Recreate the legendary McDonald’s Hot Mustard sauce that mysteriously disappeared from most locations, leaving devoted fans searching for that perfect balance of spicy heat, tangy mustard bite, and subtle sweetness. This beloved condiment developed a cult following for good reason: its unique flavor profile transforms ordinary chicken nuggets, fries, and sandwiches into something extraordinary.
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Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
Fast is an understatement when it comes to this tasty condiment. You’ll probably spend more time assembling your ingredients than actually combining them in the sauce. Plus, the flavors only improve the longer they mingle together, truly integrating the intense combination of mustards with a mix of umami, acidic, sweet, and spicy flavors.Â
Another significant benefit of this copycat McDonald’s hot mustard sauce recipe is the combination of a brief preparation time and a long shelf life when stored properly. It’s easy to whip up a batch and have it ready in the fridge whenever you need an extra pop of distinctive flavor.Â
Ingredients
You may be surprised at the everyday ingredients that come together to make this hot mustard recipe truly sing:
Mustard Foundation:
- Spicy brown mustard – Provides the primary mustard base with complex, robust flavor
- Mustard powder – Adds concentrated mustard intensity and helps achieve proper consistency
Flavor Enhancers:
- Light Corn syrup – Creates signature sweetness and smooth texture essential for authenticity
- Soy sauce – Contributes unexpected umami depth that sets this apart from ordinary mustards
- Granulated sugar – Balances heat and acidity while enhancing overall flavor complexity
Balancing Elements:
- White distilled vinegar – Provides bright acidity that cuts through richness
- Cayenne pepper – Delivers the signature heat that made this sauce legendary
Ingredient notes
When making this recipe, be sure to use brown mustard, such as the kind made by Gulden’s, not the typical yellow mustard you may love on hot dogs or sandwiches. The yellow style lacks the intense flavor required for an actual McDonald’s copycat.Â
Additionally, feel free to add a touch of turmeric. The vibrant spice can enhance the color of your hot mustard without significantly altering the flavor. Those who love a bit of spice can also add more cayenne pepper, while cooks who prefer the mild tang of mustard powder can stick to the recipe as written.Â
While some may want to skip the corn syrup, it’s essential for developing the right texture and adding a subtle sweetness to the hot mustard. Instead of leaving it out, swap it for some golden syrup, an alternative made from cane sugar that serves a similar purpose.Â
How to make hot mustard
It’s easy to craft a batch of hot mustard in just minutes with everyday kitchen utensils:
- Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl.
- Stir until thoroughly mixed.
- Place the mustard in the fridge in an airtight container, and let it rest to develop flavors.
If possible, allow the mustard mixture to chill in a covered container for at least four hours, though overnight is even better.
What to serve with McDonald’s hot mustard
The classic pairing with McDonald’s Hot Mustard is with deliciously breaded and fried chicken, like the chain’s famous McNuggets or chicken tenders. However, it’s also an excellent choice for dipping French fries or spreading on fried or grilled chicken sandwiches or hamburgers, too.Â
But don’t focus just on fast food. This hot mustard is the perfect sauce for fresh vegetables or crackers, especially when paired with ranch, blue cheese, and other accompaniments. It can also enhance many sandwiches and burgers, and even work as a mouthwatering salad dressing in a pinch!
Storage & Shelf Life Instructions
- Thawing Process: Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before using, then stir well as separation may occur during freezing.
- Refrigerator Storage: Store in the same airtight container used for resting after mixing. The sauce will last several weeks when stored properly in the refrigerator, and its flavors will improve over time.
- Freezing Method: Extend shelf life by freezing in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. The texture may change slightly, but the flavor remains excellent.
Love McDonald’s? Check out these easy dinner ideas
- Big Mac Hamburger
- Secret Big Mac Sauce Recipe
- Best McDonalds Burger
- Egg McMuffins
- McDonald’s Peppermint Latte
- Shamrock Shake
- Hot Apple Pie
More favorite recipes for dipping sauce
- Special Sauce for Chicken
- Houlihan’s Honey-Mustard Sauce
- Zesty Sauce
- Campfire Sauce
- Sweet and Spicy Mustard Sauce Recipe
Check out even more popular sauces and dips along with the best copycat recipes ever.
McDonald’s Hot Mustard Sauce Easy Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup brown mustard
- 2 tablespoons corn syrup or golden syrup
- 4 teaspoons mustard powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and stir until well blended.
- Store in an airtight container overnight or for at least 4 hours before serving.
This was good, I made it with 4t mustard powder, and tried two t the 2nd time and it was more to my liking. I love it!
I tried this once with brown mustard, and it just wasn’t right. I bought a jar of Dusseldorf mustard. I omitted the vinegar, and I added about a Tablespoon of mayo. I would swear someone emptied packets of hot mustard into the bowl. The Dusseldorf mustard makes all the difference…and a bit of creepiness from the mayo.
what kind of Mayo? Hellmans original?
This is delicious and so close, I’ll make this for sure all the time and I can add more heat, Thanks!!!
this has always been the only sauce I eatwith chicken mcnuggets. When they told me they were discontinuing it I was super disappointed!, so I asked them for handfuls of it everytime i went to Mcdonalds drivethru so i would have it to eat with my mcnuggets. Im glad they brought it back before I ran out! Nice to know i can make it just in case they do it again
Can you can and preserve this for eating later?
I haven’t preserved it, but I have had it about 2 months after I made it, it does begin to lose its heat over time.
Our very favorite mustard is Hot Sweet. Going to try this but will probable add some mayo and Crystal’s Hot sauce. Don’t remember McDonalds mustard but I have not been to one in 17-18 years. Bring on the Brats!!! Fire up the grill.
hi stephanie
i wrote you some time ago telling you how pretty you looked! this recipe is a keeper as my grandson and his friends love it. you bring a lot of happiness to so many of us with your tried and true recipes.
jeanette
I just made this. It is terrific and tastes much like their restaurant sauce. I did leave out the soy sauce since I’m sensitive to the taste and it seems to overpower the other ingredients for me. I do think the spicy brown mustard is key. No yellow mustard. Thanks for getting this right.
I am glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Per the container, it contains eggs and soybean oil.. there should be mayo in here somewhere.
I thought this was very close to the real thing.
Definately too “mustardy”. I’m going to try again with half of the Mustard Powder.
Also, looking at the ingredients on the packet, there is turmeric and egg yolk. Did you use Mayo a substitute for the egg? I’m not sure what turmeric will add to the flavor?
For the record, the color and constancy is dead-on (I used light corn syrup). The taste is pretty good, but heavy on the mustard powder.
Hello. I know this may be a little bit late in the game, HOWEVER, Turmeric is used to give mustard it’s yellow color. It may also add a touch of flavor, however, not much is used to just achieve the mustard yellow coloring that mustard has.
Ew corn syrup. I’d never willingly add corn syrup to something I’m eating. I get enough of it with processed foods.
Corn syrup is not the same thing as the much-maligned high fructose corn syrup. While both are made from corn starch, corn syrup is 100% glucose while high fructose corn syrup has been processed to convert some of that glucose into fructose.
Thanks to http://www.epicurious.com/ for helping me out.
Corn syrup is made from GMO corn; a digestive system destroyer.
I’m trying to copy this, too. I’m not there but this is as close as I’ve come: 2 (full) T yellow mustard, just under 2 T honey, 1 T Dijon, just under 2 T horseradish, 1 1/2 T mayo, 1 1/2 T lemon juice, 1-1 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1+tsp cayenne, 3/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 fresh ground pepper, Pinch or two of ground dry mustard
It’s not right, but I know some of these ingredients are pretty imperative for the sauce, particularly the turmeric and horseradish. Not sure if that helps or anything, but I give up! 🙂 Too much work for me. Thanks and have a great day!
This sounds closer to the real deal. The recipe above is nowhere near McDonald’s hot mustard sauce. Way to much mustard powder and it gives it a very strong harsh after taste. You can taste the Horseradish in the real thing but the copy cats call for None and they are all the same. Just like the one above and they are all wrong. Im gonna try yours thanks Alexandra
I made this recipe since the one givin by the website was completely off. This recipe is great though! The way I made it was a little different. I didn’t have any horse radish or lemon juice- it doesn’t taste like the hot mustard but as something completely different it’s an amazing sauce! Very picky and tangy- I’m definitely going to make this again!
*very spicy and tangy
the recipe says brown mustard, but the video looks like yellow mustard, so which is correct ? and if it’s brown mustard, I assume spicy brown ?
In some of her other responses she’s said the mustard flavor/appearance varies from brand to brand and that McDonald’s probably has its own mustard recipe. I do not know what brand of brown mustard she uses for this, but it is the only “copy cat” of McDonald’s Hot Mustard I’ve come across that uses brown instead of yellow mustard. I’m not implying it’s incorrect, but in my own attempts to copy the recipe yellow mustard seemed appropriate for color/taste. (Note: I have not successfully copied it, so maybe that’s why!)
I really liked this recipe, thanks for sharing. I added a Tbs of Mayo and skipped the Cayenne. Still had some kick but had some creaminess as well. Everyone said it tasted better than McDs. We used this sauce immediately so I can imagine it will be better after some time in fridge.
I just made a honey mustard that I thought tasted a lot like McDonalds Hot Mustard but it was much simpler!! I combined almost equal parts of a dijon mustard (it was Emeril’s New York Deli Style mustard) and honey. And thats it!
First things first: This doesn’t taste anything like McDonalds Hot Mustard sauce. HOWEVER… It still makes a fantastic sauce for other things. Great on burgers and hot dogs, and if you use honey instead of corn syrup you get a dynamite tangy honey mustard.
Thank you very much for your thoughts. I appreciate your input. What could have been changed to make it taste more like McDonald’s Hot Mustard?
I think maybe paprika and nutmeg. Possibly mayo. It’s a bit too… “Mustardy” tasting. It’s such a difficult flavor to get.
Different brands of mustard do work differently. They can taste slightly different. I am certain McDonald’s uses their own blend. I appreciate your other suggestions.
Is it possible the spice you are thinking of is turmeric? In my own “investigating” (searching recipes/trying on my own) it seems turmeric is pretty essential for color/taste. I put my closest attempt above, but it’s not right. If you figure it out and have the time, please let me know. 🙂
can you let me know when mcdonalds brings it back?
I think it has started to make reappearances. Have you been back lately?
I got some today in my local restaurant. They have not had any for months. I always ask about it and the lady said someone accidentally ordered it. Oh yeah!
Interesting, they said someone made a mistake? I hope it is back for real. I thought that it was the best sauce for dipping those chicken nuggets in!
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Oh, this looks good. Probably even better than Mcdonalds.
Oh it is pretty good 😉 You can make this without going to McDonald’s.
My husband loves this…. me not so much. But, I will make it for him. 🙂
I think this sauce can be used on many things.
Sorry to hear your husband doesn’t love you.
I know it’s late but this made me laugh. Haha. Cheers