This Thai Sweet Chili Sauce recipe uses just 6 simple and affordable ingredients, is naturally vegan and gluten-free, heat-adjustable, and takes just 10 minutes to prepare. The result is a homemade sweet chili sauce with tons of flavor but is refined sugar-free and contains just a fraction of the sugar in store-bought options!
This homemade sweet chili sauce isn’t the only healthier homemade sauce always in my fridge. You might also like this healthy BBQ sauce (or Hawaiian BBQ sauce), chimichurri, or tartar sauce!
Table of contents
- 10-Minute Homemade Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
- Why This Thai Chili Sauce Recipe Works?
- Ingredients for Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce
- How to Make Asian Sweet Chili Sauce
- Optional Add-In’s and Variations
- Tips for Best Results
- FAQs
- Serving Recommendations for Thai Chili Sauce
- Making This Asian Sauce in Advance
- More Healthy Thai Inspired Dishes to Try
10-Minute Homemade Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
I’m no stranger to making homemade sauces and dressings (like this healthy ranch, Asian salad dressing, poppy seed dressing or these 10 favorites). They take minutes to prepare, contain no preservatives, and can be made far healthier than their store-bought alternatives. For example, this Thai sweet chili sauce contains no refined sugar and is heat-adjustable for a tastier and healthier version of your favorite Asian sweet chili sauce.
I love Asian sweet chili sauce- it’s sweet, sour, tangy, with a kick of heat, and makes for a delicious condiment or sauce. Now you can learn how to make sweet chili sauce at home with just a few all-natural, cost-efficient ingredients and just 10 minutes of your time! Once made, store the leftovers in the fridge for several weeks or the freezer for up to three months. No more lingering bottles at the back of the fridge!
Sweet chili sauce (also referred to as Thai sweet chili sauce/Asian sweet chili sauce or nam chim kai in Thailand – which means ‘dipping sauce for chicken’ and is perfect for almond breaded or coconut breaded chicken) is a thick sweet and sour sauce/condiment with a kick of heat. It commonly can contain chili, rice wine vinegar, sugar, and sometimes garlic and fish sauce. For this version, I kept the recipe gluten-free and naturally vegan. But check out my optional add-ins section for more suggestions!
Maybe I’m a little biased, but I honestly think this is the only Thai sweet chili sauce recipe you’ll ever need. It’s the best! Because not only is it super simple to prepare, but it’s also super adjustable. Swap out the chili, sweetener, and even vinegar based on what you have available and adjust the amounts to suit your personal taste. Did I mention it tastes better than store-bought versions, too? Because it does.
Once prepared, mix it into noodles, or serve it up with shrimp, chicken, fish, and any number of dishes (suggestions below). You won’t regret trying this recipe!
Why This Thai Chili Sauce Recipe Works?
- This Thai sweet chili sauce recipe contains no additives or preservatives and tastes WAY better than lots of the super-sweet store-bought versions!
- Fresher, tastier, and you don’t have to worry about forgetting the bottle sitting at the back of your fridge. Just make it as needed and store in the refrigerator or freezer!
- In fact, you can store homemade sweet chili sauce in the fridge for 2-3 weeks or the freezer for up to 3 months!
- Since it’s homemade, you can control both the amount and type of sugar and heat!
- This homemade sweet chili sauce comes together in just 10 minutes!
- This Thai sweet chili sauce recipe is naturally gluten-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free!
Ingredients for Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce
One of the best parts about this Thai sweet chili sauce recipe is that all ingredients listed below are affordable and easy to buy organic.
- Maple Syrup: This Thai sweet chili sauce recipe relies on maple syrup rather than using tons of refined white sugar. Maple syrup is unrefined, has a lower GI, and even contains several antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. You could alternatively use honey or brown rice syrup, but each will affect the flavor and sweetness and may need adjusting with additional chili, etc. You could even make this with a sugar alternative like granulated erythritol, but it won’t be quite as ‘sticky,’ and the flavor will differ.
- Vinegar: Rice vinegar is naturally milder and on the sweeter side, so it works perfectly for homemade sweet chili sauce. Check FAQs for alternatives.
- Garlic: I use just one clove of garlic, but feel free to adjust the amount to personal preferences.
- Red pepper flakes: Can’t have sweet chili sauce without chili. I used regular red pepper flakes (usually cayenne), but feel free to swap this out with other chili varieties if preferred. You could also use a mixture of dry and fresh (finely chopped) chili (seeds removed) or even some sambal oelek (a chili paste that’s milder than regular flakes) – it’s up to you!
- Cornstarch: Needed to thicken the sauce. You could also potentially use arrowroot or tapioca starch, though I haven’t tried.
- Water: To thin sauce.
- Salt: For seasoning.
Keep reading below (after the recipe how-to) for more information on Thai sweet chili sauce recipe add-ins and seasoning variations!
How to Make Asian Sweet Chili Sauce
- Add the ingredients to a pan: Add all the Asian sweet chili sauce ingredients to a pan and whisk until well combined.
- Thicken and reduce: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce to low, and simmer for 7-10 minutes, or until thickened. Then, use immediately, transferring any leftovers to a clean glass jar.
Before transferring to a jar, give your Asian sweet chili sauce a quick taste test and adjust any elements if needed. i.e., more chili for heat, more maple for sweetness, a little more vinegar for tang/sourness, etc.
Optional Add-In’s and Variations
There are several ways you can increase the depth of flavor in this homemade sweet chili sauce, including:
- Ginger: You can add 1-2 tsp ginger puree/paste for more depth of flavor/slight heat.
- Fish sauce: 2-3 tsp fish sauce will provide a more authentic Thai flavor. You could use a vegan version (or coconut aminos) to keep the recipe vegan.
- Soy sauce: Add 1-2 tsp soy sauce for umami (use tamari for gluten-free) – I’d use one or the other when it comes to soy and fish sauce, not both.
- Fruit juice: you can swap out a little of the water (just a couple of tbsp) with orange, pineapple, or apple juice for more depth to the homemade sweet chili sauce flavor.
Tips for Best Results
- To adjust the heat: Simply swap out the type of dried chili flakes used (Chinese or Korean chili flakes are usually very mild) and the amount used. Note that the less you use, the less of a gorgeous orange/red color the sauce will be. However, it will still taste delicious.
To avoid clumping in the sauce: You may want to create a cornstarch slurry with the starch and a little water before adding it to the pan. That way, you’ll avoid having any starch lumps in the sauce.
- Adjust the sauce thickness: Adjust the amount of cornstarch to change how thick you want the sauce to be alternately add additional water for a thinner sauce.
- Using sambal oelek: If you decide to use sambal oelek, you may find the taste closer to store-bought version, which often uses pickled red chili (sambal oelek is a pickled chili sauce).
FAQs
According to Wikipedia, Thai sweet chili sauce translated from Thai means literally “dipping sauce for chicken”. You know that thick sweet and spicy orange in colour store-bought sauce that’s made up of mostly sugar? Well, sugar, chili, and sometimes garlic and fish sauce. This is a healthier homemade sweet chili sauce version with unrefined sugar and naturally vegan and gluten-free!
Yes, but not overwhelmingly so as the main sauce is sweet and the chili flakes within stud it with heat. When making homemade sweet chili sauce, you can also adapt the amount of chili flakes used to personal preference.
I recommend using other milder, sweeter options like white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. You could use a dash of red wine vinegar to further deepen the color of the sauce, but I wouldn’t recommend it as a sub for the entire recipe.
Yes you can, but note that it’s sweeter than maple and has a stronger flavor, so less would be needed.
You sure can. I recommend freezing it in a silicone ice-cube tray so you can thaw just enough as needed each time. Just note that the sauces texture may change slightly upon thawing. To get it back to normal I recommend lightly heating it on the stovetop or in the microwave.
The easiest way is simply not to make it as spicy in the first place by using less chili or milder chili in the homemade sweet chili sauce. If you make it and find out after that it’s a little too spicy, then you may be able to neutralize it slightly with the addition of extra sweetener (one reader actually added orange marmalade!), serving it with milder foods, or even serving with a heat neutralizer like dairy (or coconut milk). You may even be able to neutralize it slightly with extra vinegar or lemon/lime juice.
Serving Recommendations for Thai Chili Sauce
When I say that the serving options for this Thai sweet chili sauce are endless, I mean it. Here are just a few of the ways I like to enjoy this homemade sauce.
- Mix into rice and noodle dishes – or even cauliflower rice like this Thai cauli rice.
- Use as a stir-fry sauce – like a little with this cabbage stir-fry.
- A dip for spring rolls/egg rolls/ rice paper rolls/ dumplings.
- Or dipping for battered/breaded chicken (like this almond/coconut breaded, or healthy fried chicken) and proteins – or even these slow cooker Thai chicken thighs.
- You can also serve it with fritters and patties, like these zucchini fritters or tuna zucchini fritters.
- Serve alongside grilled shrimp/fish – like this Thai broiled sweet chili salmon or cedar plank salmon.
- Dip for fish cakes/crab cakes – like these canned salmon cakes.
- With meatballs – like these Thai meatballs.
- As a dip for tofu dishes and skewers– like this crispy pan-fried tofu.
- A simple spread for crackers when mixed with cream cheese, cottage cheese, or ricotta – then use the spread on an Asian/Thai themed charcuterie board.
- Drizzle over pizza – like this cauliflower pizza crust, sweet potato pizza crust, or oatmeal pizza crust.
- Spread or dip for sandwiches like grilled cheese, your favorite wrap or even a salmon burger (try it on this healthy breakfast sandwich, too!).
Let me know in the comments what your favorite way of enjoying this homemade sweet chili sauce is!
Making This Asian Sauce in Advance
Storing: You can store the Thai sweet chili sauce in the fridge for between 2-3 weeks (I’ve kept it for over a month previously, though, too!). It may thicken and become slightly cloudy during this time – no problem, just reheat it (as written below).
Freezing: I recommend freezing the sweet chili sauce in smaller ‘portioned’ amounts in a silicone ice-cube tray for 2-3 months. The sauce won’t freeze solid, which is why it’s best to use a silicone tray for easy removal.
Reheating: To reheat the homemade sweet chili sauce, do so on the stovetop or in the microwave. If it’s thickened up, you can even add a splash of water (or more) until you reach the desired consistency.
More Healthy Thai Inspired Dishes to Try
Thai Sweet Chili Sauce {Video}
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp white or rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 small garlic clove grated
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp red chili pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, whisk all ingredients until combined.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 7-10 minutes or until thickened.
- Transfer to a glass jar and use with meat, fish, vegetables and for dipping. Highly recommend to make Thai Salmon that everyone will rave about for weeks!
Store: Refrigerate for up to a few weeks.
Freezing: Freeze in smaller ‘portioned’ amounts in a silicone ice-cube tray for 2-3 months.
Reheating: To reheat the homemade sweet chili sauce, do so on the stovetop or in the microwave, may need to add splash of water for consistency.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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My name is Olena Osipov. I'm a mom to 2 boys, a wife to Alex and we reside on magical Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. This is our healthy family recipes blog. Originally from Ukraine, I grew up on real food. As an adult, I struggled with diets for years because none worked long-term. Now for over 10 years, I cook easy healthy meals for my family. I can help you with “What’s for dinner?” too.