This easy homemade sweet and sour sauce is vegan, gluten-free, and can be whipped up in about 5 minutes.ย You'll never buy sweet and sour sauce again when you see how easy it is to make your own.
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There's no need to go to the grocery store when you can make this homemade sweet and sour sauce in minutes with a few simple ingredients. Plus it's vegan, gluten-free, and easily made refined sugar-free too!
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๐งพ Ingredients and substitutions
- Apple cider vinegar - for the sourness and acidity. You can also use rice vinegar or white vinegar if you choose.
- Brown Sugar - for the sweet. You can sub for any type of sugar that you would like. White sugar, coconut sugar, agave nectar, and maple syrup also work well.
- Ketchup - for flavor and that nice red color. (You can swap this out for tomato paste, but your sauce will not be as sweet.)
- Soy Sauce - for flavor (Use Bragg's Liquid Aminos or Tamari for gluten-free.) You can use low-sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce, I don't recommend dark soy sauce, since it has a stronger flavor.
- Water or Fresh Pineapple Juice - If you have pineapple juice on hand, it tastes great in this sauce, but if not, water works well too.
- Garlic - for flavor. You can use fresh or garlic powder. You can also use some chopped green onions at the end of cooking for more flavor.
- Fresh Ginger - (optional) for extra flavor.
- Corn Starch - to thicken the sauce. You can use potato starch or arrowroot instead of corn starch if you want.
Note - for an extra red sweet and sour sauce you can add a drop of vegan red food coloring, but I don't think that it's necessary.
๐ฅ How to make sweet and sour sauce
Step 1 - Add apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, pineapple juice (or cold water), garlic, and cornstarch to a small saucepan.
Step 2 - Give it all a good stir until the cornstarch dissolves. (This way you don't have to make a separate cornstarch slurry.)
Step 3 - Turn on the heat to medium and stir frequently until it starts to boil.ย (At this point the sauce will thicken and be shiny.)
๐ฅฃ How to thicken sweet and sour sauce
When made with 1 tbsp of cornstarch, this sauce will be thick enough to stick to your food, but not so thick that it's gloppy when cool.ย If you want a thick sauce use 2 tbsp of cornstarch.ย If you want a thinner sauce use 1/2 tbsp of cornstarch.
๐ฅก Storage
Since it doesn't have preservatives in it, you will need to store it in the fridge, where it will keep well for about a week. You can freeze it if you want in an air-tight storage container for up to 3 months.
๐ด Why is sweet and sour sauce red?
The sweet and sour sauce that you get at a restaurant usually has added red food coloring. If you don't mind yours not being as red, the ketchup in the sauce will color it nicely. If you want yours to look like store-bought sweet and sour sauce, then add a few drops of red food dye.
๐ฝ๏ธ Serving suggestions
You can use this sauce to make any of your favorite sweet and sour dishes like sweet and sour tofu or use it as a dipping sauce for vegan chicken nuggets, tofu spring rolls, fried cauliflower, fried tofu, or vegan meatballs. Drizzle this tasty sauce over a vegetable stir fry or vegan shrimp for a mock sweet and sour shrimp.
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๐ Sweet and sour sauce recipe
Sweet and Sour Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or Tamari
- 1/4 cup water or pineapple juice
- 1 clove garlic minced (or 1/4 tsp garlic powder)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon minced ginger (optional)
Instructions
- Add apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, cold water (or pineapple juice ), garlic, and cornstarch to a small saucepan.
- Give it all a good stir until the cornstarch dissolves.
- Turn on the heat to medium and stir frequently until it starts to boil. Allow it to boil for about 30 seconds.ย (At this point the sauce will thicken and be shiny.) Remove from heat and use as a sauce or dip.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
โญโญโญโญโญ Click the stars above or leave a comment! I'd love to hear from you!
Nikki says
What can you substitute vinegar for?
Monica says
vinegar is a key ingredient in making it taste authentic. You may be able to swap it out with lemon juice, but I have not tested it that way.
Patricia says
I have never tried to make a sweet and sour sauce, but this 1st attempt was a home run with my husband and my son they always prefer take out but this was perfect for sweet and sour chicken with streamed rice. Thanks .
Monica says
I'm so happy that you liked it! ๐
Alli says
Best sweet and sour recipe Iโve had to date!!! I keep returning to it and crave it when I want sweet and sour. Thank you for the share. My family and I just loooove it mmm ๐ mmm mmm.
Monica says
Thanks for leaving a comment! I'm so happy that you guys love this sauce as much as we do. ๐
Cheryl says
I made this today, I used keto brown sugar instead and after cooking down I strained out the ginger and garlic to make it smooth. It's delish!! My favorite.
I like it so much I think I'll add it to my pineapple chicken n rice!
Monica says
I'm so happy that you liked it, Cheryl!
Annette says
Very good sweet and sour sauce. Have never used apple cider vinegar in a S&S sauce before, it was very good. Will continue to use apple cider vinegar when making this sauce. Thanks for this recipe.
Monica says
You're welcome. I'm so happy that you liked the recipe! ๐
Kellie says
I made this on the fly one night and could not believe how good it was! I am making it again tonight and will never go back to the "Chinese" sweet and sour sauce! Amazing
Monica says
I'm so happy that you liked it, Kellie! ๐
Carol says
I would like to can this sauce. would it be safe if pressure canned at 10# for 15 minutes?
Monica says
I think that it would work, but I've never tested it and I'm not an expert in canning, so I can't give you advice on this.
Tracy says
Really tasty Sweet & sour sauce recipe. Itโs tastier than getting takeaway .Iโm a Chef & will b using this & many more of your scrumptious recipes..thanks so much xx
Monica says
Thanks Tracy, that's such a huge complement! ๐
Lindsay says
So yummy! Great over homemade chicken nuggets (used Monicaโs recipe for that, too) Also great over air fried chickpeas and rice. Super quick to make. My 7 year-old who doesnโt like most sauces gobbled this up!
Elaine says
First home made s&s sauce Iโve really like. In a huge hurry, i cooked my cubed chicken in the sauce along by with a little leftover cooked chicken. Turned out really well!
Monica says
Glad that you enjoyed the recipe!
Joy M says
Hi, can I keep this in the fridge and if so how long for please, thanks, I'm
Monica says
Yes, store it in the fridge it will keep well for at least 5 days.
Jamie says
There is a somewhat strong vinegar flavor, but that may be due to me not having pineapple juice. Overall, it is very good!
Chonny says
Do you think I could substitute maple syrup for brown sugar?
Monica says
Yes, definitely. Enjoy!
Catherine says
This is my go-to sweet and sour sauce. Delicious!
Monica says
I'm so happy that you like it! ๐
Cindy says
I really enjoyed this sauce. We made vegan chickpeas and the sauce which served over rice and a side of broccoli and peas absolutely loved it. I donโt agree it was too vinegar tasting as one comment placed. I felt it had perfect balance between sweet and sour and we didnโt have pineapple juice so even that sweet mellow flavor was not present and it was still fabulous! Thanks , always looking for good quick vegan dinners !
Monica says
I'm so happy that you liked the sauce, Cindy! ๐
Christian says
My wife is allergic to pineapple, so I'm always looking for new recipes without it. This was perfect for us and the kids!
Monica says
I'm so happy that the recipe worked well for you and your fammily! ๐
Vanda says
Made this, today. My husband doesnโt like anything to vinegary. I added more pineapple juice. It is an excellent sauce! Thank you!
Monica says
I'm so glad that the recipe worked well for you, Vanda.
Annette says
My sauce turned out very sharp with vinegar taste. I went through the recipe over and over to make sure ingredients were right! Is there a way to balance it out with other ingredients! I like it other than vinegar too strong!
Monica says
I'm not sure, I've never had anyone say that the vinegar flavor was too strong. It usually mellows out a lot as it cooks and the sweetness counteracts it as well. Maybe be sure that it comes to a slow boil.
Tracy says
Best sweet & sour sauce!! I added some Everything Bagel seasoning to it for the sesame seed flavor. Turned out great!
Monica says
I'm so happy that you liked the recipe, Tracy! ๐
Luda says
Will i be able to use it for pulled pork in the crock pot
Monica says
If that's what you want to do with it. It will work like any other sweet and sour sauce.
Cindy Smith says
Perfect!
Monica says
I'm so happy that you liked it! ๐
Tracey Cornell says
Made this tonight and it was a hit! So good.
Monica says
I'm so happy that you liked it, Tracy!
Judie says
This sweet & sour sauce is top notch. I will be continuing to use this recipe. Thank you๐
Monica says
I'm so happy that you like the recipe, Judie! ๐
Kimberly Wallace says
I seriously just made this and "WOWEE" that's good.
Monica says
I'm so happy that you like it!
Nita says
Made the sauce today, and it started off very tart. Only pineapple I had was crushed, and tossed in 3 very heaping soup spoons of the crushed pineapple. Itโs hands down the best sweet and sour I have not only made, but eaten ๐! Hubby said itโs a good thing you made a lot or I would be licking the plates๐
Monica says
I'm happy that you and your husband enjoyed the recipe! ๐
Cheryl says
I've tried this one and really enjoy it. It's proven to be very versatile
Monica says
I'm happy that you like it, Cheryl! ๐
Jan Bowersox says
Made this as a sauce for roasted cauliflower and carrots and it is delicious!!
Monica says
I'm so happy that you like it, Jan! ๐
Erin says
Is there any other vinegar besides Apple Cider that will work?
Monica says
Hi Erin, you can use just regular white vinegar too. Enjoy! ๐
Katie says
Just delicious. Easy to make and soooo good!
Monica says
I'm so happy that you liked it! ๐
Lynn says
I put this sauce over your fried cauliflower to make sweet and sour cauliflower and it was delicious! Some sweet and sour recipes that I've tried in the past have been too sweet, but this was perfect!
Monica says
I'm so happy that you liked it, Lynn. I don't like it overly sweet either! ๐