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

Tap or hover to scale

4.80 from 5 votes

Leave a Review

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.

What if I add too much vinegar to sweet and sour sauce? ›

If you have added too much vinegar to a recipe, you can try adding a bit of sugar or honey to help balance the acidity. You could also try diluting the vinegar by adding more of the other ingredients in the recipe.

How can I thicken sweet and sour sauce without cornstarch? ›

2. Tapioca starch: Derived from the cassava root, tapioca starch serves as an excellent replacement for cornstarch. It possesses a slight sweetness and efficiently thickens sauces. Tapioca starch is particularly well-suited for fruit-based sweet and sour sauces, as it enhances the natural sweetness of the fruit.

Why isn't my sweet and sour sauce thickening? ›

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. Can I use apple juice instead of pineapple? Yes.

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.

What cancels out vinegar taste? ›

- Add some sugar or honey to the dish. Sugar and honey can counteract the sourness of vinegar and add some sweetness to the dish. You can start with a small amount and adjust according to your taste.

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.

How do you make sweet and sour sauce less watery? ›

Use Flour and Water

Combine 2 tablespoons flour with every 1/4 cup cold water and whisk until smooth. Add the mixture to your sauce over medium heat, and continue to stir and cook until you've reached your desired consistency. Test with a spoon.

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 if sweet and sour sauce is too sweet? ›

If your dish is a little too sweet, try rounding out the sweetness by adding flavors or ingredients that are sour, bitter, or spicy. It may be obvious not to add more sweet ingredients, but you should also stay away from salty ones since they actually bring out the sweetness in food.

What do you eat with sweet and sour sauce? ›

A perfect balance of tanginess and sweetness, it can be used to zest up American braised, broiled and roasted specialties. In addition, Sweet and Sour Sauce makes an excellent dipping sauce for appetizers and finger foods, such as fried won tons and chicken wings.

What thickens sweet sauce? ›

Use one tablespoon cornstarch mixed with one tablespoon cold water (aka a cornstarch slurry) for each cup of medium-thick sauce. Thoroughly mix the cornstarch and water together, then pour into your sauce. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly.

How do you fix sour sauce? ›

Sourness comes from acidic ingredients (including tomatoes, wine and vinegar). If your dish tastes too sour try to add sweetness—think sugar, honey (it's healthy!), cream or even caramelized onions. You can also dilute the dish (same as you would with a dish with too much salt).

Is it better to thicken stew with flour or cornstarch? ›

this is the easiest hack for thickening soups stews sauces and it does it instantly. instead of a roux or flour use cornstarch or arrowroot . equal parts water to cornstarch and arrowroot. mix that up and then you add it to simmering sauce or whatever.

Is sweet and sour sauce authentic Chinese? ›

Some authors say that the original sweet and sour sauce (traditional Chinese: 糖醋醬; simplified Chinese: 糖醋酱; pinyin: tángcùjiàng) came from the Chinese province of Henan, but the sauce in this area is a light vinegar and sugar mixture not resembling what most people, including the Chinese, would call sweet and sour.

Is sweet and sour sauce traditional Chinese? ›

It's that bright orange dipping sauce that accompanies the aforementioned sweet and sour chicken in Westernized Chinese food. It is said that this sauce evolved from the Cantonese culinary tradition, emigrating to the United States in the late 1800s and evolving into what we know today.

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.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Aracelis Kilback

Last Updated:

Views: 6643

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aracelis Kilback

Birthday: 1994-11-22

Address: Apt. 895 30151 Green Plain, Lake Mariela, RI 98141

Phone: +5992291857476

Job: Legal Officer

Hobby: LARPing, role-playing games, Slacklining, Reading, Inline skating, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Dance

Introduction: My name is Aracelis Kilback, I am a nice, gentle, agreeable, joyous, attractive, combative, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.