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7 Best Sweet Chili Sauce Substitute Options

Both Asian and Western cuisines frequently use this Asian-inspired sauce, generally referred to as sweet chili sauce. But if you’re out of the good stuff and not looking to whip some up at home, we’ve got you covered with 7 sweet chili sauce substitutes you won’t need to sweat over. From deliciously spicy equivalent to mild and healthy swaps, there’s a tasty substitute for sweet chili sauce here for you!

What is Sweet Chili Sauce?

Globally known as Thai sweet chili sauce, this sauce is both sweet and spicy with a tangy flavor profile commonly applied in Asian cuisine, particularly in Thai dishes. The sauce is made from sugar, vinegar, and chili peppers, with a heat level that can vary from less spicy to very spicy depending on the chili pepper used.

Though the sauce is generally considered to be mild to moderate. The sweetness of the sauce comes from the sugar, which can be either white or brown. The sauce is often used as a dipping sauce for appetizers such as spring rolls or chicken wings but can also be used as a marinade or glaze for meat dishes or as a dressing for salads

What is Sweet Chili Sauce Made of?

Thai sweet chili sauce is crafted with a delicious blend of red chili peppers for heat, sugar for sweetness, and vinegar for acidity. Typically featuring minced garlic and a pinch of salt, the sauce is simmered to meld flavors and reach a desirable thickness.

How to Make Sweet Chili Sauce

To whip up a sweet chili sauce, start by combining chopped red chili peppers, sugar, rice vinegar, water, and minced garlic in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer, allowing the sugar to dissolve. Let it gently simmer for 10-15 minutes on low heat, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.

Adjust sweetness and heat levels as you go. You can even add ingredients like soy sauce or ginger for more added flavor. Once thickened, remove it from heat, let it cool, and transfer to a jar.

fried wontons with sweet chili sauce

How to Use Sweet Chili Sauce

Sweet chili sauce is such a delicious ingredient that there are hundreds of ways to enjoy it. But I’ve saved you the trouble and plucked the best ways you can effectively use this sauce:

Dipping Sauce: Use sweet chili sauce as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, egg rolls, dumplings, chicken tenders, or other appetizers.

Glaze for Meat: Brush sweet chili sauce onto grilled or roasted meats such as chicken, pork, or shrimp during the last few minutes of cooking for a flavorful glaze.

Stir-Fry Sauce: Incorporate sweet chili sauce into stir-fry dishes to add a sweet and spicy flavor to the vegetables, proteins, or noodles.

Marinade: Use sweet chili sauce as a marinade for meats before grilling or baking. It imparts a sweet and tangy flavor to the dish.

Condiment for Burgers and Sandwiches: Spread sweet chili sauce on burgers or sandwiches for an extra layer of flavor. It pairs well with grilled chicken, beef, or even tofu.

Salad Dressing: Mix sweet chili sauce with other ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, and lime juice to create a unique and tasty salad dressing.

Pizza Topping: Drizzle sweet chili sauce over pizza for a sweet and spicy kick. It pairs well with ingredients like chicken, pineapple, and bell peppers.

Topping for Seafood: Serve sweet chili sauce as a dipping sauce or drizzle it over fried or grilled seafood such as fish or shrimp.

Grilled Vegetables: Toss grilled vegetables with sweet chili sauce for a flavorful and caramelized glaze.

Snack Accompaniment: Use sweet chili sauce as a condiment for snacks like chicken wings, popcorn, chicken, or vegetable fritters.

Cocktail Sauce: Mix sweet chili sauce with a bit of horseradish to create a unique and spicy cocktail sauce for shrimp or seafood.

sweet chili sauce with spices

How to Alter Sweet Chili Sauce

Thai sweet chili sauce can be used in a variety of dishes and adapted for your spice tolerance. It’s also a good source of antioxidants, manganese, and vitamins A and C. It’s definitely a sauce worth exploring in the kitchen.

But not all bottled sauces will suit your specific preference levels for sweet, spicy, and tangy. So why not make sweet chili sauce yourself and save money, a trip to the grocery store, and perhaps even some calories. Most people won’t have regular use for it, so we suggest just making your own.  

When making your own sauce, you can have a say in the quality of the ingredients, overall taste and consistency, and quantity you make. Here are some tips for a DIY sweet chili sauce:

  • Use a mix of low-heat chili peppers if you’re not one for very spicy food. You can also add fresh tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato puree, or ketchup to reduce the heat if you overdo it. 
  • Some bottled sweet chili sauce lacks heat. You can adjust the heat to your desired strength by using even more chili peppers.
  • Some bottled brands lack flavor. If you make it your own you can add umami flavors by using fish sauce or soy sauce instead of the typical salt.
  • To achieve a brighter red color, deseed and chop up even more chilies. You can use gochujang chili powder to add heat and color at the same time, or use paprika if you just want to add color.

Once you’ve created your perfect sweet chili sauce, keep it in the fridge for up to a week. If there’s nothing to pair it with immediately, freeze it for up to 2 months. The sauce will congeal so you’ll need to heat it up in a pan after thawing.

Using Sweet Chili Sauce Substitutes in Cooking

When it comes to cooking with sweet chili sauce substitutes, you’ll wanna consider the dish you’re preparing and your personal preferences in terms of taste and texture. Here are some ways you can throw in some sweet chili sauce substitutes in your cooking.

In Dishes

You can use hot sauce with honey as a substitute for sweet chili sauce in a marinade for chicken or shrimp. Another option is to use a homemade sweet chili sauce as a glaze for spring rolls, wings, or meatballs or as a dipping sauce for egg rolls or wontons. It’s also a great addition to noodle dishes, soups, and stews.

As a Condiment

You can use chili garlic sauce as a dressing for salads or as a marinade for meat, or use honey with hot sauce as a topping for burgers and sandwiches. These substitutes can add a spicy kick to your dishes and are a great addition to your pantry if you enjoy cooking with spices.

Best Sweet Chili Sauce Substitutes

DIY Sweet Chili Sauce

Explore a homemade sweet chili sauce if you’re craving that flawless balance of sweet, salty, and spicy in your cooking. Gather vinegar, ginger, garlic, red chili, and a sweetener, and then just boil all the ingredients together in a saucepan. Let it cool for 2-3 hours, then store in the fridge for up to a week.

Making it yourself at home is cheap, quick, and easy, and you’ll get rid of the additives and nasty ingredients in the bottled variety.

Cocktail Sauce + Honey

Cocktail sauce and sweet chili sauce have a similar zesty tang and heat. Choose a spicier sauce or add in extra cayenne powder to reach your desired heat level. You can use it as a direct substitute for sweet chili sauce with just a little bit of honey to increase the sweetness. 

Chili Garlic Sauce + Honey

We absolutely love the chunky, spicy, umami kick of this popular Asian sauce. Chili garlic sauce is great on its own, but it lacks the sweetness that you may be looking for. If you’re stocking it in your pantry (as you should be), then all you need is to add honey to it to replace sweet chili sauce.

Sambal + Vinegar

This spicy Indonesian chili paste packs a flavor punch as a sauce on its own. To tweak it as a sweet chili sauce substitute, mix it with white vinegar. Sambal already contains sugar but if you feel like it still needs some, then add honey or your preferred sugar substitute. 

Sweet and Sour Sauce + Red Chili Flakes

Sweet and sour sauce is well-known in Asian cuisine. Much like sweet chili sauce, it’s tangy and sweet, but is usually orange or red and has no visible chili. Sweet chili sauce, on the other hand, is sweet, sour, and has a spicy kick to it due to the chili flakes in it. To substitute, simply add in red chili flakes to sweet and sour sauce until you reach your desired level of spiciness.

Hot Sauce + Honey

The easiest way to substitute a sweet chili sauce is with a hot sauce you already love, plus a sweetener. If you like spicy food you’ll likely already have a bottle of hot sauce in your cupboard. Just add a bit of your sweetener of choice— we suggest using honey, as it gives the sauce a nice thick consistency— and stir well to create an easy-peasy sweet chili sauce substitute. 

A Healthy Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce

Still looking for a healthier alternative for sweet chili sauce? To start, we do recommend using an air fryer for lighter versions of your favorite fried appetizers. Then, make your own healthy sweet chili sauce at home with ingredients like apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos, and xanthan gum added to chili peppers, garlic and ginger. Making these substitutions will make your sweet chili sauce Keto-friendly, low-carb and gluten-free.

FAQs

What are some non-spicy alternatives to sweet chili sauce?

Hoisin sauce is a sweet and savory sauce that’ll be a good pick for something non-spicy. It has a thick consistency and is made from soybeans, garlic, vinegar, and sugar. Another option is oyster sauce, which is made from oysters, soy sauce, sugar, and cornstarch.

Is sweet chili sauce the same as sriracha?

No, sweet chili sauce is not the same as sriracha. Sweet chili sauce has a sweet and tangy flavor with a thick consistency, while sriracha has a more spicy and garlicky flavor with a thinner consistency.

What are the best brands of sweet chili sauce?

Some of the most popular and highly rated brands include Mae Ploy, Thai Kitchen, and Frank’s RedHot. Mae Ploy is a Thai brand known for its authentic flavor and high-quality ingredients. Thai Kitchen is another popular brand that is widely available in grocery stores.

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