This Sweet And Sour Sauce is a simple homemade recipe that is so easy to make!
Four ingredients and one step are all it takes to make this sweet, tangy and spicy sauce! Use it as a sauce, a glaze, a dip, a marinade, or top a burger or hot dog – with this one recipe you’ll never run out of ideas. Use it as a dip on the side, or create an entire stir fry sensation with it. Every home cook will want to keep a bottle of this yummy sauce in the refrigerator to dress up quick lunches or tasty suppers.
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Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce
- When ketchup isn’t enough and hot sauce is too much, homemade sweet and sour sauce has the right balance of flavors and is ready in minutes!
- Use it as a dipping sauce for appetizers like fried wonton crisps, bacon wrapped water chestnuts or baked zucchini sticks. Or use it as a glaze for homemade Italian meatballs.
- Most all Chinese and Thai food restaurants have pre-made sweet and sour sauce, even McDonald’s! But this version is made without any extra preservatives, sugar, and sodium. Plus the ingredient amounts can be changed to accommodate different dietary requirements, which is a big win!
What’s in Sweet and Sour Sauce?
THE BASICS: Ketchup, pineapple juice, brown sugar, and vinegar are all it takes. Sugar-free ketchup and sugar-free Swerve can be used. Avoid using white vinegar since it will make the sauce too bitter. Apple cider and red wine vinegar are good choices, but for the best depth of flavor, balsamic is best.
ADD-INS: Sriracha, sambal, or gochujang will add some heat or just a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. A few toasted sesame seeds added when using it for Asian dishes is a fancy touch. Make a homemade aioli for burgers, sandwiches, and wraps by stirring sweet and sour sauce into mayonnaise.
How to Make Sweet and Sour Sauce
It’s easy to make and so delish:
- Whisk the ingredients in a saucepan (per recipe below).
- Bring to a boil and allow to cool.
- Adjust for taste. Serve immediately or refrigerate.
What Goes with Sweet and Sour Sauce?
What doesn’t go with sweet & sour sauce? As a glaze or marinade, use it on Baked Whole Fish, a Sheet Pan Shrimp Dinner, or brush on Smoked Beef Ribs. Kids will love it as a dipper for Air Fryer Chicken Breast or Sausage Crescent Rolls, and its also a tasty sauce for Instant Pot Ribs. Endless possibilities!
Storing Sweet and Sour Sauce
Keep sweet and sour sauce in a cruet or jar with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks, or freeze in ice cube trays and pop out a cube or two to add punch to a veggies stir fry, drizzle over this Asian inspired Egg Roll in a Bowl, or even stir into Slow Cooker Baked Beans.
Other Tasty Sauces & Dips!
- Cranberry Orange Sauce – perfect for holidays.
- Everything Bagel Dip – delicious on well, everything!
- Instant Pot Applesauce – a tasty dip for pork.
- Easy Greek Yogurt Dip – just 10 minute prep!
Simple Sweet and Sour Sauce
Ingredients
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons vinegar
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine ketchup, pineapple juice, sugar, and vinegar.
- Heat over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Boil, while stirring, for 2 minutes, remove from heat, and cool.
Notes
- Recipe makes about ¾ cup sauce.
- Refrigerate sweet and sour sauce in a cruet or jar with a tight-fitting lid for up to 2 weeks
- Freeze sauce in ice cube trays and add to favorite recipes. Once cubes are frozen, pop them out and place in a zippered freezer bag. Store in freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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