Make your own Zax Sauce and dip your chicken and fries at home using this copycat recipe of Zaxby's signature sauce. A delicious dipping sauce for chicken and fries with ingredients you have at home.
When we moved to the south over 10 years ago, we fell in love with Zaxby's sauce. It's a creamy seasoned sauce for dipping your chicken and fries. It's the BEST. My recipe is the closest I've found to a homemade version. Many readers have tried it and loved it, too!
What is Zaxby's?
Zaxby's is a favorite fried chicken fast food restaurant here in the South. When we moved to Mississippi, we lived just down the road from one and ate there once a week. We found a way for our family of three (at the time) to eat for $10, including chicken tenders, fries and a drink for all. It was a treat.
When Judah was just two years old, he didn't eat much of his sauce so we would trick him and switch our empty tub out with his. It went something like this: "Judah, look at that thing over there!" He would turn his head, and we would quickly swap our package of Zax Sauce that was mostly eaten with his newly opened pack. He never noticed! We laugh about this story with him today.
Sauce Ingredients
When we moved to a different town, Zaxby's was no longer just down the street so I learned to make Zax Sauce at home by whipping up just a few staple pantry ingredients.
Here's what you need:
- Mayonnaise (I love Duke's, but any brand of mayo will do)
- Ketchup
- Garlic powder
- Worcestershire sauce
- Black pepper
- Seasoned salt (such as Lawry's or Season All)
Scroll to the end of this post for the full recipe card with ingredients measurements and detailed instructions.
How to Make Zax Sauce
This recipe is as simple as it gets. All you need to do is whisk together the simple ingredients and its ready! I like to refrigerate at least 2 hours first and allow the flavors to blend so the full taste is there at first bite.
What Others Are Saying
I love the Zax sauce and always order an extra one. I tried your recipe and it tastes really good! Thanks for sharing. -Latanya
I made this the other night to go with some meatballs….IT WAS AWESOME!! Made it again tonight to go with some chicken, I want to try it on a burger next…move over Ranch, and make room for Zax Sauce! -Brenda
It is delicious !! Love it. -Barbara
I tried this and it was tasted exactly the same as the Zax sauce! Everybody loved it! -Emma
Zaxby's restaurants are starting to spread to locations as far north as Indiana, so if you haven't tried it out yet, go for it. And when you do, order an extra Zax sauce because once you eat that last drip of sauce, you'll want more. Trust me.
What to Serve with Zax Sauce
We like Zax Sauce as a dip for chicken strips or nuggets and french fries, or a spread on a chicken sandwich. It's also a great on burgers and other sandwiches, or as a salad dressing! Try also dipping your onion rings in and let us know what you think!
Made this Recipe?
Leave a star rating and tag me on Instagram @seededtable so I can see. I love hearing from you!
This article was originally published November 2013 and updated January 2023.
Recipe Card
Zax Sauce (Dipping Sauce for Chicken and Fries)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons ketchup
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
Instructions
- Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving, to allow the flavors to blend.
- Serve with chicken fingers and/or french fries, or as desired. (See notes.)
Notes
- Not only do we love this as a dipping sauce for our chicken and fries, but it is delicious spread on burgers and sandwiches, or used as a salad dressing!
- Nutrition information is an estimate only.
Eric says
As a person that used to go to Church with the founders of Zaxbys, I can tell you the original Zax sauce has anchovy paste in it like a true Ceasar dressing will, or it's not Ceasar dressing. I think this recipe is fairly close. But the anchovy paste is what gives Ceasar and this sauce its tang. Zaxbys is still decent, but when they went commercial, something special was lost.
Allison B says
Zax sauce is one of my favorite dipping sauces! So sad they don't have it in stores.
This is nearly a replica in my opinion but still has something missing (not tangy enough for me), so I added a dash of mustard powder and a tad extra ketchup and it tasted a bit more close to the real thing!
Mustard flour is listed as one of the ingredients of the sauce cups, so mustard powder seemed to add that full zing to it 🙂
Thanks for the recipe!
Gator Girl says
I've never been to or even heard of Zaxby's. But I was looking for a dipping sauce for my deep fried jalapenos. I decided to try this dip and it went excellent with the jalapenos! Very good! Thank you for sharing! I'll be on the look out for a Zaxby's restaurant now.
Krystal says
I worked at zaxbys for 15 years and I crave this sauce probably more than I should lol! They used to put anchovies in it about 8 years ago and that was elite but the new sauce is just as good! Also the new spicy is zax sauce the bomb!!!
Caleb W. says
Spot on! This tastes exactly like zaxbys/raising canes sauce. However I recommend going with just a 1/4 tsp of salt to start and then add more if its not salty enough.
April Ball says
My kids LOVE Zaxbys and the Zax sauce. I whipped this up with some fries for a quick snack and we all loved it! It tastes very similar to the original sauce and if you don't want to pay the extra $.25 for one, this is an amazing substitute and delicious! Thank you for sharing!
Elizabeth says
I prepared this yesterday to use today and this sauce is delicious!!! It's been so long since we've visited Zaxby's, but have no reason to now. This is a keeper of a recipe and I will use it again and again. Thank you!
Nikki Gladd says
Yay! Thanks for letting us know, Elizabeth!
ColleenB.~Tx. says
I make a dipping sauce pretty much like this and it is Great on chicken burgers and also for dipping onion rings in. Haven't tried it on hamburgers yet but I would think it would be delicious. Also great for dipping chicken tenders/ nuggets in.
Face it; it's darn right yummy stuff.
Nikki Gladd says
Ha, Colleen! I agree! 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
Nisha says
Pretty good! But add a little honey & a little bit of texas pete house house! And you’ll thank me later!!!!!
Kornisha says
Hot sauce ...correction! lol. I was toooo busy eating the sauce
Rachel says
Just saw this and can't wait to try it!
I love the taste of Zaxby's sauce and I also love those cheddar sauces you put on broccoli and things like that. Would mixing in melted cheese with this recipe ruin it??
Nikki Gladd says
Hi Rachel! I'm not sure as I've never tested out mixing in melted cheese. If you try it, come back and let us know how it turned out! 🙂
Catherine J Kraft says
Just found your recipe......so excited!!! We had a Zaxby's when we were stationed in Warner Robins Georgia. Retired we've moved back home to Oregon. NO Zaxby's and miss it so much!!
Nikki Gladd says
How fun! Glad you found it! 🙂
samantha says
It didn't work. I wonder why
Troy Kellett says
My wife loves Zaxbys zax sauce. I made this for her and she loved it. She said it's a dead ringer for the real thing and now I have to make a bigger batch. Thanks for the recipe.
Nikki Gladd says
Thank you, Troy! Glad to help you make your wife happy! 😉
Keith says
This recipe is good I've did a taste test before even letting the flavors mix
It is very close to the original. Thanks.
bob says
It taste like too much mayo
Looneybird86 says
I made this sauce cause I use to live in New Jersey and unfortunately there was no zaxbys there ( I'm now living in Florida less than 5 minutes from a Zaxbys ) Anyway the sauce tasted amazing and great with everything other than chicken and fries! I would recommend trying the sauce with Steak-ums so delicious! I haven't tried it with season salt though can't wait! Well try to remember to give my review when I do! Thank you for the recipe!!!
Nikki Gladd says
Thank you, Looneybird86! Glad you like the sauce! To clarify, did you like it with the chicken and fries, too?
Anonymous says
The missing taste is anchovy paste.
Stephen says
I added a splash of apple cider vinegar at the end and it made it perfect. spot on.
Ee says
The addition of apple cider vinegar is a MUST. Made all the difference. Recipe needs to be updated.
jj says
I can taste the tamarind paste in the sauce. It's even listed on the ingredients. But I have yet to see a copycat recipe with this important item.
Nikki Gladd says
Hi JJ,
Tamarind is an ingredient in the Worcestershire sauce, so it is included in this recipe.
Katie says
My family eats Zaxby's often enough that now we have to budget or we'll break the bank! lol My littlest had leftover food but no more sauce. I found your recipe and it is pretty darn close! The only thing I think it needs is a little acid to cut the sweetness so I added 1/4 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar. PERFECT! Thanks for a great recipe!! =)
Emma says
I tried this and it was tasted Exactly the same as the Zax sauce! Everybody loved it!
My family is a big fan of Zaxby's;)
Nikki Gladd says
Thank you, Emma!
Barbara says
Never heard of the restaurant but sauce sounded good. My husband was frying chick fingers and onion rings and fries. So I went out and made the sauce and tried it. It is delicious !! Love it
Nikki Gladd says
Hi Barbara! I'm glad you took the chance on it even though you've never heard of it. 🙂 Thanks for the feedback!
Ashley says
I use to live in Mississippi and I moved to California when I got married three years ago. I miss Zaxby's SO MUCH and they advertise constantly during football games on SEC Network. I was lamenting on facebook that I couldn't have Zaxby's and one of my friends sent me the link to your recipe. You are my new hero!!!!!
Nikki Gladd says
Yay! Actually, your friend who gave you the link is the true hero! 😉
Brenda says
I have never heard of Zaxby's living in MI most of my life. I made this the other night to go with some meatballs....IT WAS AWESOME!! Made it again tonite to go with some chicken, I want to try it on a burger next...move over Ranch, and make room for Zax Sauce!
Nikki Gladd says
HA! That's great, Brenda! It's seriously great on everything!!
Amy Spears says
I never use it because the label says it has anchovies in it. I won't lie, the thought alone grosses me out! It's nice that you were able to copy it and leave those nasty things out.
Nikki says
Hi Amy! I hope this doesn't ruin you, but the reason there are anchovies in Zax Sauce is because anchovies are in Worcestershire sauce. So, this recipe does include anchovies. Did you know Caesar dressing also includes anchovies? 🙂 Again, sorry if I just rocked your world!! Hope you're not grossed out!
voirdire says
Wrong answer, who knows how the sauce is produced now. However, I worked for Zaxby's when they were nothing but a concrete block building and yes there are Anchovies included in the real recipe. all of these online have most of the ingredients but do combine the correct method of preparation along with YES adding the anchovies.
Amy says
I love Zaxby's! We had one where I grew up. When I moved north for college Zaxby's was a long lost friend. However, now they have started moving north as you said! We live close to the border of Indiana and they have one right over the river. Yay for that! Thanks for the sauce. I am excited to try it (after I douse my fries in season salt of course.)
cara says
I make something really similar to this to copy Freddys sauce. No w sauce or garlic powder, add pickle juice. Love it!
Nikki says
Thanks, Cara! Is Freddy's the hamburger joint? We had one open near us in California right before we moved away. I don't think I ever tried their sauce! 🙂
Nutmeg Nanny says
Wow this sauce sounds so perfect, I can't wait to get a taste of it 🙂
Amanda A says
I know nothing of seasoned salt. Is it where the other spices are in stores? What flavor of seasoned salt? Or is there just one?
Nikki says
Hi Amanda,
I use Lawry's seasoned salt. It's an item located in the spice aisle with regular salt. 🙂
Ray McGuire says
I made this and this was my first time ever tasting this or ever hearing of it . I was looking for something to dip my fries in and Chicken and found your Recipe . Now this is very good to me but was wondering if it mattered what brand or what kind of mayonnaise I use . I used mayo is that what I needed to use ? or should have I used Miracle Whip ? Please let me know . I do want to make this right . Ty Ray McGuire ,,Southwest Kansas
Nikki Gladd says
Hi Ray,
Yes, I use mayo... I don't think the brand should matter, but I do use Hellman's every time. 🙂 Glad you liked it!
Mary Lou says
Try Lawreys season Salt it's my go to seasoning for EVERYTHING! And yes it's on the shelf with seasonings red cap on it
Sheila says
I've never heard of Zaxby's but that is how I feel about the sauce at Chick Filet...I have made a copy cat version of that too!! it's nommy ; )
amber says
I love that you posted this. I remember Ben saying you had mastered it. 🙂 Glad I could be there with you for your first time. And glad it got better for you. I miss it in AZ!!
latanya says
I love the zax sauce and always order an extra one. I tried your recipe and it tastes really good! Thanks for sharing.
Karly says
I've never had Zaxby's and now I feel like I'm missing out. 🙁 I will totally make some chicken strips for this sauce at home though. YUM!
Cookbook Queen says
LOVE Zaxby's!! Ours is about a half hour from the house. Boo 🙁 Can't wait to try this sauce!
Stephanie @ Plain Chicken says
LOVE Zaxby's! We have one less than a mile from our house. Can't wait to try your version of the sauce - YUM!
Janel says
I live in Michigan, so definitely out of luck for having one near. I don't even remember seeing one when I've been on vacation in the south. The sauce sounds yummy. Reason enough for me to stop if I ever spot one of the restaurants!
Anonymous says
Theirs plenty in Georgia! USA