Earlier this week, I made some amazing steak fries, but I needed an equally great dipping sauce.

I didn’t want to stick with plain old ketchup, so I made some Comeback Sauce. Comeback Sauce is a sweet, tangy, creamy, and savory sauce that can be drizzled, drizzled, or smeared.

‘Comeback sauce’ means “keep coming back for more.” (I “accidentally” ate an entire bunch of broccoli in one sitting, thanks to this delicious sauce.)


In the picture is oven-roasted broccoli.

Table of Contents hide
Exactly What is Comeback Sauce?
Is There Anything You Serve It With?
Comeback Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
Note
Nutritional
These Other Homemade Sauces Are worth Checking Out:
Step-by-step Photos of How to Make Comeback Sauce

Exactly What is Comeback Sauce?

The sauce is said to have originated in a Greek restaurant in Mississippi, but spread quickly throughout the entire southern region.

Originally, the sauce contained mayonnaise, Heinz Chili Sauce (a tomato-based sauce that is not the same as Sweet Chili Sauce), and some seasonings.

People interpreted this addictive sauce differently as it spread throughout the region, each adding their own twist to it. Because I do not keep Heinz Chili Sauce in my pantry, I made substitutions to create a similar flavor profile using items that I do keep on hand, and in the process I gave us a new spin on a classic.

Is There Anything You Serve It With?

You can serve it with anything, including roasted vegetables (shown with roasted broccoli), fried foods like french fries, chicken fingers or nuggets, tuna patties, chips, or tuna salad.

This sauce is also delicious spread on hamburgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and wrap sandwiches. It can also be used as a salad dressing, or to flavor a batch of coleslaw.

Close up of broccoli being dipped into comeback sauce

Comeback Sauce Recipe

Comeback Sauce is a creamy, tangy, sweet, and savory condiment that can be drizzled, drizzled, smeared, or smothered over your favorite foods.

Author: Beth

Servings: 5 (2 Tbsp each)

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise ($0.80)
  • 2 Tbsp ketchup ($0.10)
  • 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce ($0.01)
  • 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard ($0.02)
  • 1/8 tsp hot sauce* ($0.02)
  • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika ($0.02)
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder ($0.02)
  • 1/8 tsp freshly cracked black pepper ($0.02)
  • 1/8 tsp salt ($0.02)

Instructions

Add all the ingredients to a bowl and stir until evenly combined. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to eat.

Note

*Basically, any hot sauce that is vinegar-based, such as Tabasco.

Nutritional

Serving: 2 Tbsp ・ Calories: 158.8 kcal ・ Carbohydrates: 2.44 g ・ Protein: 0.34 g ・ Fat: 16.52 g ・ Sodium: 319.92 mg ・ Fiber: 0.06 g

The nutritional values shown here are only estimates. Please see our nutrition disclaimer.

These Other Homemade Sauces Are worth Checking Out:

  • Honey Mustard Sauce
  • Homemade BBQ Sauce
  • Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
  • Chimichurri Sauce

A bowl of comeback sauce surrounded by roasted broccoli

Step-by-step Photos of How to Make Comeback Sauce

sauce ingredients in a bowl, not mixed
Combine ½ cup mayonnaise, ½ tsp Dijon mustard, ¼ tsp smoked paprika, ⅛ tsp garlic powder, ⅛ tsp freshly cracked black pepper, and ⅛ tsp salt, 2 Tbsp ketchup, 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1/8 tsp hot sauce.
Finished comeback sauce being stirred with a red spatula
Combine all ingredients and stir until smooth. You can serve it right away or refrigerate it.
Overhead view of a bowl of comeback sauce surrounded by roasted broccoli
This dish was served with roasted broccoli, which was tossed in oil and roasted to your desired level of browning at 400oF for about 30 minutes.