'I was a McDonald's chef and this is the secret to the Big Mac sauce recipe'

McDonald's has rolled out the red carpet for its Monopoly game, introducing new menu items to mark the occasion.

While each year brings something new from the food chain, one thing that remains consistent is the beloved Big Mac burger. The McDonald's Big Mac, second only to the chain's signature fries in popularity, is a favourite among many.

The burger consists of two 100 per cent British beef patties sandwiched between three layers of sesame seed buns, topped with cheese, finely chopped onion, shredded lettuce, pickles, and the iconic secret Big Mac sauce. While few McDonald's aficionados have been privy to what goes into the creamy, irresistible sauce, the secret is finally out for all.

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A former employee of the fast-food giant has now spilled the beans on the secret recipe by sharing his imitation version on TikTok. In a video posted on his account, ex-McDonald's corporate chef Mike Haracz revealed the surprising list of ingredients that makeup the famous burger sauce.

Contrary to what one might expect, there's no ketchup in the tangy condiment, despite its pink hue. Instead, the mayonnaise-based sauce gets its unique flavour from a blend of Dusseldorf mustard and white wine vinegar.

Mike let slip that the orange tint comes from a small amount of paprika, which doubles as both a colouring agent and a flavour booster. Aside from mustard, vinegar, and paprika, the remaining ingredients are fairly standard.

The Big Mac sauce is whipped up from a combination of mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, onion powder, granulated garlic, and white pepper, reports the Express.

According to Mike, these ingredients need to be whisked together and left to rest for at least half an hour to create a thick sauce that closely mirrors the one used in McDonald's eateries.

The ex-staffer is insistent that this is as close as you can get to the authentic recipe, and considering the ingredients listed on McDonald's website, it seems plausible.

Interestingly, ketchup and other tomato-based products are not included in the list. Instead, a variety of stabilisers, preservatives, and spices are utilised, which can be omitted when recreating the sauce at home.

While the homemade version won't have the same shelf life, it serves as a brilliant alternative for those wanting to whip up a McDonald's-inspired meal from the comfort of their own kitchen.

And for those who love the Big Mac but want to spice up their usual order, a secret menu item known as the Chicken Big Mac might be worth a try.

In a TikTok video, user OmarTheCritic shared his order of the under-the-radar burger hack from the fast food chain. The Chicken Big Mac is the exact same as a normal Big Mac but with the beef patties swapped out for chicken instead.

This item made it to McDonald's main menu at certain branches in the UK this summer as the fast-food chain tested it out as a promotional burger. And it's back on the menu today, alongside the rest of the Monopoly menu.