A spicy-sweet Asian condiment, homemade sweet chili sauce is easily made with dried chilis and sweetened only with honey.
I’ve always loved, loved, loved Asian sweet chili sauce – it’s my favorite thing to top Chicken-Lime Lettuce Wraps, Stir-Fry Vegetables, grilled chicken, and much more as I’m sure you could guess. However, I’ve often felt a tad guilty because sugar is the first ingredient (hello, that’s probably why I like it!), so I wouldn’t buy it very often. But then I’d be missing it. Ugh – the thought processes of healthy eating, right?
Sweet Chili Sauce
The other day I was creating a new slow cooker recipe to share with you (using chicken and our frozen, unblanched green beans – stay tuned!) and I just wanted sweet chili sauce to add to the other Thai-like flavors I had going on (fish sauce and lime juice…). But of course I didn’t have any. I hit the internet and discovered how easy it is to make homemade sweet chili sauce – and to be in control of the sugar content. Score! I didn’t have any fresh chilies, so I adapted this recipe to use dried chili flakes and to be sweetened with only honey – and just 1/3 cup in the whole batch!
The result is still a spicy-sweet concoction, but now I can have it whenever I want–especially because it only takes about 5 minutes to make. Really! It’s a lot more inexpensive with the dried chilis, too. So, to recap: this homemade sweet chili sauce is quicker to make than buy, cheaper and able to make it healthier–that’s the kind of pantry basic recipe I love.
Note: some have asked where to get the dried chili flakes – Amazon (my affiliate links) has a good price here for McCormicks and this is a great price for 1 lb. of organic chili flakes. You can also find them at Costco and in smaller jars at regular grocery stores spice aisles.
Sweet Chili Sauce Made with Honey & Dried Chili Flakes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon dried chili flakes*
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic about 3 large cloves
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/3 cup honey
- 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons water divided
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon potato starch or organic cornstarch**
Instructions
- Add chili flakes, garlic, vinegar, honey, 3/4 c. water, and salt to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over med-high heat. Boil for a minute at medium heat, stirring constantly.
- Mix the potato starch with the remaining water and add to the sauce, stirring over medium heat until thickened - about another minute or two.
- Remove from heat, cool thoroughly and transfer to a container to store in the fridge (the sauce keeps for a couple of weeks, if it lasts that long...). Reused glass dressing bottles or canning jars both work well.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links and by clicking on them you help support AOC at no extra cost to you – thanks so much! (You can always read our entire disclosure page here.)
More recipes you may like:
Spicy Homemade Canned Plum Sauce
7-Minute Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
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Shoshana says
The sweet chili sauce is cooking right now, smells fantastic!
Jami says
Hope you enjoy it!!
Kathy Byington says
Morning,
Have you ever used your garden tomatoes for making your ketchup?
Thanks
Kathy
Jami says
I haven’t for two reasons: one, we don’t use that much ketchup and my tomatoes always go for our favorites first, salsa, chutney, garden marinara, and pizza sauce. And two, it takes a LONG time to cook down, lol.
Georgia says
How long would it store for
Jami says
We’ve had it for a month before using it up, but I think it would store longer than that even.
Carol L says
I LOVE sweet chili sauce!!! I would make this, but change when you add the honey from the boiling stage to when it begins to cool in (under 100*) order to save the beneficial enzymes that are destroyed when heating. (otherwise, you might just as well use sugar!) I will make this soon! I usually just buy a large bottle that is pretty decent with regards to ingredients, but making my own is always better!!!!
Jami says
That’s a good suggestion, Carol – thanks!
Rebecca Shashoua says
All I have is malt vinegar, could I use that?!
Jami says
Probably, Rebecca, though it may impart an malt flavor. 🙂
Des says
Could I use regular white vinegar?
Jami says
Yes. I just usually use rice vinegar with Asian dishes and it’s a lighter flavor.
Julia says
Where would you find dried chili flakes? I’m pretty comfortable in the kitchen but I’ve never seen them before.
Bill Mackie says
I just get them at Costco, but any supermarket should have something similar.
Cristi says
Eeeek! So excited to try this!
Michele Laughlin says
I just made this and it is delicious (and spicy- I added an extra teaspoon of chili flakes) !! Thanks for this great and simple recipe!
Jami says
I think you win the prize for first to make it, Michelle. 😉 Glad you liked it!
Cherie says
This sounds wonderful – can’t wait to try it. Thank you !!
Cherie
Gresham, Oregon