December 28, 2023
Review RecipeHomemade Sweet Sour Sauce
Easy homemade sweet and sour sauce perfect complement to all of your favorite dishes.
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This easy, homemade sweet and sour sauce is the perfect addition to your next Asian-inspired meal. The homemade version uses fresh pineapple, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar for a balanced flavor that is ideal for use in stir-fries, on grilled chicken or pork, or as a dipping sauce.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE RECIPE
This sweet and sour sauce is so easy to make and uses basic ingredients with no extras. It is rich and flavorful and perfect for dipping all your favorite dishes.
SWEET & SOUR SAUCE INGREDIENTS
You’ll need:
- 6-ounce can pineapple juice
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 to 2 drops red food coloring (optional)
SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
SUGAR: You can substitute white sugar for brown sugar in this easy recipe.
VINEGAR: The vinegar adds that great tang and apple cider vinegar is just right in this recipe, but you can also use rice vinegar or white vinegar.
How to Make Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce
STEP ONE: Whisk together pineapple juice, ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce, and light brown sugar in a small saucepan.
STEP TWO: Heat sauce over medium heat until it comes to a simmer and all of the ingredients are combined.
STEP THREE: Stir together the cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Pour the slurry into the simmering sweet and sour sauce, whisking until the sauce thickens.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
The cornstarch slurry thickens up this red sauce to a great dipping consistency. Whisk in additional cornstarch slurry while simmering for a thicker sauce.
STEP FOUR: Adjust the red color as desired by adding a drop of red food coloring.
PRO TIP:
The red food coloring is optional. The sauce will be delicious without it but if you want it to resemble the sweet and sour sauce from a Chinese restaurant, adding the food coloring will do the trick.
STEP FIVE: Remove sauce from heat.
HOW TO SERVE SWEET SOUR SAUCE
This sauce is so versatile, you can use it for so many dishes. Dip egg rolls, spring rolls, or chicken nuggets in this tasty sauce.
You can also drizzle it on top of our egg roll in a bowl or use it to make sweet and sour pork, chicken or sweet and sour meatballs.
Check out more recipes for our favorite Asian foods including fried rice and chicken lo mein
MORE ASIAN DISH RECIPES
SWEET & SOUR SAUCE STORAGE
IN THE FRIDGE: Store this delicious sweet and sour sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks.
IN THE FREEZER: You can store homemade sweet and sour sauce in the freezer for up to three months in an airtight container.
With an amazing sweet and sour flavor, this sauce is a delicious alternative to take out. It has a much better flavor than the kind you get at the grocery store or restaurant and only takes a handful of pantry ingredients to make a batch.
SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE FAQs
Can I freeze homemade sweet and sour sauce?
This great recipe can be frozen for up to three months in an airtight container.
How do I store this homemade sauce?
Keep the sauce in a sealed storage container in the fridge for up to three weeks.
How do you thicken sweet and sour sauce?
For a thicker consistency, you can add additional cornstarch slurry. To make a thinner sauce, start with only a little bit of the cornstarch slurry until you reach the perfect consistency.
Does Chinese sweet and sour sauce need to be refrigerated?
Sweet and sour sauce needs to be stored in a sealed container in the fridge. It will keep for 2-3 weeks.
What is the difference between sweet and sour sauce and duck sauce?
Sweet and sour sauce and duck sauce are very similar, but sweet and sour sauce tends to be tangier and sweeter than duck sauce and while duck sauce has a thicker, jelly-like consistency.
More You’ll Love
Sweet and Sour Sauce
Easy homemade sweet and sour sauce perfect complement to all of your favorite dishes.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 2 cups
Ingredients
- 6 ounces pineapple juice
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 to 2 drops red food coloring, optional
Instructions
- Whisk together pineapple juice, ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce, and light brown sugar in a small saucepan.
- Heat sauce over medium heat until it comes to a simmer and all of the ingredients are combined.
- Stir together the cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Pour the slurry into the simmering sweet and sour sauce, whisking until the sauce thickens.
- Adjust color as desired by adding a drop of red food coloring.
- Remove from heat.
Notes
- The cornstarch slurry thickens up this red sauce to a great dipping consistency. Whisk in additional cornstarch slurry while simmering for a thicker sauce.
- The red food coloring is optional. The sauce will be delicious without it but if you want it to resemble the sweet and sour sauce from a Chinese restaurant, adding the food coloring will do the trick.
Nutrition
Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 726mg | Potassium: 356mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 57g | Vitamin A: 312IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 1mg
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Comments
Billie says
Delish! I had never tried this homemade before and it was really good and easy to make.
Linda Eoff says
Awesome thanks
Jenny says
How long will this last in the fridge?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Jenny – keep the sauce in a sealed storage container in the fridge for up to three weeks. Enjoy!
Lucy says
Great recipe. Can be thrown together in 5 minutes and tastes great. Especially since you use pineapple juice in your recipe! Thanks for sharing.