Homemade Honey Mustard Sauce (Creamy Dipping Sauce for Fries and Wings)

Every time I go to a barbecue, the first question people ask me is if I brought my homemade honey mustard sauce. It's truly amazing how many people have this recipe memorized. This creamy honey mustard mayo is the best sweet and tangy dipping sauce and goes so well with french fries, chicken wings, pork, hamburgers, or as a dressing for salads.

The original version of this creamy sauce has been passed down from generation to generation in my family so you can trust that it's good! If you're looking for a great dipping sauce, look no further!

Jump to:

• What is it made of?
• Which honey is best?
• Which mustard is best?
• How does it taste
• Can I use it as a dressing?
• Flavor Variations
• How thick is the sauce
• How to serve it
• How long does it last
• Does it freeze well?
• Recipe

What is it made of?

The basis of this sauce are honey, mustard, and mayonnaise. Additionally, I added some apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and black pepper for a balanced taste. It's a very simple and straightforward recipe with basic ingredients.

Which honey is best?

I've tried this recipe with several types of honey and I love raw acacia honey the most. But any type of honey works fine. You can even use unfiltered honey or any thick and creamy honey like clover honey if you prefer.

Which mustard is best?

Dijon without a doubt. However, if you don't have dijon available you can use a dijon mustard substitute like yellow or stone-ground mustard.

How does it taste

This honey dijon sauce is tangy because of the dijon mustard and the apple cider vinegar and sweet from the honey. The mayonnaise tones the flavors down a notch so that the dipping sauce is not too tangy and overwhelming as honey dijon salad dressing usually is. It's the best sauce for pretzel pub burgers!

Can I use it as a dressing?

Absolutely. If you prefer your salad dressing to be tangier and less creamy, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar if you like. By the way, my special burger sauce also tastes phenomenal on salads.

Flavor Variations

Use this recipe as your basic honey mustard mayo and customize it to your liking. Do you like it spicy? Or lemony? No problem! Here are my favorite flavor variations:

• Lemon: Use lemon juice instead of apple cider vinegar
• Hot: Add ¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper
• Garlic: Add ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder
• Extra tangy: Add 1 teaspoon of pickle relish

How thick is the sauce

Because of the mayo, it's thicker than dressing and because of the vinegar a little thinner than ketchup. If you prefer it thicker, you will need to add more mayo. Note that in this case, the taste will change a lot. I don't recommend thickening it with cornstarch or reducing it over heat.

For the best consistency, prepare it in advance and refrigerate for 1 day before serving. You will find that the consistency thickens a lot as it cools overnight.

How to serve it

It's the perfect sauce for pretzel burgers or as a dip for air fryer chicken, chicken wings, french fries, onion rings, and more! My family also loves this sauce with pork chops and it's one of our staple sauces for BBQs.

How long does it last

You can store it in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It should be safe for another 1-2 weeks longer, but the taste changes after a few weeks and we love it most when consumed within 2-3 weeks. Trust your senses. Look and smell first, and if it doesn't smell or is discolored or separated, give it a try. If in doubt, discard it.

Does it freeze well?

Since this is a mayo-based sauce, unfortunately not. The fat in mayonnaise doesn't freeze well. So when you thaw it, your once delicious and smooth sauce will be lumpy and curdled.

Recipe