Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce

Name: Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 13 min
Ingredients: ½ cup water; ¼ cup rice vinegar; ¼ cup honey or maple syrup; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger; 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste); 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce or tamari; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1 tablespoon water (for slurry)

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This homemade Sweet Chili Sauce recipe is tangy, sweet, and spicy, made in one pot in under 15 minutes! Naturally sweetened with honey and with no artificial ingredients, it’s delicious as a dip or dressing for shrimp, noodles, tofu, and more!

A jar of sweet chili sauce with a spoon drizzling it back into the jar.

A good sweet chili sauce is a must-have for cooking all sorts of Asian-inspired dishes. From Crispy Coconut Shrimp to Homemade Bang Bang Sauce, it’s worth having some on hand for quick flavor. Serve it as a dip to add spice to your meal, or stir it into seafood as I did in this Bang Bang salmon and chicken sauce to sweeten marinades.

Recipe Overview

Skill Level

Beginner

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

8 mins

A Few Key Ingredients

Below are the key ingredients you’ll need to make Healthy Sweet Chili Sauce. You’ll find the full quantities in the recipe card further down the post.

Rice vinegar: Brings a nice acidic taste to the sauce to balance the sweet-spicy flavors. Lime juice or apple cider vinegar will also work, but you may need a little less (as they tend to taste more sour).

Honey: Naturally sweetens the sauce and adds body. Maple syrup or agave nectar are great swaps to use if you want the sauce to be vegan.

Tomato paste: Adds a bright red color, along with natural sweetness and body.

Garlic and ginger bring layers of savory, aromatic flavor to the sauce. I use fresh, but you can use pre-prepared garlic and ginger paste to speed up prep.

Red pepper flakes: Infuse into the sauce to bring the classic spicy flavor and red color. I use 1 teaspoon in the sauce for medium heat, but feel free to adjust to your taste.

Soy sauce: Adds saltiness and savory depth of flavor. Use gluten-free tamari if you need to make the sauce gluten-free.

Cornstarch is mixed with water to make a slurry, which cooks into the sauce, thickening it.

How to Make Healthy Sweet Chili Sauce

Step 1. In a small saucepan, combine the water, rice vinegar, honey, tomato paste, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, and soy sauce.

Step 2. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

process shot to add the ingredients for the chili sauce in the pan and mixing it.

Step 3. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water to create a slurry.

Step 4. Slowly whisk the slurry into the saucepan.

process shot of adding the cornstarch slurry in sauce and mixing.

Step 5. Continue simmering for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens.

Step 6. Remove from the heat and allow the sauce to cool. It will continue to thicken as it cools.

Step 7. Transfer to a jar or airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.

What to Serve with Sweet Chili Sauce

This sweet, tangy, spicy sauce is great with protein, veggies, or noodles. Try it out as a dip or drizzle with:

Recipe Notes

Storage: Store the cooled sauce in a lidded jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Freezing isn’t recommended, as the sauce may split.

Tips and variations:

Always whisk cornstarch with cold water first, before gradually whisking it into the hot liquids. This keeps the sauce from becoming lumpy.
Use a fresh jar of red pepper flakes for the best flavor. If they’ve been sitting in your pantry for a while, they may have lost some pungency.
Swap red pepper flakes for finely chopped red chili (remove the seeds for a milder sauce) for a fresher flavor.
Note that the chili sauce will thicken as it cools, so don’t worry if it seems a bit thin while still warm.
Use fresh lime juice in place of rice vinegar and fish sauce in place of soy sauce for a Thai-inspired twist.

Questions I Get Asked a Lot

Is it gluten-free?

Yes, it is gluten-free when made with gluten-free tamari (not soy sauce).

Can I use fresh chili?

Yes, you can use fresh red chilis of your choice; just finely chop 1-2 chilis to use in place of the red pepper flakes. Small red bird’s-eye chilis will give a spicier kick, whereas larger jalapeños (red or green) will create a milder sauce. You can leave the seeds in for even more spice, too.

Why is my sauce too thin?

This is usually because it wasn’t simmered long enough after the cornstarch slurry was added. Also remember it will thicken up as it cools, so it may seem thinner while still hot. If the sauce seems thin once cooled, you can always return it to the pot and simmer for a little longer to thicken it further.

Can I make this sugar-free?

Yes, you can swap the honey for your favorite unflavored sugar-free syrup (e.g., monk fruit syrup) or sweeten with a few drops of liquid stevia instead.

sweet chili sauce in a jar with spoon in the jar.

More Homemade Sauces & Dressings

Thanks for stopping by and trying one of my recipes. If you enjoyed it, please leave a rating and share your thoughts in the comments. It really helps, and I love hearing from you.