Sweet Chili Sauce is the perfect balance of sour, sweet and spicy. You control the heat by choosing one of three different spice levels. So, you can customize it to your own family’s tastes. The soy sauce adds a bit of that savory umami that keeps bringing us back for more of this delicious condiment.
My homemade Sweet Chili Sauce recipe is naturally gluten and dairy free. And, I haven’t tried it personally, but if you’re avoiding refined sugar, I bet you could substitute raw, unfiltered honey.
If you have 5 minutes, you can make this delicious recipe! It’s perfection as a dipping sauce for egg rolls, but it adds flavor and punch to so many other dishes, too.
How to Serve Sweet Chili Sauce
Sweet Chili Sauce is an extraordinary cocktail sauce when serving shrimp or other shell fish. You can also use it to glaze fish fillets before baking them. We love dipping homemade egg rolls in it and it is spectacular with my friend Robin’s Air Fryer Spring Rolls. Check out the recipe over at her blog, All Ways Delicious.
Pair it with all your favorite Asian dishes, like Sweet Chili Chicken or your favorite stir fry. Serve it over rice or use it to dip crab rangoon.
Create a Crab Louie salad dressing or whisk up a sweet chili aioli by mixing sweet chili sauce with mayonnaise. That spicy aioli is a supreme burger topping or dip for fries.
Drizzle sweet chili sauce over scrambled eggs, egg casseroles or omelets for a satisfying and delicious breakfast or brunch entree. And, you can use it in marinades for pork or chicken.
Add a spoonful or two to a pot of my Best Easy Chili Recipe to give it even more spicy kick!
Sweet Chili Sauce is a versatile, saucy condiment that will become a regular in your menu planning and cooking. Enjoy!
The Ingredients
- Cornstarch: The thickening agent. If you are avoiding corn products, try arrowroot starch, instead.
- Rice Vinegar: The tangy, sour zing in the sauce.
- Sugar: The perfect amount to balance the sour and spicy.
- Chili Garlic Sauce: The spicy kick on your Sweet Chili Sauce. The garlic amps up the umami flavors along with the tamari or soy sauce. I purchased the chili garlic sauce at my Walmart grocery store, in the international foods aisle, so I’m guessing it’s fairly common. If you can’t locate some, you could try substituting sriracha chili sauce.
- Tamari or Gluten Free Soy Sauce: (Can substitute soy sauce if you’re not gluten free.) Adds a burst of savory, umami flavor.
How to Make Sweet Chili Sauce
- Place cold water in a medium saucepan and whisk in the cornstarch. Stir until cornstarch is completely dissolved. Be sure the water is cold or the cornstarch won’t dissolve without lumps.
- Add the rice vinegar, sugar, chili sauce and soy sauce. Whisk to combine all the ingredients.
- Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Sugar should be dissolved and sauce thickened before removing from the heat.
- Store in a covered container (I love pint canning jars.) in the fridge for 6-9 months.
The Recipe
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Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe
- Total Time: 6 minutes
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce is sweet, spicy & tangy deliciousness for your favorite Asian dishes. 5 Ingredients, 5 Minutes.
Serve with egg rolls and other favorite Asian inspired dishes. It’s also great for making sweet chili chicken or mixing into a marinade. You can stir it into mayo for a delicious burger or sandwich topping with some kick.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup cold water
- 4 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup rice vinegar
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 – 3 Tablespoons chili garlic sauce, (Choose your heat level. 1=mild 2=medium 3=very hot)
- 1 Tablespoon tamari or gluten free soy sauce (Can substitute soy sauce if you’re not gluten free.)
Instructions
- Place cold water in a medium saucepan and whisk in the cornstarch. Stir until cornstarch is completely dissolved. Be sure the water is cold or the cornstarch won’t dissolve without lumps.
- Add the rice vinegar, sugar, chili sauce and soy sauce. Whisk to combine all the ingredients.
- Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Sugar should be dissolved and sauce thickened before removing from the heat.
- Serve with egg rolls and other favorite Asian inspired dishes. It’s also great for making sweet chili chicken or mixing into a marinade. You can stir it into mayo for a delicious burger topping with some kick.
- Prep Time: 1 min
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Condiments, Sauces
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Asian
More Delicious Recipes to Spice Up Your Cooking
21 Easy Chili Recipes A roundup of chili recipes from some of my favorite bloggers.
5-Minute Stir Fry and Dipping Sauce
About Glenda
I believe cooking from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated and that YOU can do it. My simple recipes, tutorials, and cooking tips will help you get weeknight dinners on the table with less stress. Forget takeout or the drive-thru. Let me show you how to make homemade easy. Read more...
Sweet chili sauce looks delicious
Looks delicious and perfectly spiced. I’m going to make it for sure.
Thank you, Natalie! I love that the spiciness is so customizable, too. Hope you love it!
This Sweet chili sauce looks really yum.
Thank you, Swathi!
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing sweet chili sauce recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
Allysa, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This is so delicious! thanks for sharing this recipe!
Camille, you’re so very welcome! I’m glad to hear you loved it!
Tasty and Delicious.
Thanks, Roxanne!