Sweet chili sauce substitutes
Sweet chili sauce substitutes — 6 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Sriracha + sugar
Same amount as the sweet chili sauce
Hot sauce with added sweetness to mimic sweet chili sauce.
The best substitutes for sweet chili sauce are sriracha with sugar, hot sauce with honey, or a homemade blend of chili peppers, sugar, and vinegar, depending on the use.
- The tweak —
- Mix sriracha with sugar to taste. Start with 1:1 ratio and adjust sweetness.
- Best for —
- cooking
Updated 26 Jul 2026 · no sponsored swaps
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of sweet chili sauce |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sriracha + sugarcooking | Same amount |
| 2 | Hot sauce + honeycooking | Same amount |
| 3 | Homemade sweet chili sauceall uses | Same amount |
| 4 | Chili garlic sauce + sugarcooking | Same amount |
| 5 | Barbecue saucecooking | Same amount |
| 6 | Hoisin saucecooking | Same amount |
Sriracha + sugar
Similar sweet and spicy flavor to sweet chili sauce
Hot sauce with added sweetness to mimic sweet chili sauce.
- Best for
- cooking, marinades, dips, when you want similar heat level
- Texture
- Similar thick, syrupy consistency
- Prep
- Mix sriracha with sugar to taste. Start with 1:1 ratio and adjust sweetness.
Most similar substitute, adjust sugar to taste.
Hot sauce + honey
Similar sweet and spicy flavor to sweet chili sauce
Hot sauce with natural sweetness from honey.
- Best for
- cooking, marinades, dips, when you want natural sweetness
- Texture
- Similar thick, syrupy consistency
- Prep
- Mix hot sauce with honey to taste. Start with 1:1 ratio and adjust sweetness.
Natural sweetness from honey, adjust ratio to taste.
Homemade sweet chili sauce
Same sweet and spicy flavor as sweet chili sauce
Custom blend of chili peppers, sugar, and vinegar.
- Best for
- all uses, when you want to customize flavor, fresh ingredients, controlling heat level
- Texture
- Same thick, syrupy consistency
- Prep
- Blend 1 cup red chili peppers with ½ cup sugar, ¼ cup vinegar, and 1 tbsp cornstarch. Simmer until thickened.
Most authentic substitute, can customize heat and sweetness.
Chili garlic sauce + sugar
Similar sweet and spicy flavor with garlic notes
Chili sauce with added sweetness and garlic flavor.
- Best for
- cooking, marinades, dips, when you want garlic flavor
- Texture
- Similar thick, syrupy consistency
- Prep
- Mix chili garlic sauce with sugar to taste. Start with 1:1 ratio and adjust sweetness.
Adds garlic flavor, adjust sugar to taste.
Barbecue sauce
Sweet and tangy with smoky notes, different from sweet chili sauce
Sweet and tangy sauce with different flavor profile.
- Best for
- cooking, marinades, dips, when you want different flavor
- Texture
- Similar thick, syrupy consistency
Different flavor profile, similar sweetness.
Hoisin sauce
Sweet and savory with Asian flavors, different from sweet chili sauce
Sweet and savory sauce with similar consistency.
- Best for
- cooking, marinades, dips, when you want Asian flavor
- Texture
- Similar thick, syrupy consistency
Different flavor profile, similar sweetness and consistency.
Questions
4 questionsCan I use sriracha with sugar instead of sweet chili sauce?
Yes, sriracha with sugar is a good substitute for sweet chili sauce. Mix sriracha with sugar to taste for a similar sweet and spicy flavor.
What's the difference between sweet chili sauce and sriracha?
Sweet chili sauce is sweet and spicy with a syrupy consistency, while sriracha is primarily spicy with a thinner consistency. Sweet chili sauce has more sweetness and less heat.
Can I use hot sauce with honey instead of sweet chili sauce?
Yes, hot sauce with honey can work as a substitute, though it may have a different flavor profile. Mix hot sauce with honey to taste for a similar sweet and spicy flavor.
Why is sweet chili sauce so popular in Asian cooking?
Sweet chili sauce is popular in Asian cooking because it adds sweet and spicy flavor that complements the ingredients and cooking styles of Asian cuisine.
Tips for substituting sweet chili sauce
6 tips- Sweet chili sauce adds sweet and spicy flavor to dishes
- Sweet chili sauce can be used in both sweet and savory dishes
- Sweet chili sauce pairs well with Asian and fusion dishes
- Sweet chili sauce works well in marinades and glazes
- Sweet chili sauce can be used to make dipping sauces
- Store sweet chili sauce in the refrigerator