Halal White Sauce Made In 1 Minute

This halal white sauce recipe is my take on the famous New York City Halal Guys white sauce, the one that makes their chicken over rice so addictively good. It’s rich, thick, and creamy with just the right balance of tangy, garlicky, and slightly sweet flavors, and it’s designed to drizzle or dollop without running all over your plate. I’ve tested and tweaked it alongside my Halal Cart Chicken Over Rice recipe so it tastes as close as possible to the real thing, and it’s just as good on beef, lamb, falafel, gyros, salads, or even as a dip for fries and pita. Once you have a jar of this halal white sauce in your fridge, you’ll want to put it on pretty much everything.

Why You'll Love This Halal Cart White Sauce

If you’ve ever been to The Halal Guys, you already know how dangerously good their white sauce is—it’s half the reason people line up around the block for chicken over rice. It’s creamy, tangy, just a little sweet, and somehow ties together the smoky chicken, buttery yellow rice, and fresh salad in a way that regular ranch or mayo-based sauces just can’t touch. After trying it for the first time at their NYC cart by the MoMA, I was hooked and knew I had to figure out a version I could make at home.

I love this copycat Halal Guys white sauce because it hits that same craveable balance of savory, zesty, and slightly sweet, but with ingredients you can actually find in a normal grocery store. It’s thick enough to drizzle without running all over your plate, but still loose enough to pour over chicken, lamb, or falafel. The flavors are bold but not overpowering—garlic, lemon, and herbs in the background, with a creamy base that cools down spiced meats and rice. It’s one of those sauces that instantly makes a simple bowl of chicken and rice taste like real halal cart food.

It’s also incredibly versatile. Of course, it’s perfect on my Halal Cart Chicken Over Rice, but I also use it as a dip for fries, a drizzle over salmon bites, a sauce forcopycat McDonald's french fries, a dip for Bisquick sausage balls, or alongside copycat Chick-Fil-A nuggets when I want something different from the usual Chick-fil-A sauce. Once you have a batch of this halal white sauce in your fridge, you’ll start finding excuses to put it on everything. 

Don't just take my word for it, check out what this reader had to say:

I've had this on white chicken, pita bread, carrots, and pretzels and it's amazing on everything!! -Samar Gustav

Ingredients Needed

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 2 tbsp. white vinegar
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tsp. garlic powder or 1 minced garlic clove
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper

How to Make Halal White Sauce

Step 1: Mix The Ingredients

First, gather all the ingredients needed. That would be the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, sugar, white vinegar, lemon juice, fresh parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper, along with a medium bowl. Measure out your ingredients and add each one to the bowl. Now mix the ingredients with a spoon until they combine into a smooth, slightly thick sauce.

Step 2: Taste And Serve

Once the sauce is mixed, taste it and adjust the seasonings as needed. I think this sauce recipe tastes great as is, but you can adjust it to suit your preferences. When it's ready, you can serve the Halal cart white sauce with whatever you want and enjoy!

Expert Tips for The Best Halal Cart White Sauce

• Use a mayo base for that true Halal Guys texture. The classic halal cart white sauce is mayo-based, not just plain yogurt. Using a good-quality mayonnaise as the main base gives you that rich, creamy, slightly tangy flavor and thick texture you expect. You can add yogurt or sour cream for extra tang, but if you swap all the mayo for yogurt, the sauce will taste more like tzatziki and less like Halal Guys.
• Balance mayo and yogurt for flavor and body. A mix of mayo and plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream) works really well. Mayo gives body and richness, while yogurt adds freshness and tang. Start with mostly mayo and a smaller amount of yogurt, then adjust based on how tangy you like your sauce. If it tastes too heavy, a bit more yogurt lightens it up; if it’s too sharp, add more mayo.
• Use fresh lemon juice and adjust the acidity. Fresh lemon juice makes a noticeable difference compared to bottled. It brightens the sauce and cuts through the richness. Add it gradually and taste as you go—too little and the sauce tastes flat, too much and it can turn sour. You want just enough acidity to balance the mayo without making the sauce taste “lemony.”
• A pinch of sugar goes a long way. Halal white sauce has a subtle sweetness that helps balance the tang and garlic. A small amount of sugar (or even a tiny squeeze of honey) pulls everything together. You shouldn’t taste it as “sweet,” just notice that the overall flavor is more rounded and craveable.
• Season in layers and taste as you go. Salt, black pepper, and dried herbs (like parsley or dill) should support the base, not dominate it. Add small amounts, whisk, then taste. The goal is a sauce that’s savory and lightly herby without any one flavor taking over. Because mayo and yogurt brands vary in saltiness, tasting as you go is key.
• Chill the sauce before serving. This sauce is good right away, but it’s much better after 30 minutes to a few hours in the fridge. Chilling lets the flavors meld and the garlic soften, and it helps the sauce thicken slightly. If you’re serving chicken over rice or a big platter, make the sauce first and let it hang out in the fridge while you cook.
• Adjust thickness to how you’ll use it. If you want a drizzling sauce for chicken over rice, thin it slightly with a teaspoon or two of water, milk, or lemon juice at a time until it’s pourable but still creamy. For a thicker dipping sauce (for fries, nuggets, or veggies), use less yogurt or liquid so it stays scoopable. The sauce should cling to a spoon but still fall off with a gentle shake.
• Store it properly and use within a week. Keep the halal white sauce in a clean, airtight container in the refrigerator. It’s best used within 5–7 days for food safety and best flavor. Give it a stir before serving, as it can separate slightly over time. If it looks or smells off, it’s time to make a fresh batch.
• Use it beyond chicken over rice. Don’t limit this sauce to just Halal cart chicken. It’s fantastic on grilled chicken, lamb, gyros, falafel, burgers, shawarma wraps, salads, and even as a dip for fries, roasted potatoes, or vegetables. Once you see how versatile it is, you’ll want to keep a jar in the fridge as your go-to “house sauce.”

Halal White Sauce FAQS

What is Halal white sauce made of?

This Halal white sauce is made from a base of mayonnaise and Greek yogurt, plus a small amount of sugar, white vinegar, lemon juice, fresh parsley, salt, and black pepper. The mayo gives it that rich, creamy body, while the yogurt, vinegar, and lemon juice add tang and brightness. It’s a simple ingredient list that tastes very close to The Halal Guys white sauce you get with their chicken over rice.

What does Halal white sauce taste like?

Halal white sauce is creamy, tangy, lightly garlicky, and just a little bit sweet. The flavor is more complex than ranch, but not as sharp as straight yogurt sauce or tzatziki. It has a smooth, slightly thick consistency that makes it perfect for drizzling over chicken and rice, using as a dipping sauce for fries or pita, or tossing with salad.

How long does Halal white sauce last?

Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, Halal white sauce will keep for about 5–7 days. Give it a quick stir before using, as it can separate slightly as it sits. Because it contains dairy, it should always be kept cold and discarded if it smells off or changes texture in a way that seems unusual.

Is Halal white sauce the same as tzatziki?

No, they’re similar but not the same. Tzatziki is typically made with strained yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and dill, and it has a stronger yogurt and cucumber flavor. Halal white sauce is thicker and richer from the mayo, a bit sweeter, and doesn’t usually include cucumber. It’s designed specifically to complement Halal cart–style chicken and rice.

Can I make a lighter version of Halal white sauce?

Yes, you can lighten it up by using more Greek yogurt and less mayo, or by choosing a light mayonnaise. Just keep in mind that the more you reduce the mayo, the more the sauce will shift toward a tangier yogurt flavor and a slightly thinner consistency. Adjust the lemon juice and vinegar to taste so it doesn’t become too sharp.

Can I make this sauce dairy-free?

You can make a dairy-free version by using dairy-free yogurt and a vegan mayonnaise. The flavor will be slightly different depending on the brands you use, but the overall creamy, tangy profile will still work well with Halal chicken over rice and similar dishes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, lemon, and vinegar as needed.

What can I serve Halal white sauce with besides chicken over rice?

This sauce is incredibly versatile. It’s delicious on beef, lamb, gyros, falafel, shawarma wraps, burgers, and salads. It also makes a great dip for fries, potato wedges, veggies, and pita bread. Once you have a batch in the fridge, you’ll find it works with pretty much any grilled or roasted meat and a lot of different bowls and wraps.

More Of My Favorite Sauce Recipes

If you're looking for some more delicious sauce recipes you can make at home, we have a ton on the blog that you try next!

Here are some of my favorites:

• Big Mac sauce
• Arby's sauce
• Wingstop ranch
• Alabama white sauce
• McDonald's breakfast sauce
• McDonald's sweet and sour sauce
• Tomato gravy
• Hot honey sauce
• Popeye's sweet heat sauce