Copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce Recipe
This copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce recipe is the kind of creamy, smoky dipping sauce that makes fries, burgers, chicken tenders, onion rings, and sandwiches taste a little more fun. It takes about 5 minutes to stir together and uses just mayonnaise and a whiskey or bourbon flavored BBQ sauce.
If you have ever ordered the campfire sauce at Red Robin and wished you could keep a little bowl of it at home, this easy version gets you close with pantry-friendly ingredients. The mayonnaise makes it rich and creamy, while the BBQ sauce brings the sweet, smoky, tangy flavor that makes it perfect for dipping.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ✅Recipe Name: Copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce
- 🍽️Serves: 1 cup
- ⏰Ready In: 5 minutes
- 🔥Calories: 885
- 🥣Main Ingredients: mayonnaise, whiskey or bourbon flavored BBQ sauce
- ⭐Why You’ll Love It: A creamy, smoky, two-ingredient copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce made with mayonnaise and whiskey or bourbon flavored BBQ sauce. Perfect for fries, burgers, chicken tenders, onion rings, and sandwiches.
This is especially handy for casual dinners, game day snacks, cookouts, burger nights, or a quick appetizer tray. Make a batch before serving and keep it chilled until you are ready to dip.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It uses only two ingredients.
- There is no cooking, chopping, or blending required.
- It tastes creamy, smoky, sweet, and tangy all at once.
- It is ready in about 5 minutes.
- It works as a dip, burger sauce, sandwich spread, or appetizer sauce.
- It is easy to make ahead for parties, cookouts, and quick dinners.
What Is Campfire Sauce?
Campfire sauce is a creamy BBQ mayo-style sauce made famous by Red Robin. It is usually served as a dipping sauce with fries, but it also works beautifully on burgers, chicken sandwiches, wraps, and fried appetizers.
The flavor is smoky and tangy from the BBQ sauce, with a creamy base from the mayonnaise. It is not the same as plain fry sauce because the BBQ sauce gives it a deeper, sweeter, more grilled flavor.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Mayonnaise: This makes the sauce creamy and gives it body. Use a mayonnaise you like because the flavor comes through in a simple two-ingredient recipe.
- Whiskey or bourbon flavored BBQ sauce: This gives the sauce its smoky, sweet, tangy flavor. The source draft notes that this style is the best choice for getting close to the Red Robin flavor.
Exact measurements are in the recipe card below.
The Best BBQ Sauce to Use
For the closest copycat flavor, choose a whiskey or bourbon flavored BBQ sauce. Red Robin’s restaurant sauce is built around that smoky-sweet profile, so a plain BBQ sauce may still taste good but will not have quite the same depth.
A thicker BBQ sauce will make a thicker dipping sauce. A thinner BBQ sauce will make the finished sauce looser, which can be nice for drizzling over burgers or chicken sandwiches.
If your BBQ sauce is very sweet, the finished sauce will be sweeter. If it is smoky or spicy, those flavors will come through too. That is why this recipe is best with a BBQ sauce you already enjoy.
How to Make Copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce
- Add the mayonnaise to a small mixing bowl.
- Add the whiskey or bourbon flavored BBQ sauce.
- Whisk until the sauce is smooth, creamy, and evenly combined.
- Serve right away, or cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
That is all it takes. Because this is such a simple sauce, the biggest difference comes from the BBQ sauce you choose.
Copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce
Equipment
- Small mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- whisk
- Airtight storage container
Ingredients
- ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- ¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons whiskey or bourbon flavored BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Add the mayonnaise and whiskey or bourbon flavored BBQ sauce to a small mixing bowl.
- Whisk until the sauce is smooth and evenly combined.
- Serve immediately with fries, burgers, chicken tenders, onion rings, or sandwiches, or cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Notes
- For the closest copycat flavor, use a whiskey or bourbon flavored BBQ sauce.
- The finished flavor will depend on the BBQ sauce you choose, so use one you already like.
- If the sauce has been refrigerated, stir before serving.
- Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or use the earliest expiration or best-by date from the mayonnaise and BBQ sauce used.
Nutrition
How to Make It Taste More Like Red Robin
- Use a whiskey or bourbon flavored BBQ sauce instead of a plain BBQ sauce.
- Whisk until the color is even and there are no streaks of mayonnaise left.
- Chill the sauce before serving if you want it thicker and more dip-like.
- Serve it with crispy fries, onion rings, chicken tenders, or burgers for the restaurant-style feel.
What to Serve With Campfire Sauce
This sauce is made for dipping, spreading, and drizzling. Try it with:
- French fries or sweet potato fries
- Onion rings
- Chicken tenders or nuggets
- Burgers and sliders
- Chicken sandwiches
- Grilled chicken wraps
- Fried pickles
- Tater tots or potato wedges
- Roasted potatoes
- Appetizer boards with chips, vegetables, and fried snacks
Recipe Tips
- Start with cold mayonnaise so the sauce stays thick and creamy.
- Taste the BBQ sauce before mixing. If you do not like it on its own, you probably will not love it in this sauce.
- Use a small whisk for the smoothest texture.
- Refrigerate leftovers promptly in an airtight container.
- Stir the sauce again before serving if it has been sitting in the refrigerator.
Easy Variations
The recipe card below keeps the original two-ingredient version, but you can adjust the flavor for your own table.
- Spicier: Use a spicy bourbon BBQ sauce.
- Smokier: Choose a hickory-smoked or mesquite-style BBQ sauce.
- Sweeter: Use a honey bourbon BBQ sauce.
- Tangier: Use a BBQ sauce with a little more vinegar in the flavor profile.
Storage
Store campfire sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or use the earliest expiration or best-by date from the mayonnaise and BBQ sauce you used. Stir before serving if needed.
Do not leave the sauce sitting out for long periods, especially at parties or cookouts. Keep it chilled until serving and return leftovers to the refrigerator promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Red Robin campfire sauce made of?
This copycat version is made with mayonnaise and whiskey or bourbon flavored BBQ sauce. The mayo makes it creamy, and the BBQ sauce adds smoky, tangy, sweet flavor.
Can I use any BBQ sauce?
Yes, but the flavor will change depending on the BBQ sauce. A whiskey or bourbon flavored BBQ sauce gives the closest restaurant-style result.
Is campfire sauce spicy?
This version is usually more smoky-sweet than spicy, but that depends on the BBQ sauce you choose. Use a spicy BBQ sauce if you want more heat.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes. Whisk it together, cover it, and keep it in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
How long does homemade campfire sauce last?
The source draft recommends storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or using the earliest expiration or best-by date from your mayonnaise and BBQ sauce.
Is this sauce just fry sauce?
It is similar because it has a creamy mayonnaise base, but the BBQ sauce gives it a smokier and richer flavor than a basic ketchup-style fry sauce.
Can I use this on burgers?
Yes. It is excellent as a burger sauce, sandwich spread, or dipping sauce for fries and appetizers.
If you make this copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce recipe, leave a comment and star rating. I would love to hear what you dipped in it first.
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- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- What Is Campfire Sauce?
- Ingredients You'll Need
- The Best BBQ Sauce to Use
- How to Make Copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce
- Copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce
- How to Make It Taste More Like Red Robin
- What to Serve With Campfire Sauce
- Recipe Tips
- Easy Variations
- Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Recipes You'll Love