By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 3, 2023
This homemade Yum Yum Sauce recipe is easy to make with just a handful of ingredients. A creamy mayo base is combined with ketchup and spices for a sweet and tangy sauce you can use with shrimp, steak, chicken, veggies, seafood, tofu, and many other dishes.
What’s in this Yum Yum Sauce Recipe?
Pantry staples like mayonnaise, ketchup, vinegar, sugar, and spices come together to create this rich, tangy, irresistible dipping sauce! Get that Japanese hibachi flavor right at home by using this with your dish of choice.
- Mayonnaise : Forms the creamy base of this sauce. You can use store-bought or homemade, but I do not recommend using a flavorful mayonnaise, as we want this to be a neutral base.
- Ketchup: Gives this sauce its signature pink color and a rich, umami flavor.
- Rice Vinegar: Adds a bit of tanginess and brightness to the sauce. If you don’t have rice vinegar, white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar will also work.
- Unsalted Butter: Makes this sauce ultra-creamy!
- Granulated Sugar: Adds a bit of sweetness to the sauce.
- Spices: Paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder give this sauce an earthy flavor.
Pro Tip: For a spicier sauce, add some cayenne pepper, chili flakes, hot sauce, or sriracha.
Variations on Homemade Yum Yum Sauce
Yum yum sauce is surprisingly personal. Each restaurant has its own signature version, so feel free to play around with the ratios until it tastes like your favorite restaurant’s sauce. Follow these guidelines to get yours just right:
- Too pink? Cut back on the ketchup and/or paprika.
- Too sweet? Cut back on the sugar or use tomato paste instead of ketchup.
- Too mellow? Add some cayenne pepper, chili flakes, hot sauce, or sriracha to taste. Add some more rice vinegar or try using apple cider vinegar for even more tang.
- Too thick? Add more rice vinegar or water to thin it out.
Yum yum sauce is a staple of Japanese-American cooking. It is a dipping sauce made from mayonnaise, ketchup, rice vinegar, sugar, and spices.
Yes, this sauce is naturally gluten-free!
It is light, sweet, and tangy! It’s the perfect complement to Japanese hibachi cooking.
You can dip just about anything into this tasty sauce. It is most commonly served with shrimp , but it is also great with chicken, noodles, burgers, or veggies.
Yes! My version contains butter. However, you can easily swap the butter out for a vegan butter substitute or margarine if you prefer.
How to Store
Store leftover yum yum sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Serve cold or at room temperature. I do not recommend freezing this sauce.
Serving Suggestions
This DIY yum yum sauce is classically served with hibachi shrimp or steak. I love it on grilled shrimp served with a salad or grilled ribeye . It’s also delicious with grilled chicken breast or pan-seared chicken or air fryer chicken tenders .
Use it with appetizers, and dip some crab rangoon , egg rolls , or even shoestring fries in it. Or use it as the dressing for macaroni salad . It even makes a great topping for smash burgers !
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1½ cups mayonnaise store-bought or homemade
- ▢ ¼ cup ketchup
- ▢ 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- ▢ 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted (⅛ stick)
- ▢ 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground paprika
- ▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ▢ ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk all of the ingredients together until smooth. 1½ cups mayonnaise, ¼ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon ground paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Cover the bowl, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors develop.
Becky’s Tips
- For a less sweet sauce, swap the ketchup for tomato paste.
- You can use apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar in place of rice vinegar.
- For a dairy-free option, swap the butter for vegan butter or margarine.
- Feel free to play with the ratios until the sauce resembles the one from your favorite restaurant.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Dipping Sauce Recipes We Love
- Chick Fil A Sauce
- Fry Sauce
- Burger Sauce
- Garlic Aioli
- Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
- Homemade Buffalo Sauce
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Bang Bang Sauce
- Homemade Tartar Sauce
Yum Yum Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ cups mayonnaise store-bought or homemade
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted (⅛ stick)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk all of the ingredients together until smooth. 1½ cups mayonnaise, ¼ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon ground paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Cover the bowl, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors develop.
Notes
- For a less sweet sauce, swap the ketchup for tomato paste.
- You can use apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar in place of rice vinegar.
- For a dairy-free option, swap the butter for vegan butter or margarine.
- Feel free to play with the ratios until the sauce resembles the one from your favorite restaurant.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
