There are so many ways to enjoy this popular and versatile sauce. And with only 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep/cook time, this delicious Sweet and Sour Sauce recipe couldn’t be simpler! Plus it’s better than your favorite Chinese takeout or restaurant!
Chinese food and sweet and sour sauce go hand in hand and for that reason you’ll find it served in every Chinese restaurant and at every takeout. It’s also an essential staple to have in your kitchen. If you’ve never made your own, it’s time to get on board because not only is it incredibly easy, it tastes WAY better than store-bought and what you get at your local takeout. Plus it’s free of preservatives, chemicals and junk ingredients.
Get ready for this fast, simple, and thoroughly deeeelicious homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce recipe!
How To Use Sweet and Sour Sauce
Sweet and sour sauce is the ultimate dipping sauce for potstickers, egg rolls, wontons, chicken nuggets, fish sticks and anything else your heart desires.
You can also incorporate it into your favorite Chinese dishes like sweet and sour chicken, pork or shrimp, sweet and sour meatballs, Asian salad dressings, and as a glaze for grilled chicken, pork, seafood, kabobs, ribs, etc. It’s even delicious just drizzled over a bowl of hot steamed rice.
You can also omit the cornstarch and use this sauce as a marinade.
How To Store Sweet and Sour Sauce
Store it in an airtight jar in the fridge and it will keep for 2-3 weeks.
Do I Have To Use Red Food Coloring?
Not at all! You can make this without food coloring. One of the advantage of making homemade anything is that you don’t have to include the junk ingredients that the store-bought stuff often uses. The red food coloring is purely for aesthetics and tastes exactly the same without it. If you prefer the red color but don’t want to use chemicals in your food there are natural food coloring options and I provide a link to one option in the recipe card below.
BE SURE TO TRY THESE OTHER FABULOUS HOMEMADE CHINESE SAUCES!
Hoisin Sauce
Black Bean Sauce
Plum Sauce
Teriyaki Sauce
Sweet Chili Sauce
Let’s get started!
Get your five ingredients ready to go because making this sauce goes fast. Measure out your pineapple juice, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce and ketchup. Prepare the cornstarch slurry and set it aside.
Add all of the ingredients except for the cornstarch slurry in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
Stir in the cornstarch slurry and simmer for another minute until thickened.
You can stop at this point or, if you want, you can add 2-3 drops of food coloring to make your sauce look the way it does at the Chinese takeout. Check out this all-natural food coloring.
Let the sauce cool completely. Store it in an airtight jar in the fridge where it will keep for 2-3 weeks.
Enjoy!
PIN ME!
Best Sweet and Sour Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup canned pineapple juice ,see note
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- OR brown sugar alternative (for low sugar option)
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar ,found in the Asian or general vinegar section of any grocery store, or you can substitute apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari (GF)
- For the Cornstarch Slurry: 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
- Optional: 2-3 drops all-natural red food coloring (the one I've linked to is natural, colored with beets. It's in powdered form, simply stir some in to a couple of teaspoons of water and add it to the sauce)
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients, except for the cornstarch slurry, in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and simmer for another minute until thickened, stirring constantly. If using red food coloring, stir it in.
- Let the sauce cool completely and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
Video
Notes
Sam says
I think there was too much ketchup in it as the recipe states, it turned out ok, but not really like the sweet and sour I was expecting. Next batch, I only put in 1 tspn in. It was better that way. more authentic.
I think I might leave it out altogether in the next batch.
Note: I made it again w/o the Ketchup and it was even better.
Sam says
I think there was too much ketchup in it as the recipe states, it turned out ok, but not really like the sweet and sour I was expecting.
I did some changing up and ext batch, I only put in 1 tspn in. It was better that way. more authentic. Still, I could taste it and it didn’t add anything to the recipe.
Note: I made it again w/o the Ketchup and it was even better. I added more pineapple juice, a bit more rice vin. and the brn sug. I liked it that way much better.
Heather says
Perfect and super yummy! It went great with our egg rolls. This sauce was a big hit! I am going to freeze the leftovers.
Thank you!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks so much, Heather, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Ellie Smith says
Brilliant,easy and fast recipe, what’s not to like, just made another batch, so yummy x
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Ellie, thank you!
Cindy Miller says
Great! Used it as the sauce for sweet and sour chicken over rice!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Fantastic, Cindy, thank you!