Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe for Dipping & Glazing

This easy sweet chili sauce is one I always keep on hand. It’s versatile, tastes fresher than store-bought versions, contains no unnecessary additives, and quickly becomes a staple in any kitchen.

For perfect pairings, try it with Crab Rangoon, Pork Lumpia Shanghai, or Chicken and Shrimp Lumpia.

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Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe

This homemade sweet chili sauce is a household favorite. I usually keep a 20-ounce jar in the fridge for drizzling, dipping, and quick flavor boosts.

Growing up, Mae Ploy sweet chili sauce was always in our pantry, but once I started making my own version I stopped buying bottled sauce. The homemade version is cleaner, fresher, and easy to adjust to your taste.

Why This Chili Sauce Recipe Works

• Quick and simple. Ready in about 20 minutes.
• Few ingredients. Only eight items, many likely already in your pantry.
• No additives. Unlike many bottled sauces, this recipe uses straightforward, recognizable ingredients.
• Stores well. Keeps in the refrigerator for up to one month.

What is Sweet Chili Sauce?

Also called Thai sweet chili sauce or nam chim kai, this condiment combines chili pepper, garlic, rice vinegar, and sugar for a sweet, tangy, and mildly spicy finish.

How to Use Sweet Chili Sauce

This sweet and slightly spicy sauce works as a dip or a finishing drizzle. It adds sweet, tangy, and umami notes to many dishes.

Use it with vegetables, salmon, tofu, chicken, shrimp, stir-fries, roasted meats, or appetizers. It’s especially good served alongside Lemongrass Roasted Chicken and Pork Lumpia Shanghai.

Is Sweet Chili Sauce Spicy?

Most commercial versions are only mildly spicy. With this homemade recipe you control the heat—add more cayenne if you want a stronger kick.

Ingredients You Will Need

Eight simple ingredients make this sauce flavorful and balanced:

• Red bell pepper – A mild substitute for red chilies that provides color and sweetness; finely chopped.
• Cayenne pepper – Adds subtle heat; increase to taste for more spice.
• Garlic – Use about eight cloves, minced for a pronounced garlic flavor.
• Sugar – Cane sugar provides the sauce’s signature sweetness.
• Rice vinegar – Balances sweetness with a mild tang.
• Tapioca starch – Mixed with hot water to create a slurry for thickening (cornstarch can be used instead).
• Kosher salt – Adjust to taste.
• Water – Helps achieve the right consistency.

How to Make Sweet Chili Sauce

This recipe is straightforward and quick. Follow these steps:

1. Add the finely chopped red bell pepper, minced garlic, cayenne pepper, sugar, rice vinegar, water, and salt to a small saucepan and bring the mixture to a simmer.
2. Maintain the simmer and cook for about 4 minutes to soften the pepper and meld flavors.
3. In a small bowl, whisk the tapioca starch into the hot water to form a smooth slurry, then slowly add it to the saucepan while stirring.
4. Bring the sauce to a quick boil to activate the starch, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1 minute until slightly thickened.
5. Remove from heat, taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then allow to cool.
6. Once cooled, transfer the sauce to a clean, airtight container and refrigerate.

How to Store Sweet Chili Sauce

When the sauce is at room temperature, pour it into a sterile, airtight container and refrigerate. Stored properly, it will keep for up to four weeks.

Tips and Tricks

• Chop finely. Mince the red bell pepper and garlic well so you don’t end up with large chunks. A food processor can speed this up—pulse until finely minced.
• Avoid overcooking. After adding the starch slurry, bring the sauce to a boil, then lower to a simmer for only one minute. Overcooking can thin the sauce or change its texture.

Watch How to Make This Recipe

Looking For More Good Eats?

Here are some beloved Filipino favorites to try next:

• Chicken Adobo
• Taho – Filipino silken tofu with sago pearls
• Sinangag – Filipino garlic rice

This Recipe Is a Household Favorite!

If you try this Thai sweet chili sauce, leave a comment and share your photos on Instagram and Pinterest. It’s always a joy to see how you use this sauce in your kitchen—happy cooking!