Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe (2024)

This quick and easy sweet and sour sauce recipe is the perfect Chinese dipping sauce, great with dumplings, fried foods, stir fries and so much more! Ready in 5 minutes!

Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe (1)

We're cooking up a batch of Sweet and Sour Sauce in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen today, my friends. You're going to love this recipe.

You've likely enjoyed sweet and sour sauce from your local Chinese restaurant, or in the Chinese-American fast food restaurant, Panda Express, where it is quite popular.

It's a flavorful mix of both sour and sweet, and you can spice it up a little if you'd like to.

Did you realize that it is super easy to make at home? Yep, you can make your own homemade sweet and sour sauce with only 6 ingredients, and the cooking time is only about 5 minutes.

Even a slow cook like me can whip this sauce together is no time, even if I'm taking my time gathering up all of the ingredients!

It's a great recipe to have on hand for when you want a quick sweet and sour chicken, or as a dipping sauce for your egg rolls or crab rangoons, though it is rather versatile and has many ways to serve it.

However you serve yours, I'm sure you'll love it!

Let's talk about how to make sweet and sour sauce, shall we?

Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe (2)

Sweet and Sour Sauce Ingredients

  • Pineapple Juice.
  • Light Brown Sugar. You can use white sugar for the "sweet" element, or use honey or agave nectar, or a sweetener substitute.
  • Rice Vinegar. You can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar as an alternative.
  • Ketchup.
  • Soy Sauce
  • Corn Starch. For thickening.
Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe (3)

How to Make Sweet and Sour Sauce - the Recipe Method

Add Ingredients to a Sauce Pot. Whisk the pineapple juice, brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce together in a small pot.

Boil, then Simmer. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 minute.

Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe (4)

Thicken the Sauce. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and simmer, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes, or until the sweet and sour sauce thickens.

Use it Up. Cool and enjoy! Serving is about 1/4 cup.

Boom! Done! Your sweet and sour sauce is ready to serve. So easy to make, isn't it? Even for a slow cook like me. You're going to love this recipe. Curious how you're serving yours!

Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe (5)

Recipe Tips & Notes

  • Thicker Sauce. For a thicker sauce, swirl in another tablespoon or more of the cornstarch slurry until it thickens to your preference. Just add in a bit at a time, because if you add too much, it can get much too thick, almost gelatinous.
  • Pineapple Juice. Avoid fresh pineapple juice, as it can prevent thickening. Processed pineapple juice (canned or jarred) is ideal for making sweet and sour sauce.
  • Red Color. Many sweet and sour sauces are very red in color. This is often from the addition of red food coloring. I don't use any in my recipe, but if you'd prefer a more vibrant red color like some restaurants, add a few drops to the mix when you whisk together the ingredients in the pot. This has no effect on the overall flavor.
  • Heat/Spice Factor. Mild. Sweet and sour sauce isn't traditionally spicy. It's flavor focuses on the sourness of the vinegar and the sweetness of the pineapple juice, though you can easily incorporate a pinch or more of spicy chili power, such as cayenne, or some spicy chili flakes. Spice it up, my friends!
Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe (6)

Serving Sweet and Sour Sauce

What is sweet and sour sauce good with? I love to serve sweet and sour sauce with fried foods, particularly Chinese foods like egg rolls or fried crab rangoons.

Make it to serve extra with your Chinese takeout. You just never have enough, right?

Drizzle it over your next batch of fried chicken, or swirl some into your spicy fried rice for an interesting flavor kick. It's great drizzled over vegetables for an interesting twist.

It also makes a nice addition to salad dressings, or as a dipper for shrimp, scallops, crab, or other seafood.

Consider it as a glaze for grilling pork or chicken. So many ways to use it!

Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe (7)

That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this sweet and sour sauce recipe. Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you, and if you decided to spice it up!

Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes

  • Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
  • General Tso Sauce
  • Szechuan Sauce
  • Kung Pao Sauce
  • Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
  • Pad Thai Sauce
  • Bulgogi Sauce
  • Gochujang Sauce
  • Easy Hoisin Sauce
  • Sambal Oelek
Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe (8)

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe (9)

Print

Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe

This quick and easy sweet and sour sauce recipe is the perfect Chinese dipping sauce, great with dumplings, fried foods, stir fries and so much more! Ready in 5 minutes!

Save Recipe

Course: sauce

Cuisine: American, Chinese

Keyword: ketchup, soy sauce

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Calories: 79kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Servings: 8

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4.80 from 5 votes

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup canned pineapple juice
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar use 3/4 cup for sweeter
  • 1/2 cup rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch mixed with 2 tablespoons water to form a slurry - double for a thicker sweet and sour sauce

Instructions

  • Whisk the pineapple juice, brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce together in a small pot.

  • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 minute.

  • Stir in the cornstarch slurry and simmer, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes, or until the sweet and sour sauce thickens.

  • Cool and enjoy!

Notes

For a thicker sauce, swirl in another tablespoon or more of the cornstarch slurry until it thickens to your preference.

Pineapple Juice. Avoid fresh pineapple juice, as it can prevent thickening. Processed pineapple juice (canned or jarred) is idea for making sweet and sour sauce.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 79kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 290mgPotassium: 67mgFiber: 1gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 31IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg

Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe (10)

Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is traditional sweet and sour sauce made of? ›

While sweet and sour can be found in diverse forms in China, the American version builds upon the simple mixture of sugar, vinegar, and spices with the addition of fruit juice—most commonly pineapple—and ketchup, giving the sauce both its red hue and uniquely Western flavor.

How do you thicken sweet and sour sauce without cornstarch? ›

1. All-purpose flour: You can thicken sauces with all-purpose wheat flour. For every tablespoon of cornstarch, use three tablespoons of flour. Combine raw flour with cold water in a small bowl to form a paste, then add it into the sauce as it's simmering.

What is in sweet and sour combination? ›

The dish consists of deep fried pork in bite sized pieces, and subsequently stir-fried in a more customized version of sweet and sour sauce made of sugar, ketchup, white vinegar, and soy sauce, and additional ingredients including pineapple, green pepper (capsicum), and onion.

Why won t my sweet and sour sauce thicken? ›

Sugar: This is the sweet part of the sweet and sour sauce. Boiling the sugar also helps the sauce to thicken up and become sticky. I haven't played around with cutting back on the sugar. If you do, you may need to add a cornstarch slurry to thicken it up.

What is the actual Flavour of sweet and sour sauce? ›

Sweet and sour sauce tastes just like it sounds. A little bit sweet and a little bit sour at the same time. You will also have notes from whatever you flavour it with. The sweet and sour tastes can be made with a simple sugar and vinegar mix.

What is a substitute for vinegar in sweet and sour sauce? ›

Lemon or lime juice are the two most common substitutes for white vinegar. You can also use rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar or malt vinegar but the taste of your sauce might be a tad different. Soy Sauce – I used low sodium. Ketchup – I used store bought.

Can I use flour instead of cornstarch in sweet and sour sauce? ›

Could I use flour instead of cornstarch? Yes, but you may need more flour than what the recipe calls for in cornstarch. The cornstarch is just used to thicken the sauce; flour will also thicken the sauce, just not as well.

What is a substitute for cornstarch in sweet and sour sauce? ›

In addition to arrowroot, you can also use potato starch or tapioca starch, which are all gluten-free options as well. For all of these options, substitute with a 1:1 ratio for cornstarch and your sauce is on its way to a perfectly thick texture.

How long will homemade sweet and sour sauce last? ›

How long will homemade sweet and sour sauce keep in the fridge? This sweet and sour sauce recipe should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If you are storing the sauce straight after cooking, let it cool to room temperature first.

What is sweet and sour triple? ›

Sweet and Sour Triple (dinner)

Shrimp, chicken and pork with sweet sour sauce.

What sweet and sour does mcdonalds use? ›

It's apricot." The video of the revelation, which was been viewed over 323,000 times within days, surprised many fans who simply did not suspect their favourite dip would be made with the stone fruit.

Is sweet and sour a good combo? ›

The Chinese have long known the delights of marrying sweet and sour. Using sour flavours like yoghurts and pickles with sweet bites like candied nuts, you can create one tasty bite. Turn a double delight into a triple by adding spicy chilli jam for a taste triumph.

How do you balance sweet and sour sauce? ›

Adjust the flavor balance of your sauce: If too tart or acidic, add 1/4 tsp. sugar and stir well. If too bland or sweet, add 1/4 tsp. red wine vinegar and stir well.

What if my sweet and sour sauce is too liquid? ›

You can heat about a teaspoon of corn starch or the regular flour in some water. Let the heat be on low. Within minutes the starch water solution will thicken. Then, you just pour the thick mixture into your sweet and sour sauce.

What if my sweet and sour sauce is too runny? ›

If the sauce isn't thick enough, you can add one more tablespoon of cornstarch and whisk it in. But remember, the sauce will thicken even more as it cools down. So only add more cornstarch if the sauce is way too thin.

What is the main ingredient in McDonald's sweet and sour sauce? ›

Ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Apricot Puree Concentrate And/or Peach Puree Concentrate, Distilled Vinegar, Contains 2% Or Less: Soy Sauce (water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Salt, Modified Food Starch, Sherry Wine Powder, Dextrose, Soybean Oil, Xanthan Gum, Spices, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Natural ...

Why is Chinese sweet and sour sauce so red? ›

At its core, a base sweet and sour sauce is made with a balance of sugar and vinegar, and to get the bright red color, most restaurants will use red food coloring.

What is sweet and sour chicken made of Chinese food? ›

Sweet and sour chicken, one of the most popular Chinese takeout dishes, is made of puffy, golden brown pieces of fried chicken nuggets with pineapple chunks, onion, bell pepper, carrot, and a side of iconic red, sweet and sour sauce.

What is a sweet and sour sauce? ›

Sweet and Sour Sauce is a sauce made by combining a sweet component and a sour component with cornstarch as the thickening agent. Some of the common sweet components are brown sugar, granulated white sugar, and honey.

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