Looking for a sweet chili sauce substitute that actually works? You’re in the right place!
Sweet chili sauce is a popular condiment used a lot in Asian cuisine.
It has the perfect combination of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors, making it a great for everything from dipping sauces to stir-fries, marinades, and salad dressings.
However, sometimes you might need of a sweet chili sauce substitute.
Whether you’re out of it, have dietary restrictions, or are looking for something different, there are plenty of alternatives to use in your dishes without losing that signature sweet and spicy taste.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what sweet chili sauce is, followed by the 10 best substitutes, their uses, and ratios for substituting in recipes.
What Is Sweet Chili Sauce?
Sweet chili sauce, often associated with Thai cuisine, is a combination of sugar, vinegar, garlic, and chili peppers, sometimes with additional ingredients like fish sauce or salt for a savory element.
The sauce is typically thick, sticky, and bright red, offering a balance of sweetness from sugar or honey, spice from chili peppers, and acidity from vinegar.
It’s an essential ingredient in dishes like spring rolls and various stir-fries, and it can be used as a marinade or dipping sauce for a variety of foods.
The magic of sweet chili sauce lies in its ability to combine complex flavors—sweetness, heat, and sourness—all in one bottle.
This makes it an all-in-one condiment that works for so many dishes. However, if you’re looking for a substitute for sweet chili sauce, here are 10 great options to consider.
Common Uses In Cooking
Dipping Sauce – Perfect for spring rolls, dumplings, tofu, and tempura.
Marinade – Adds flavor to animal and plant based proteins
Stir-Fries & Noodles – Blends well in vegetable stir-fries, fried rice, and pad Thai.
Glaze – Caramelizes beautifully on roasted vegetables, tofu, and skewers.
Burger & Sandwich Spread – A tasty alternative to ketchup or mayo.
Salad Dressing & Dip – Great when mixed with lime juice, sesame oil, or peanut butter.
Common Confusions with Sweet Chili Sauce
Sweet chili sauce is often mistaken for other chili-based condiments due to its name and appearance. One common mix-up is with Thai chili sauce (Nam Jim Jaew or Nam Jim Gai), which is usually spicier and more acidic due to the presence of fish sauce or tamarind.
Understanding the difference is important when looking for the best substitute, ensuring you maintain the right balance of sweetness, heat, and tang in your recipe.
10 Best Sweet Chili Sauce Substitutes
1. Chili Sauce, Vinegar, and Sugar
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to replicate sweet chili sauce, a combination of chili sauce (which is spicier), vinegar, and sugar is the best option. Chili sauce provides the necessary heat and depth, vinegar adds the tangy element, and sugar balances everything with the right amount of sweetness.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar (or rice vinegar for a milder taste)
- 1 tablespoon sugar (or honey/agave)
Instructions:
Mix the chili sauce, vinegar, and sugar in a small bowl. Stir until the sugar fully dissolves. If you need a thinner consistency, add a splash of water. For a thicker texture, heat the mixture in a saucepan over low heat for a few minutes until slightly reduced.
Why It Works:
This substitute mimics the key elements of sweet chili sauce—spiciness, sweetness, and tang. The vinegar enhances the flavor complexity, while sugar softens the heat and makes it more similar to the original sauce.
Substitution Ratio:
Use a 1:1 ratio as a replacement for sweet chili sauce. Adjust the sugar or chili sauce to taste, depending on how sweet or spicy you prefer.
2. Sriracha and Honey/Agave Syrup
Sriracha, the famous chili sauce, can mimic the heat in sweet chili sauce, while honey or agave syrup brings the sweetness.
Sriracha is a hot sauce that is sweet, tangy, and spicy. It’s a fantastic place to start when looking for sweet chili sauce substiute, but it does require some modification.
In fact, it needs to be combined with a sweetener because it’s hotter and tangier than a traditional sweet chili sauce.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
Instructions: Mix the sriracha and honey together until smooth. Adjust the amounts of each depending on how spicy or sweet you want the sauce.
Why It Works: Sriracha provides the chili heat, while honey or agave syrup offers the sweet element. This combination is often used in many kitchens when sweet chili sauce is unavailable.
Substitution Ratio: Use a 1:1 ratio as a substitute for sweet chili sauce.
3. Sambal Oelek with Honey or Agave
Sambal Oelek is a chili paste commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisine. It is made primarily from fresh ground chili peppers, salt, and vinegar, giving it a more straightforward, bold heat compared to sweet chili sauce. However, when combined with honey or agave, you can replicate the sweet, spicy, and tangy profile of sweet chili sauce.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon Sambal Oelek
- 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
- 1 teaspoon vinegar (optional for extra tang)
Instructions: Mix the Sambal Oelek with honey or agave in a bowl. Adjust the sweetness to taste by adding more honey or agave if needed. If you prefer a slightly tangy version, stir in a teaspoon of vinegar. This mixture should mimic the sweet, spicy flavor profile of sweet chili sauce.
Why It Works: Sambal Oelek offers the necessary heat and chili flavor, while honey or agave adds the sweetness. The vinegar balances the richness and gives it a tangy finish that mirrors the complexity of sweet chili sauce.
Substitution Ratio: Use a 1:1 ratio for sweet chili sauce. Adjust the amount of honey or agave to fit your preferred sweetness level.
4. Chili Garlic Sauce with Honey or Agave Syrup
Chili garlic sauce is made with chili peppers, garlic, rice vinegar, and salt and has a savory flavor. It’s popular in Chinese cuisine and it can be bought from any asian supermarket.
It has a similar hot sauce flavour to sweet chili sauce or sriracha, and that is why it makes a great substitute for sweet chili sauce.
It does have a stronger garlic flavor so adding honey or agave syrup will balance out the heat.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey/ agave syrup
Instructions: Mix the chili garlic sauce and honey together. Stir until smooth and adjust to your desired level of sweetness.
Why It Works: The garlic in chili garlic sauce provides a depth of flavor that closely mimics sweet chili sauce’s savory undertones, while the honey ensures the sweet aspect is covered.
Substitution Ratio: Use 1:1 as a replacement for sweet chili sauce.
5. Ketchup with Chili Flakes
Ketchup might seem like an odd choice, but it can work well in a pinch. The tangy flavor of ketchup combined with chili flakes and a bit of sugar can resemble the taste of sweet chili sauce.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
Instructions: Mix the ketchup, chili flakes, sugar, and vinegar together in a bowl. Taste and adjust if you need more heat or sweetness.
Why It Works: Ketchup provides a sweet base, while the chili flakes add heat, and the vinegar brings the necessary tanginess.
Substitution Ratio: Use 1:1 as a replacement for sweet chili sauce.
6. Apricot Jam or Marmalade with Chili Flakes
Jam or marmalade can make an excellent substitute for sweet chili sauce, thanks to their natural sweetness and fruitiness. Adding chili flakes boosts the heat.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons apricot jam or marmalade
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice
Instructions: Combine the apricot jam or marmalade with chili flakes and vinegar. Stir until smooth, and adjust to taste.
Why It Works: The fruitiness of apricot jam or marmalade mirrors the sweetness found in sweet chili sauce, and the chili flakes provide the necessary spice.
Substitution Ratio: Use 1:1 in place of sweet chili sauce.
7. Soy Sauce with Sugar and Chili Flakes
Soy sauce, sugar, and chili flakes can be combined to make a simple but effective substitute for sweet chili sauce.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
Instructions: Stir the soy sauce, sugar, and chili flakes together until the sugar dissolves.
Why It Works: Soy sauce adds the savory depth of flavor, while sugar balances the saltiness and chili flakes provide the spice.
Substitution Ratio: Use 1:1 for sweet chili sauce in your recipe.
8. Plum Sauce & Hot Sauce
Plum sauce is a sweet, tangy condiment made from plums, sugar, vinegar, and spices, commonly used in Chinese cuisine. It has a thick, syrupy texture and a rich, fruity sweetness, making it an excellent base for replicating sweet chili sauce. When paired with a bit of hot sauce, it creates a well-balanced substitute with both the sweetness and heat needed for a similar flavor profile.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons plum sauce
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Sriracha, Tabasco)
Instructions:
Mix the plum sauce with the hot sauce until well combined. Adjust the spiciness by adding more hot sauce if needed. If the mixture is too thick, you can thin it out with a splash of water or vinegar.
Why It Works:
Plum sauce provides the natural sweetness and sticky texture that sweet chili sauce is known for, while hot sauce adds the necessary heat. The vinegar in both ingredients also helps replicate the tangy element of sweet chili sauce.
Substitution Ratio:
Use a 1:1 ratio when replacing sweet chili sauce with this mixture. Adjust the amount of hot sauce depending on how spicy you want it to be.
Final Thoguhts
Sweet chili sauce is a versatile condiment that adds the perfect balance of sweetness, heat, and tang to a variety of dishes.
If you ever find yourself without it, there are plenty of substitutes that can replicate its flavor using ingredients you may already have in your kitchen.
Whether you opt for a homemade version with chili flakes and honey, or a combination of plum sauce and hot sauce, each substitute offers a unique twist while maintaining the essential sweet-spicy profile.
By experimenting with these alternatives, you can customize the heat and sweetness to suit your taste preferences.
FAQS
1. What is the best substitute for sweet chili sauce?
The best substitute depends on the recipe. If you need something quick, mix honey (or agave) with hot sauce. If you want a closer match, try a combination of chili sauce, vinegar, and sugar.
2. Can I make a sugar-free sweet chili sauce substitute?
Yes! You can use sugar alternatives like agave syrup, stevia, or monk fruit sweetener combined with chili flakes and vinegar for a sugar-free version.
3. How do I thicken a homemade sweet chili sauce substitute?
You can use cornstarch or arrowroot powder mixed with a little water to create a slurry and then stir it into your dish while heating.
4. Can I use sriracha instead of sweet chili sauce?
Sriracha is spicier and less sweet than sweet chili sauce. If using it as a substitute, mix it with a bit of honey or sugar to balance the flavors.
5. What’s a good substitute for sweet chili sauce in a dipping sauce?
Plum sauce mixed with hot sauce, or Sambal Oelek with honey/agave, works great as a dipping sauce alternative.
6. How long does homemade sweet chili sauce last?
If stored in an airtight container in the fridge, homemade sweet chili sauce or substitutes can last for about 1-2 weeks.
