This easy Sweet and Sour Sauce recipe is the taste bud pleasing, flavor rollercoaster you’ve been waiting for! So skip the takeout, and make this bold and zesty sauce instead! Just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes, and you’re done!
Sweet and Sour Sauce
Believe me, you WANT to get lost in this sauce.
The sauce is just dripping with sweet, tempting flavor, and just the perfect touch of tart and tangy yum!
Here’s the best part… because you’ll be making your own homemade sweet and sour, you’ll be using just simple, basic ingredients you can actually pronounce.
Ingredients like apple cider vinegar and real pineapple juice.
That’s right… no weird ingredients here! Yep, I’m looking at you, red food coloring and MSG!
Now this bold and punchy sauce was passed down to me by my sweet grandma.
Gertrude was her name.
My adventurous Grandma Trudy was full of wanderlust, and honestly a bit of a globe trotter. And with those wild adventures came her love of vibrant international flavors. That’s where this captivating sauce comes in!
It’s outrageous enough to remind you of your last trip to Asia, but easy enough to whisk up in the kitchen while you’re planning your next trip!
Just how easy is it to make?
With five quick minutes in your saucepan, your sauce will be hot and ready.
Talk about ridiculously fast and easy!
And if you’re lucky like I was, the Swedish Chef might even stop by to help you whisk it up!
I mean, who can resist a little help… from a little chef… with a little whisk… speaking literal gibberish? I sure can’t!
Not only is this tangy sauce quick and easy, but it also adds the loveliest touch of sweet and sour flavor to your chicken, pork and sticky white rice!
And if you want to add even more quick and easy homemade sauces to your repertoire, you’ll also love this sensational Egg Roll Dipping Sauce, this Horseradish Cream Sauce, and this dreamy Chicken Gravy Recipe, too!
Here’s what you’ll need to get cooking in the kitchen…
Ingredients
You’ll just need the following simple ingredients to make the BEST sweet and sour sauce recipe!
If these items are not already in your kitchen, be sure to pick them up on your next Walmart grocery run…
- Apple Cider Vinegar – This will add the sour.
- Sugar – This will add the sweet.
- Pineapple Juice – This will add outrageous flavor… and is the perfect blend of both sweet and sour!
- Corn Starch – To thicken up the sauce.
- Paprika – To add a little flavor and a lot of pretty color. No weird food coloring needed here!
That’s it. You’ll just need 5 ingredients to create one of the tastiest dip sauce recipes ever!
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Pin ItHow to Make Sweet and Sour Sauce
So are you wondering… how do you make sweet and sour?
The answer: with as little effort as possible! Trust me, preparing sweet and sour sauces without ketchup has never been so EASY!
Here’s what you’ll do…
1. Combine the Corn Starch and Pineapple Juice, and stir into a white paste.
2. In a saucepan, heat the rest of your ingredients, then stir in the white Corn Starch/Pineapple Juice paste.
3. Continue cooking as directed until done… and ENJOY!
4. This recipe will yield about 1 1/4 cups, or if you’re making sweet and sour chicken… enough for about 4 large chicken breast.
That’s it. Just a few simple steps and you’re done!
Scroll down for the printable recipe card with detailed, step-by-step instructions.
Variations
Want to change things up? Go for it!
To make your sweet and sour asian sauce thicker, simply use more corn starch. To make it thinner, use less corn starch.
If you want to make the color more red, simply stir in small amounts of paprika until you achieve the desired color you want.
Storage Tips
Want to prep ahead? Or do you have leftovers?
This sauce stores best in an airtight container, like a mason jar with lid.
Refrigerator Storage: Store for up to 1 week.
Freezer Storage: Cool sauce completely, leave a little headspace for expansion, and store up to 2 months.
How to Use
There are so many delicious ways to put this sassy sauce to use!
Here are just a few of my favorites…
Chicken – To prepare Chinese sweet and sour sauce chicken, cook 3 lbs. of boneless skinless chicken breasts in crockpot on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours. Drain juices from crockpot, then top with your sauce, and cook on HIGH for 30 more minutes. Serve topped with optional pineapple tidbits.
Pork – To prepare pork chops with this sauce, simply smother your cooked pork chops with this pork sweet and sour sauce for a delicious dinner, then serve topped with optional pineapple tidbits.
Meatballs – Pour over cooked meatballs and serve as a delicious appetizer or easy dinner!
Sweet and Sour Rice – Drizzle over sticky rice or jasmine rice for a sweet treat, or as a delicious asian side dish.
Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce – Use as a delicious dip for Egg Rolls, Pot Stickers, Spring Rolls, or Wontons.
Homemade chicken sauces like this sauce are the perfect way to upgrade dinners. So if you love this tasty sauce, be sure to also try this greek tzatziki sauce recipe and this fresh basil pesto recipe. They’re both a lovely way to upgrade your easy family chicken dinner recipes!
You also loving topping your grilled chicken and burgers with this homemade bbq chicken sauce made right on your stove top.
More Simple Sauces Recipes
Italian
Alfredo Sauce Recipe
Crockpot
Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
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Ranch Dressing Mix
Thanksgiving Sides
Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Sauces
Peanut Butter Recipe
Did You Enjoy This Recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leave a comment & review below!
Sweet and Sour Sauce
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar, (white sugar)
- 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 tbsp Corn Starch
- 1/4 cup Pineapple Juice
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
- 3/4 cup Hot Water
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the Pineapple Juice and Corn Starch, and whisk into a creamy white paste. Then set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, bring the Water, Vinegar, and Sugar to a boil over medium-high heat, then whisk until the sugar dissolves.
- Reduce heat to low, then gradually whisk in the Pineapple Juice/Cornstarch mixture.
- Raise heat to medium, while continuing to whisk, and let the sauce thicken.
- Sprinkle sauce with 1/2 tsp. Paprika, and whisk until well combined.
- Transfer to a dish and ENJOY!
Notes
- Chicken – cook 3 lbs. of boneless skinless chicken breasts in crockpot on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours. Drain juices from crockpot, then top with your sauce, and cook on HIGH for 30 more minutes.
- Pork – smother cooked pork chops with this sauce for a delicious dinner.
- Meatballs – pour over cooked meatballs and serve as a delicious appetizer or easy dinner!
- Sweet and Sour Rice – drizzle over sticky rice for a sweet treat or delicious side to your Asian dinner.
- Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce – use as a delicious dip for Egg Rolls, Pot Stickers, Spring Rolls, or Wontons.
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