Zingy Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe That Pops With Flavor

Bursting with vibrant flavors, this tangy sweet chili sauce brings an explosion of taste to your favorite dishes.

Crafted with a perfect balance of sweet and zesty chili notes, the homemade sweet chili sauce delivers a mouthwatering punch that will elevate any meal.

Every ingredient works in harmony to create a condiment that dances on your palate.

The blend of fresh chilies, sugar, and vinegar creates a sauce that tingles your taste buds with each bite.

Preparing this sauce is surprisingly simple and requires minimal effort.

Drizzle it over grilled meats, use as a dipping sauce, or add a spicy kick to your favorite snacks.

Prepare to tantalize your senses with this irresistible homemade sauce that promises to become a staple in your kitchen.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Calories: 600 kcal

Servings: 4

Ingredients for Sweet Chili Sauce From Scratch

• Water: Provides the foundational liquid for the sauce's consistency.
• Rice Vinegar: Adds tangy brightness and helps balance flavors.
• Fish Sauce: Brings deep umami complexity and traditional Southeast Asian depth.

• Sugar: Creates balanced sweetness and helps thicken the sauce.
• Honey: Adds natural sweetness with smooth, rich undertones.

• Ketchup: Contributes tomato depth and slight tanginess.
• Garlic: Delivers robust, aromatic punch to the sauce.
• Ginger: Introduces warm, spicy undertone with fresh zesty notes.

• Red Pepper Flakes: Provides gentle heat and subtle warmth.

• Cornstarch: Creates silky smooth texture and helps sauce reach perfect consistency.

Tools That Help You Mix Sweet Chili Sauce Just Right

• Small saucepan: Essential for combining and cooking sauce ingredients on the stovetop.
• Small bowl: Perfect for mixing cornstarch and water to create a smooth slurry.
• Wooden spoon or whisk: Helps stir ingredients and prevent sticking while cooking.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient quantities for balanced flavor.
• Jar or bottle: Ideal for storing the finished sweet chili sauce in the refrigerator.

How to Make a Balanced Sweet Chili Sauce

• Blend Flavor Foundations Toss water, rice vinegar, sugar, honey, fish sauce, ketchup, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes into a saucepan over medium heat. Mix everything thoroughly until ingredients start dancing together.
• Simmer and Melt Allow the mixture to bubble gently, stirring until sugar completely dissolves and transforms into a silky liquid.
• Create Thickening Magic In a separate small bowl, whisk cornstarch with water until it becomes a smooth, velvety paste.
• Transform the Sauce Gradually pour the cornstarch mixture into the simmering liquid, stirring constantly. Let it cook and bubble for 2-3 minutes until the sauce reaches a luxurious, glossy consistency.
• Cool and Preserve Remove from heat and let the sauce cool down. Watch as it becomes even more luscious and thick. Once cooled, transfer to a clean jar or bottle.
• Store and Enjoy Refrigerate your homemade sweet chili sauce for up to two weeks, ready to elevate any dish with its tangy, spicy charm.

Add-Ins That Pair With Sweet Chili Sauce Recipes

• Keep the heat at a gentle simmer to prevent burning and ensure a smooth, perfectly thickened sauce without scorching the sugars.
• Adjust red pepper flakes to create a mild, medium, or fiery hot sauce that matches your heat tolerance and flavor preference.
• This sauce can be prepared up to a week in advance, allowing flavors to meld and intensify in the refrigerator, making meal prep easier.
• Use tamari instead of fish sauce and ensure ketchup is gluten-free to make this recipe safe for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Replace fish sauce with soy sauce or liquid aminos, and swap honey with maple syrup to create a completely plant-based sweet chili sauce that's just as delicious.

Serve This Sauce With Dumplings or Grilled Meats

• Party Plate Pairing: Drizzle this sweet chili sauce over crispy spring rolls, grilled chicken skewers, or use as a dipping sauce for dumplings and appetizers at your next gathering.
• Marinade Magic: Transform your proteins by using this sauce as a quick marinade for shrimp, tofu, or chicken. Let meats soak for 30 minutes before grilling or baking to infuse deep, tangy flavors.
• Culinary Versatility: Blend into stir-fries, brush onto grilled vegetables, or mix with cream cheese for a zesty spread that adds instant excitement to your everyday meals.
• Condiment Creativity: Elevate sandwiches, wraps, and burgers by adding a generous splash of this homemade sweet chili sauce as a flavor-packed condiment that brings a spicy-sweet punch.

Store Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce in a Jar

• Store your homemade sweet chili sauce in an airtight glass container with a tight-fitting lid to maintain maximum freshness and prevent flavor contamination from other foods.
• Allow the sauce to sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving to enhance its complex taste profile and restore its original smooth consistency.
• Divide the sauce into smaller containers if you plan to use portions at different times, which helps prevent repeated temperature changes that could compromise quality.
• Pour the cooled sauce into ice cube trays for convenient single-serving portions that can be frozen for up to 3 months, perfect for quick meal preparations and reducing potential waste.

Tangy Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe

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4.6 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Homemade sweet chili sauce elevates any dish with its perfect balance of heat and sweetness. Zesty Thai-inspired flavors dance across your palate, promising a delightful culinary adventure that will make you crave more.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ½ cups (120 ml) water
• ½ cups (120 ml) rice vinegar
• ⅓ cups (80 ml) granulated sugar
• 12 tsps red pepper flakes (adjust for heat level)
• 2 tbsps honey (optional, for extra sweetness)
• 2 tbsps fish sauce (or soy sauce for a vegan option)
• 2 tbsps ketchup (for color and depth)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ginger, grated
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 tsps cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsps water (for thickening)

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Instructions

1. Combine Ingredients: Merge water, rice vinegar, sugar, honey, fish sauce, ketchup, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring thoroughly to initiate the flavor melding process.
2. Simmer and Dissolve: Allow the mixture to reach a gentle simmer, ensuring all sugar crystals completely dissolve while maintaining a consistent, even temperature.
3. Create Cornstarch Liaison: Whisk cornstarch with water in a separate vessel until achieving a smooth, lump-free consistency that will act as a thickening agent.
4. Thicken and Develop: Gradually incorporate the cornstarch mixture into the simmering sauce, continuously stirring to prevent clumping and promote even texture development. Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes until the sauce reaches a glossy, clingy consistency.
5. Cool and Preserve: Remove from heat and allow the sauce to cool naturally, recognizing that it will continue to thicken as temperature drops. Transfer to a sterile glass container and refrigerate, maintaining quality for up to two weeks.

Notes

• Adjust red pepper flakes quantity to match your heat tolerance, ranging from mild to extra hot. More flakes create a spicier sauce, while fewer deliver a gentler kick.
• Whisk cornstarch mixture thoroughly to prevent lumps, ensuring a smooth, silky sauce texture. Continuous stirring while adding cornstarch prevents clumping and guarantees even thickening.
• Cool sauce completely before refrigerating to maintain optimal flavor profile. Glass containers work best for preserving freshness and preventing flavor absorption from other foods.
• Swap honey with agave nectar for vegan version, or use low-sugar alternatives like stevia for diabetic-friendly adaptation. Gluten-free cornstarch ensures recipe remains accessible for various dietary needs.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Appetizer, Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Thai

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 40
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 0 g
• Saturated Fat: 0 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 10 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg