Catching the attention of fast-food aficionados and home cooks alike, former McDonald’s corporate chef Mike Haracz has divulged which retail chain sells a credible “dupe” for the coveted Big Mac sauce.
Haracz, based in Illinois, took to TikTok to share his culinary insight after conducting his own comparison study of available store-bought options. His quest was prompted by inquiries from his social media followers who were eager to find a ready-made alternative to making the sauce from scratch.
“I have a recipe pinned on my TikTok that requires you to make the sauce which is actually closer in flavor, but I received a variety of comments asking for which store bought version is the closest,” Haracz told FOX Business.
Haracz explained that he began his comparative analysis by first looking at the ingredient statement for Big Mac sauce on McDonald’s official website. He then matched those elements with various store-bought sauces.
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He concluded that Walmart’s Great Value Secret Sauce is the closest replica.
“I compared the ingredient statement of Big Mac sauce on the McDonald’s website to a variety of store options and this one was the closest,” Haracz said.
Yet, even as he endorsed Walmart’s sauce as a convenient substitute for DIY enthusiasts, Haracz did concede some slight variations in flavor and composition.
According to him, the store-bought sauce is a bit sweeter and includes preservatives not found in the original Big Mac formulation. Despite these differences, the Great Value Secret Sauce is, according to Haracz, “the closest thing you could get from the supermarket.”
Public reaction to Haracz’s discovery has been a mixed bag. Social media users who have tried the Walmart sauce offered divergent opinions.
One user stated, “I’ve been saying that for over a year but recently my Walmart hasn’t had it either and I’m sad,” while another found the sauce to be “a winner for sure.”
Not everyone is convinced of its similarity, however. One skeptical TikToker said, “I bought a bottle a while back and it definitely isn’t as good (probably the preservatives).”
In international scene, McDonald’s branded Big Mac sauces are actually available in supermarkets, Haracz noted.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Walmart’s Great Value Secret Sauce has been likened to McDonald’s Big Mac sauce. A TikTok user had similarly vouched for its authenticity in replicating the Big Mac experience back in 2020, as reported by Delish.com.
It appears the sauce has already carved out a niche for itself. “This sauce launched around April 2019 and continues to be a popular favorite with customers,” a Walmart spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
For lovers of the iconic Big Mac, Haracz’s discovery may well have sauced up their options.
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