Comeback Sauce made a little spicier with hot sauce and cayenne–it’s the perfect easy dipping sauce for anything fried and even cut-up vegetables!

Comeback sauce in a bowl with a jar in the background.

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 used as a dipping sauce for anything fried and even as a salad dressing.

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Honey Mustard Saucesweet and a little tangy, this sauce is great on burgers or chicken.

Comeback Sauce with a Kick

Since we like some spice in almost everything we eat, I add 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!

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.

Ingredients for Mississippi Comeback Sauce

This sauce is a conglomeration of a lot of ingredients but it’s easy to put together. Most of these things you probably have in your pantry or refrigerator!

  • Mayonnaise
  • Chili sauce (I like Heinz)
  • Ketchup (Heinz – is there any other kind??!!)
  • Lemon juice
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Hot sauce (Tabasco or Frank’s)
  • Paprika
  • Salt
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Dry mustard
  • Black pepper
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Vegetable oil
  • Water

How to Make Comeback Sauce

Step 1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or a jar and blend or shake until well mixed.

Tips

  • Make-ahead: this comeback sauce recipe is a great make-ahead condiment. You can make it several days before you want to serve it.
  • Storage: keep the sauce in a jar in the refrigerator for up to a week.

“Y’all come back now, y’hear?”

a jar of comeback sauce ready to serve

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4.75 from 8 votes

Comeback Sauce

A tangy sauce with a touch of sweet that is easy to throw together and makes a great dipping sauce for just about everything.
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 20 servings
Save This Recipe

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 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

Serving: 20servings, Calories: 97kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 4mg, Sodium: 297mg, Sugar: 1g
Course: Sauces
Cuisine: American
Calories: 97
Keyword: comeback sauce
Love this recipe?Mention @southernfoodandfun or tag #southernfoodandfun!

Recipe adapted from Southern Living’s Comeback Sauce recipe.

For a simpler version of Comeback Sauce, try this one from Christy Jordan at Southern Plate.

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Update Notes: This post was originally published June 29, 2015, and on May 30, 2019, was updated with one or more of the following: step-by-step photos, video, updated recipe, new tips.

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About the author

Hi, I’m Lucy! I’m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. I’ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

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Recipe Rating




4.75 from 8 votes (7 ratings without comment)

1 Comment

  1. 5 stars
    Did not end up adding the oil or water. Loved your recipe! Great with air fried green tomatoes or zucchini! 😋