In-N-Out Spread is a creamy, tangy sauce that gives In-N-Out's burgers and Animal Style Fries their signature flavor! It takes 5 common ingredients and a few minutes to make.

If you haven't had In-N-Out, bring a taste of California to your kitchen with this creamy sauce inspired by In-N-Out's secret spread. It's a sweet and savory spread for burgers, fries, salad, and vegetables! It tastes similar to thousand island dressing with a little more tang and sweetness.
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About In-N-Out Sauce
- Taste - The combination of ingredients create a uniquely tangy, salty, and slightly sweet spread similar to thousand island dressing.
- Texture - The sauce is creamy yet light, with bits of sweet pickle relish.
- Effort - All you need to do is add the ingredients to a small bowl and whisk!
- Time - It takes just a few minutes to assemble and mix the ingredients.
Ingredients
- Mayonnaise - Mayo is the base for the In-N-Out sauce. We prefer kewpie mayo because it has a rich umami flavor and an extra creamy consistency.
- Ketchup - Ketchup adds a sweet and slightly vinegary taste to the sauce.
- Sweet pickle relish - Pickle relish adds pickled flavoring and tartness.
- White vinegar - Vinegar provides tanginess and acidity.
- Sugar - Sugar adds a light sweetness to the sauce.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Regular mayo - Instead of regular mayo, you can use Kewpie mayo. It will have less of an umami flavor but will still be delicious.
- Sweet Jalapeño Pickle Relish - Use sweet Jalapeño pickle instead of sweet pickle relish if you want to make the sauce slightly spicier or just like the taste of pickled jalapeños.
- Vegan - Use vegan mayo instead of regular mayo to make this recipe vegan.
- Truffle ketchup - Use truffle ketchup instead of regular ketchup to add a truffle flavor to the spread.
- Spicy - Add black pepper, chili powder, or cajun seasoning for a spicy kick.
Instructions
- Whisk ingredients - Add mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, white vinegar, and sugar to a small or medium bowl and whisk until combined.
- Chill then serve - Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Pro tip - If you are making this with a dish like our Animal Style Fries, you can mix the ingredients for the In-N-Out sauce while the fries cook to save time.
What to Serve with In-N-Out Sauce
This In-N-Out sauce is an easy condiment that can be used as a burger spread, on animal style fries, or as a dipping sauce for classic french fries and veggies. Check out these other dishes that also pair deliciously with In-N-Out sauce:
- Parmesan Truffle Fries
- Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan
- 10 -Minute Sautéed Broccolini (Broccoletti)
- Pesto Swiss And Turkey Skillet Sliders (replace the Pesto with In-N-Out Sauce)
Recipe FAQs
Yes, all of the ingredients in this recipe are gluten free.
In-N-Out sauce is slightly tangier than thousand island dressing which is likely due to the higher amount of relish in In-N-Out sauce.
This recipe is vegetarian but not vegan because it contains mayo which has egg.
They have fresh food and fresh ingredients at a reasonable price. For example, their beef patties are 100 percent pure beef, additive free, and are never frozen prior to serving.
In N Out is only in 6 states: California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Texas. The main reason they don't expand to the East coast is because it would require them to freeze their meat, sacrificing the quality.
Storage
Store In-N-Out sauce in the refrigerator in an air-tight container up to 5 days. Before using it again, stir it softly until it reaches its original consistency.
Top Tips
- Use a baking spatula to scrape all of the sauce from the mixing bowl and eliminate food waste.
- For fresh sauce, do not leave the sauce out at room temperature for an extended period of time. This sauce contains mayo, which can spoil if not refrigerated.
Related Recipes
If you loved this In-N-Out thousand island dressing sauce recipe, please rate and comment below! For more condiment and sauce recipes, check out:
- Spicy Kewpie Mayo (Sauce for Poke, Sushi, and More)
- Truffle Aioli (Truffle Mayo)
- Healthy Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing
- Spicy Sriracha Aioli
- 5 Minute Kale Pesto (with Walnuts)
- Chipotle Mayo Sauce
- Yuzu Ponzu Sauce
- 5 Minute Basil Pesto (Without Pine Nuts)
- Wasabi Mayo Aioli Sauce
- How to Caramelize Onions for Burgers
Did You Like This Recipe?
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How to Make In-N-Out Spread (Copycat Sauce)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- Whisk ingredients - Add mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, white vinegar, and sugar to a bowl and whisk until combined.4 tablespoon mayonnaise, 2 tablespoon ketchup, 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar
- Chill then serve - Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use a baking spatula to scrape all of the sauce from the mixing bowl and eliminate food waste.
- For fresh sauce, do not leave the sauce out at room temperature for an extended period of time.
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