Copycat Restaurant Recipes: Dressing and Sauces

Sauces have become more of a must than an option these days. Back in the early days, around 200 A.D, refrigeration wasn’t a thing. With no way to keep foods cold, meats, fish and poultry simply didn’t last long so sauces and dressings were used to cover up the taste of food going bad.

The first record of a recipe goes back to 25 BC when sauces were made by pounding herbs, cheese, vinegar and oil to make foods more appetizing. Soon to follow, Romans created a recipe book of sorts that featured dozens of different recipes including herbs, spices, honey vinegar and even fish sauce. From there, it caught on and popularity grew to what we know and love today…even with refrigeration! We now enjoy everything from ketchup to salad dressings to yummy sauce for sushi! And thank goodness, they are made to complement fresh food! Here is how you can make your favorite restaurant’s sauce in the comfort of your own home.

In-N-Out Burger Spread and Dipping Sauce

This is the delicious “secret” sauce that is used on all burgers and as a dipping sauce for fries.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar

Instructions:

  1. Combine all ingredients into a bowl and stir until thoroughly combined
  2. Cover and allow to cool in a refrigerator for an hour before serving for best flavor

Outback Ranch Dressing

Ranch isn’t just a salad dressing anymore! If you haven’t tried it with pizza, you’re really missing out.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 (1-oz) package ranch dressing mix
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions:

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together all ingredients
  2. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours

Utah Fry Sauce

Southerners, let us introduce you to the fry sauce of the west! No, it isn’t ketchup! Though hard to limit to one restaurant, Fry Sauce is the thing in restaurants everywhere, so let’s copy it!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 2/3 cup ketchup
  • 1 1/2 tbsp dill pickle juice
  • 1 1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions:

  1. Place all ingredients into a medium bowl
  2. Whisk well until combined
  3. Serve immediately or cover tightly with a lid and chill in the fridge for a few hours to let the flavors blend
  4. Serve with French fries, onion rings, hamburgers and more

Chick-fil-A Sauce

Everyone is familiar with Chick-fil-A and their sauce goes hand in hand! Here’s how you can make it.

Ingredients:

  • 2/3 cup real mayonnaise
  • 3 tbsp hickory brown sugar barbecue sauce
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 4 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1-2 drops liquid smoke (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Place all ingredients into a bowl and whisk until fully combined
  2. Chill for eight hours or overnight in a tightly sealed container
  3. Keeps for up to a week sealed tightly in a mason jar in the refrigerator

Japanese Yum Yum Sauce

If you think you don’t like sushi, you’ll change your mind when it’s dipped in your Japanese restaurant’s “yummy” sauce!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup regular mayonnaise (NOT light)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tsp ketchup or tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp melted butter
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp paprika

Instructions:

  1. Mix all ingredients together
  2. Cover and refrigerate overnight

Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce

We’ve been copycating all over the globe so we can’t miss out on a favorite taste of Taco Bell!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 3 tbsp pickled jalapeno juice (from a jar of pickled jalapenos)
  • 3 tbsp pickled jalapenos (diced)
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp garlic granules
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder

Instructions:

  1. In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients together

Outback Steakhouse Bloomin’ Onion Sauce

Whether your onion is blooming or in rings, this is the dip you need!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp prepared horseradish
  • 2 tsp ketchup
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/8 tsp dried oregano
  • Dash ground black pepper
  • Dash cayenne pepper

Instructions:

  1. In a mixing bowl, stir together all of the ingredients until thoroughly combined
  2. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve
  3. Leftover sauce can be stored in the refrigerator, covered for a week

Related: Copycat Recipes of Your Favorite Restaurant Appetizers!