The Secret to Rachael Ray's Flavorful Burger Lies in This Creamy, Spicy Sauce

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The saying might go “as American as apple pie,” but if we’re being honest, the most iconic food in the U.S. has to be burgers. After all, there are more than 84,000 burger restaurants in the country according to IBIS World, and how many apple pie restaurants can you think of? Yeah, we thought so. But when you grow up eating burgers your whole life, and eat them on the regular as an adult, too, it takes something special to make a burger stand out. Rachael Ray’s solution? A creamy, spicy burger sauce that plain old ketchup (or even fast food “special sauce”) just can’t compete with.

The thing about burgers is that they tend to be really savory and rich. That means that they need some sort of sauce that can add a bit of a tangy kick to each bite. Burgers can also sometimes be a bit dry once you combine the cooked meat with its bun, making sauce even more essential.

So, what goes in Rachael Ray’s burger sauce to make it so memorable? There are a few unique ingredients to be found, and it’s not just mayo, ketchup, and relish all mixed together.

Ray’s burger sauce gets a creamy base from sour cream, which also has more tang than mayo. Then, it gets some fresh green allium flavor thanks to chopped chives. But the next three ingredients are what really sets this sauce apart from the crowd: a piquant, bracing combination of Dijon mustard, prepared horseradish, and Worcestershire sauce.

This Dijon-horseradish sauce helps cut through the rich, savory flavor of the beef, while simultaneously creating a craveably creamy texture in each bite. The sauce has a hot, spicy vibe thanks to the mustard and horseradish (think wasabi), without relying on capsaicin, so it’s a great option for diners who aren’t a fan of spicy chiles but who still like bold flavors. And it’s not just delicious on burgers — you can pair this hot horseradish mustard sauce with french fries, chicken fingers, fish sandwiches, and even grilled steaks.

You’ve probably eaten hundreds of burgers in your life, so if you’re looking for something new to make this American classic exciting again, Rachael Ray’s burger sauce could do the trick.

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