Who Makes McDonald’s BBQ Sauce?

McDonald’s BBQ sauce is legendary! Who doesn’t love dipping hot nuggets into BBQ sauce? It is the perfect combination of sweet and savory with just enough smokiness to take your meal to the next level. We don’t blame you for trying to determine the manufacturer! In this article, we are going to explore McDonald’s BBQ sauce’s flavor, ingredients, producer, and where you can buy it. Let’s get started!

Who makes McDonald’s BBQ sauce? McDonald’s BBQ sauce is produced in-house. The sauce is produced by McDonald’s off-site and then distributed to restaurants. Next time you order some BBQ sauce, check the package, it states that the sauce is produced by McDonald’s!

So there you have it, McDonald’s BBQ sauce is so good because they produce it themselves. They do not use any 3rd party company and manufacture it under their own brand. However, the staff at individual McDonald’s restaurants do not make the sauce fresh. Instead, it is produced in off-site food production facilities and then delivered to the restaurants alongside the patties, buns, and other food items.

We have figured out that Mickey D’s doesn’t purchase their BBQ sauce but makes it in-house. Does that mean you can buy it directly from McDonald’s? Keep reading to find out!

Do They Sell McDonald’s BBQ Sauce?

McDonald’s BBQ sauce is not for sale! You can’t buy it in bottles from McDonald’s, and you won’t find it in supermarkets. However, you receive 1-3 packets of BBQ sauce for free with your order. And you can purchase additional sauce for $0.25 to $0.3 per packet directly from the restaurant.

Unfortunately, McDonald’s BBQ sauce is not for sale in bulk. McDonald’s does not bottle its BBQ sauce, and you can’t purchase it in large quantities. The best you can do is get a couple of free small packets with your meal or buy extra packets for between $0.25 and $0.3.

The number of complimentary BBQ sauces you receive depends on the individual franchise’s policy and the staff on duty. If you build a rapport with the staff, you can leave with 4 or more free McDonald’s BBQ sauce packets. It is not uncommon to come across staff who will try and charge you for extra sauce. The prices vary based on the location.

McDonald’s BBQ Sauce Ingredients

McDonald’s BBQ sauce is made from:

Vinegar
Water
Sugar

Salt
Rapeseed Oil
Spices

Tomato Puree
Maize Starch
Caramelized Sugar Syrup

Smoke Flavorings
Xanthan Gum

As you can see, McDonald’s BBQ sauce has some pretty strange ingredients. For example, What is xanthan gum or smoke flavorings? It also has way more ingredients than we thought! Unfortunately, McDonald’s does not indicate the quantities of these ingredients, so trying to come up with a copycat recipe is tough!

But don’t worry! Even though making a homemade McDonald’s BBQ sauce may not be feasible, there are some brands for sale which are very similar. You can substitute McDonald’s BBQ sauce for these brands to recreate the lovely and sweet, and savory flavor. These substitutes are so good you will swear you are eating real McDonald’s BBQ sauce!

What Is The Best Substitute For McDonald’s BBQ Sauce?

The ideal substitute for McDonald’s BBQ sauce is Heinz BBQ sauce or Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce.

McDonald’s has been making their BBQ sauce the same way since the early 1980s! To recreate that legendary flavor, you need to find a classic old-school BBQ sauce. Sweet Baby Ray’s Original or Heinz BBQ sauce are both examples of classic BBQ sauces that aren’t too smoky and have a similar amount of sweetness compared to McDonald’s sauce.

Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce tends to be thicker and spicier than McDonald’s sauce, but it has a similar amount of savory flavor. Heinz BBQ sauce is the best substitute because it has a very similar flavor profile and consistency. It is not very thick and has a lovely tangy sweetness just like McDonald’s BBQ sauce.

What Does McDonald’s BBQ Sauce Taste Like?

Mcdonald’s BBQ sauce is sweet, rich, and savory with a smoky kick. It is the perfect blend of umami and sweet. The sauce also has a lovely tangy flavor with a nice thick texture. McDonald’s BBQ sauce tastes amazing on hot chicken nuggets!

McDonald’s BBQ sauce is a combination of sweet and savory. The sauce also has a tangy tomato flavor, honey/caramel sweetness, and a smoky taste. McDonald’s BBQ sauce is smooth but does have an enjoyable spicy and smoky kick.

Final Thoughts

McDonald’s BBQ sauce is made in-house. McDonald’s does not use 3rd party companies to produce its super yummy barbecue sauce. Unfortunately, McDonald’s does not bottle their sauce, and if you want to buy it, you will have to go to a restaurant and buy individual packets, which cost $0.25 to $0.3 per serving. Luckily, there is one amazing substitute that you can buy at your local supermarket, Heinz BBQ sauce. Both of these sauces have a lovely sweet and savory flavor with just enough spice and smokiness, just like McDonald’s BBQ sauce!

McDonald’s BBQ Sauce FAQ

Does McDonald’s make their own BBQ sauce?

McDonald’s makes all of their own BBQ sauce in-house at their food production facilities. The BBQ sauce is then sent from these facilities in packets to individual restaurants and served to customers.

What brand of barbecue sauce does McDonald’s use?

McDonald’s uses its own brand of BBQ sauce. McDonald’s does not use any 3rd party companies to produce its BBQ sauce and manufactures it in-house at their food processing sites.

Did McDonald’s change their barbecue sauce?

McDonald’s did not change their barbecue sauce. McDonald’s publicly announced that they have been using the recipe for their BBQ sauce since 1982! You can’t get more classic than that!

What BBQ sauce does McDonald’s use on the McRib?

McDonald’s uses its in-house BBQ sauce on the McRib. This is the classic BBQ sauce that they have been producing since 1982!

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