Comeback Sauce (3 Ingredients Only)

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You only need 3 ingredients to make this classic Southern Comeback Sauce recipe. It’s quick, easy, and most importantly, tastes sensational when you dip it in some fried chicken.

Dipping fried chicken in sauce.

I posted this recipe for Comeback Sauce back in 2009 but decided to post it again with updated (better) photos since I whipped up a batch this past weekend to go with our ranch fried chicken tenders.

Comeback Sauce has grown in popularity immensely in the last few years. Nowadays just about every restaurant that serves fried foods has a version of it. Sometimes they tweak the recipe a little here and there to add a little difference to the flavor but they are all still pretty much interchangeable… and wonderful for dipping fries, chicken tenders, or whatever else happens to be on your plate. It’s similar to Thousand Island Dressing, but that’s usually sweeter as it includes pickle relish instead of black pepper.

Where did Comeback Sauce originate?

Comeback Sauce was originally invented by a Greek restaurant named The Rotisserie in Jackson, Mississippi. It was their house dressing and named so after the traditional goodbye in Mississippi.

Fortunately, my Mississippi Comeback Sauce recipe is really basic and very simple to make, using only three ingredients. What are those three ingredients I hear you ask? Simply ketchup, mayonnaise, and ground black pepper, which I bet you already have sitting pretty in your kitchen right now.

The best part is, you can make as little as you want or as much as you want, from two tablespoons to two gallons. So there is no reason not to stir together some just for yourself if you have the inclination. Better still, it is made almost instantly, requiring only enough time for you to stir it.

I’ve included lots of serving suggestions and substitutions if you want to spice up your Comeback Sauce below. Or if you want to try a different one of my sauce recipes check out these: Alabama White Barbecue SauceAn Easy Recipe For BBQ Sauce, Pimiento Cheese Dip, Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip, or Chipotle Ranch Dressing.

Ingredients for Comeback Sauce.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Mayonnaise
  • Ketchup
  • Black Pepper

Helpful Kitchen Tools

How to Make Comeback Sauce

Step-by-step instructions.

To begin with, place equal parts of ketchup and mayonnaise in a small bowl. For these photos, I am using 1/2 cup of each. You can use as little as a teaspoon if you like or as much as a gallon. It’s all the same.

Stir those together really well until it’s blended. This will just take a minute.

Now sprinkle enough black pepper on top to cover it. Stir that in.

Cover the top with black pepper once more and stir again until it’s all stirred in.

Big bowl of comeback sauce.

Congratulations, you have just made Comeback Sauce!

Dipping fried chicken.

Dig in!

Storage

If you do make a big batch and want to store the leftovers, place them in an airtight container in the fridge and use them within 6 days. If you’re entertaining, feel free to mix it up in the morning and then store it covered in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.

Recipe Notes

  • Despite the amount of black pepper in this, it is not a spicy sauce.
  • Some other recipes for Comeback Sauce also include 2 tablespoons of hot sauce alongside 1/2 cup of mayonnaise and ketchup for added heat.
  • For extra flavor, you can also add 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce and 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.

Recipe FAQs

What do you serve with Comeback Sauce?

I personally love serving Comeback Sauce alongside chicken tenders for dipping. However, it’s the perfect condiment to serve with your favorite finger foods and appetizers, like fried pickles, chicken nuggets, onion rings, French fries, wings, or popcorn shrimp. Or why not serve it with classic Southern main dishes like fried catfish and fried chicken.

Another option is to use it as a sandwich or burger spread or salad dressing. You can also use it as a flavorful substitute for mayonnaise in coleslaw or deviled eggs. The options really are endless, folks!

Here are some other sensational sauces and dips:

Alabama White Barbecue Sauce

An Easy Recipe For BBQ Sauce

Pimiento Cheese Dip

Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

Chipotle Ranch Dressing

Comeback sauce with fried chicken tenders.

Comeback Sauce

You only need 3 ingredients to make this classic Southern comeback sauce recipe. It's quick, easy, and tastes sensational with fried chicken.
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Course: sauce
Cuisine: American
Keyword: sauce
Servings: 4
Calories: 158kcal

Ingredients

  • mayonnaise
  • ketchup
  • ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Place equal parts ketchup and mayonnaise in a small bowl. Stir together until well blended.
    mayonnaise, ketchup
  • Sprinkle enough black pepper on top to cover it. Stir that in.
    ground black pepper
  • Sprinkle black pepper to cover once more and stir until well blended.
  • Enjoy with fries, chicken tenders, etc.

Notes

*Despite the amount of black pepper in this, it is not a spicy sauce.
*The best part of this sauce is that you can make as little as you want or as much as you want, from two tablespoons to two gallons. So there is no reason not to stir together some just for yourself if you have the inclination. Better still, it is made almost instantly, requiring only enough time for you to stir it.

Nutrition

Calories: 158kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

This one made me chuckle:

I’m sorry, if you were right, I’d agree with you.

~Robin Williams

This recipe is also part of the Weekend Potluck at Country Cook!

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64 Comments

  1. Good sauce! Here in Western WA, it’s either ranch on everything or fry sauce, which is just ketchup & mayo. I love that this is simple and really has flavor. Who needs a twelve ingredient sauce anyway? ‘Aint nobody got time for that! 😉

  2. I love the fried chicken recipe I will try it tonight I often had F C when I was growing up. Yummmy. Thanks Christy.

  3. Would this sauce go well with the frozen breaded fish filets? I actually have some in the oven right now, and may make a bit to see if it “fits”. 🙂 Thank you for this, Christy.

  4. I just recently learned about comeback and fry sauce. We don’t have anything like either where I live. I even tried to find it in the grocery store, but no luck. Restaurants here serve everything with ranch for the sauce. I altered a recipe I found online and sometimes I make french fries just because i want to eat the sauce.

  5. Put pickle relish in it and you’ve got 1000 island dressing! It’s definitely good stuff!!!

  6. Must be a Southern thang, Been eating this sauce since I was a toddler in the early 60’s, sans the pepper.

  7. We’ve always used this sauce! It’s used a lot with boiled shrimp – just add several dashes of Tabasco. Lately, my DH has grown fond of Cane’s Chicken & their sauce. I could tell it was a mayo/ketchup base, but googling copycat recipes said to add Worcestershire sauce. Delicious!!

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