
Red Robin is one of our favorite restaurants near us, mostly because they have the best sauces around. In fact, the indisputable best sauce they have, in our opinion, is their campfire sauce. Red Robin’s Campfire sauce is the perfect mix of tangy (think ranch), sweet (think bbq), and smoky (think chipotle or chili). We put this in our burgers, and always make sure to dip out fries in it. So, having more time at home, I decided to try and make my own version at home. Thankfully I have eaten probably 100 lbs of this stuff while eating at Red Robin in the past couple of years (don’t judge me), so I have a very tuned taste for the flavor it should have.
That is how I got to making Japanese Campfire sauce. After much experimentation (and copious amounts of mayonnaise used), I’m proud to present this recipe for Japanese Campfire sauce. It isn’t exactly like Red Robin’s campfire sauce, though there is no way you are going to replicate their sauce (have you seen the ingredients?), it is amazing in it’s own right. We use it on all our fires, burgers, and I always make this sauce for get togethers (though that is not very often these days).
Why is it called Japanese campfire sauce instead of just campfire sauce? Well because I use Kewpie, Japanese mayonnaise, instead of my old standby Best Foods. Kewpie is mayonnaise that we typically use for Japanese style sandwiches, and is a bit more tangy and eggy (is this a word) than regular mayonnaise. So in other words, it is perfect for making campfire sauce, where you want tangy.
Tips for making Japanese Campfire Sauce:
- Garlic powder increments should be added in 1/4 tsp – If you need more garlic flavoring in your campfire sauce, then I suggest using 1/4 tsp as increments. Garlic powder has such a strong flavor, that you don’t want to over due it.
- Sweet Baby Rays Hickory Brown Sugar BBQ sauce is a must – I have used other bbq sauces and it just doesn’t taste the same. If you don’t use this sauce, then you really don’t have campfire sauce.
- Tapatio not chili powder – If you want more heat then just add more drops of Tapatio. I did try Cholula, and it didn’t quite taste the same.
So next time you make burgers of have fries try making some Japanese campfire sauce.

Japanese Campfire Sauce
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Kewpie (Japanese Mayonnaise)
- 3/8 cup Sweet Baby Rays Hickory Brown Sugar BBQ sauce
- 1/4 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp Chili powder
- 5 drops Tapatio
Instructions
- Get Ingredients
- Mix in Kewpie mayonnaise with bbq sauce, and get the color looking consistent.
- Add in your garlic powder, chili powder, and tapatio.
- Taste the flavor. If you want it more salty add garlic powder, if you want it more it more smoky add chili powder, if you want more heat add Tapatio.
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