowl near potato dishes so guests can add it to their plates.

Waffle fry dipping into a bowl of fry sauce

What to Serve with Fry Sauce

Pair this epic, easy, and versatile Fry Sauce with other fast-food favorites for a complete takeout feast from home! Here are some menu planning suggestions.

Sides: Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken, Air Fryer French Fries, Air Fryer Onion Rings, Air Fryer Pizza Rolls, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets