Good news, spice lovers: Popeyes' cult-favorite sweet-and-spicy sandwich spread is easy to make at home. Make Mardi Gras mustard the next time you make fried chicken, or use it as a dipping sauce for fries and pretzels.
Mardi Gras Mustard
Updated May 17, 2024
Dedicated fast food fans know it’s not always the entrees that stand out. Sides, sauces and beverages routinely top our list of the most popular fast food copycat recipes. Popeyes Mardi Gras mustard is one of these favorites.
While the chain is most famous for its fried chicken sandwiches, its sauces also have a cult following. Mardi Gras sauce is so popular that fervent fans buy packets on eBay, and online chat rooms have entire threads dedicated to re-creating the recipe! You don’t have to place bids, though; you can make many Popeyes copycat recipes at home—including the special sauces. Our homemade Mardi Gras mustard recipe is one of the easiest to try.
Mardi Gras Mustard Ingredients
- Mayonnaise
- Creole mustard
- Prepared horseradish
- Brown sugar
- Garlic powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Paprika
Directions
Step 1: Mix the sauce
In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients. Stir until well mixed. We like to use a fork or whisk to thoroughly mix in the spices.
Step 2: Chill the sauce
Cover the bowl and refrigerate. The flavors will develop over an hour or two.
Step 3: Eat the sauce
After a chill, the sauce is ready to enjoy. Slather a generous amount on your favorite chicken sandwich, or serve it as a dipping sauce with breaded chicken cutlets, fries or pretzels. It’s also delicious on most cold or hot sandwiches—especially with ham.
Mardi Gras Mustard Tips
What is Mardi Gras mustard?
Not to be confused with honey mustard or hot sauce, Mardi Gras mustard is a cunning hybrid: an irresistible blend of sweet and savory, spicy and smooth. Thrillist named it one of the top 10 fast food dipping sauces, writing, “It looks like a regular honey mustard, but tastes like a horseradish-filled take on the classic, with pleasant mustard notes in the finish.” The sauce is the perfect pairing for Popeyes’ menu, which features Southern comfort food favorites like fried chicken, biscuits and Cajun-spiced sides.
Is Mardi Gras mustard discontinued?
Unfortunately for mega fans, it seems that the fast food restaurant has discontinued the beloved sauce at some locations. The good news is that it’s easy to make Mardi Gras mustard sauce at home with our copycat recipe.
Copycat Popeyes Mardi Gras Mustard
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
5 min
Yield
3/4 cup
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons Creole mustard
- 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Dash paprika
Directions
- In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate until serving.
Nutrition Facts
2 tablespoons: 135 calories, 14g fat (2g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 254mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
Whether you use this sauce for dipping crunchy chicken tenders or as a sweet-hot dipping sauce for fries (move over ketchup), we know you'll love having a batch in your fridge. Spread it on sandwiches, serve it with ham or use it for dipping pretzels, too. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Recipe Creator
