Comeback Sauce is the perfect dipping sauce for chicken tenders, vegetables, sandwiches, and almost anything you can think of to dip with. My version includes the usual suspects like mayonnaise, chili sauce, ketchup, and lots of pantry seasonings — but I’ve kicked it up in the spice department with the addition of hot sauce and cayenne pepper. Not enough to set your mouth on fire, but just enough to give this sauce a little kick.
Have y’all ever tried Comeback Sauce? It tastes a little bit like Remoulade sauce and Thousand Island dressing had a baby — flavorful but without a lot of heat and with a bit of sweetness.
The sauce originated in Jackson, Mississippi, and is commonly known as Mississippi Comeback Sauce. It’s used as a dipping sauce for anything fried and even as a salad dressing. We love it with our Canned Salmon Patties, Sausage and Peppers sheet pan meal, Garlic Panko Chicken Breasts, and our Spicy Roasted Cauliflower.
Since we like some spice in almost everything we eat, like my Spicy Barbecue Sauce, I added a little cayenne pepper, which is not traditional in Comeback Sauce. But I’m pretty sure there were probably Mississippi cooks who added various ingredients that aren’t necessarily traditional.
Changing recipes to make them suit your family’s tastes is part of the fun of cooking!
Testing results for comeback sauce
- I thought the sauce was a little bland, so I added some spice with extra hot sauce and cayenne pepper.
- I only tested with Duke’s mayonnaise because there is no other.
I hope you make this recipe. I think you’ll love it!
Ingredient notes
Here are a few things to know about the ingredients:
➡️➡️➡️ The full ingredient amounts and instructions are listed below on the printable recipe card. Scroll below the recipe card for frequently asked questions and tips for success.
Chili sauce: I prefer Heinz for this recipe. Don’t use the small jars of spicy Asian chili sauce.
Lemon juice: You need a touch of fresh lemon juice.
How to make comeback sauce
You can shake the Comeback Sauce in a jar, or you can use a blender. I like using my Ninja Blender to get it mixed really smooth but I’ve also just used an old mustard or mayonnaise jar.
You just combine all the ingredients in a blender or a jar and blend or shake until well mixed. So easy!
“Y’all come back now, y’hear?”
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Comeback Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ⅔ cup chili sauce, (I like Heinz)
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce, Tabasco or Frank’s
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Place all in a blender and blend or in a jar and shake until ingredients are well mixed.
- Store in the refrigerator in closed container up to two weeks.
Nutrition
Questions and tips
Storage
Store this sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Of course! Comeback sauce keeps for about a week in the fridge, so you can make it a few days before if you are serving it for a party.
Recipe adapted from Southern Living’s Comeback Sauce recipe.
Did not end up adding the oil or water. Loved your recipe! Great with air fried green tomatoes or zucchini! 😋