Out of sweet chili sauce?

Sweet Chili Sauce substitutes

Sweet Chili Sauce is Sweet and spicy sauce made from chili peppers, sugar, and vinegar, used as a condiment and in cooking.

Use this

Sriracha + Sugar

Use the same amount as the sweet chili sauce you are replacing

Best for cooking

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.

At a glance

Every sweet chili sauce substitute on one screen. Tap a name for detail.

Sweet Chili Sauce substitutes compared
#	Substitute	Instead of sweet chili sauce, use
1	Sriracha + Sugar	Same amount
2	Hot Sauce + Honey	Same amount
3	Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce	Same amount
4	Chili Garlic Sauce + Sugar	Same amount
5	Barbecue Sauce	Same amount
6	Hoisin Sauce	Same amount

Every sweet chili sauce substitute

Ranked, with the exact amount and what changes

1. Sriracha + Sugar
Use the same amount
Hot sauce with added sweetness to mimic sweet chili sauce
What changes
Best for
cooking, marinades, dips, when you want similar heat level
Taste
Similar sweet and spicy flavor to sweet chili sauce
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
2. Hot Sauce + Honey
Use the same amount
Hot sauce with natural sweetness from honey
What changes
Best for
cooking, marinades, dips, when you want natural sweetness
Taste
Similar sweet and spicy flavor to sweet chili sauce
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
3. Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce
Use the same amount
Custom blend of chili peppers, sugar, and vinegar
What changes
Best for
all uses, when you want to customize flavor, fresh ingredients, controlling heat level
Taste
Same sweet and spicy flavor as sweet chili sauce
Texture
Same thick, syrupy consistency
Prep. Blend 1 cup red chili peppers with 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 1 tbsp cornstarch. Simmer until thickened.
Most authentic substitute, can customize heat and sweetness
4. Chili Garlic Sauce + Sugar
Use the same amount
Chili sauce with added sweetness and garlic flavor
What changes
Best for
cooking, marinades, dips, when you want garlic flavor
Taste
Similar sweet and spicy flavor with garlic notes
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
5. Barbecue Sauce
Use the same amount
Sweet and tangy sauce with different flavor profile
What changes
Best for
cooking, marinades, dips, when you want different flavor
Taste
Sweet and tangy with smoky notes, different from sweet chili sauce
Texture
Similar thick, syrupy consistency
Prep. Use directly in recipes. No preparation needed.
Different flavor profile, similar sweetness
6. Hoisin Sauce
Use the same amount
Sweet and savory sauce with similar consistency
What changes
Best for
cooking, marinades, dips, when you want Asian flavor
Taste
Sweet and savory with Asian flavors, different from sweet chili sauce
Texture
Similar thick, syrupy consistency
Prep. Use directly in recipes. No preparation needed.
Different flavor profile, similar sweetness and consistency

Tips for substituting sweet chili sauce

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

Questions about sweet chili sauce substitutes

Can 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.

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Browse all substitutes More sauces & condiments

At a glance

Every sweet chili sauce substitute

1. Sriracha + Sugar

2. Hot Sauce + Honey

3. Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce

4. Chili Garlic Sauce + Sugar

5. Barbecue Sauce

6. Hoisin Sauce