Homemade sweet and sour sauce adds a tangy touch to chicken, pork, eggrolls, and seafood and takes nothing more than a quick whisk in a saucepan to make.

Spoonful of Sweet and Sour Sauce held over a bowl of Sweet and Sour Sauce

Why this recipe works

Sweet and sour sauce is so versatile. Dip, dunk, and drizzle it on all your favorite foods from sweet and sour shrimp to chicken wings, rice, or even french fries. This sauce knows no bounds.

A simple combination of honey, soy sauce, tomato paste, pineapple juice, and rice vinegar creates this sweet and savory sauce that pairs well with just about anything it touches – vegetables included!

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

VINEGAR – We use rice vinegar in our sweet and sour sauce, but you can also use red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

TOMATO PASTE – I would suggest sticking to tomato paste as it isn’t as sweet, however, you can use ketchup in your sauce if you prefer.

PINEAPPLE JUICE – The pineapple juice lends both tartness and sweetness to the sauce, preferably use the kind that comes in the can. If you need to substitute you can try using lime juice, but you may want to add a little extra honey or granulated sugar to offset the acidity.

How to Make Sweet and Sour Sauce

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

Combine all ingredients except the cornstarch and water in a saucepan. Whisk together and bring to a boil.
Make a slurry from the cornstarch and water. Add slurry to the mixture in the saucepan and simmer over medium heat until thickened, about 2-4 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

How do you store homemade sweet and sour sauce?

Store the sauce in an air-tight container, like a mason jar, kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

Why is sweet and sour sauce red?

Depending on the recipe, sweet and sour sauce gets its red color from the addition of either tomato paste, ketchup, or in some cases, red food coloring. Today we’re using tomato paste which lends a subtle red hue, and in our opinion, the best flavor.

How do you thicken sweet and sour sauce?

Sweet and sour sauce is typically thickened using a cornstarch slurry which is a mixture of water and cornstarch. Do note that the sauce will thicken more as it cools off. If the sauce still isn’t as your desired consistency after adding the slurry, you can try adding another slurry, this time with a mixture of 1/2 Tablespoon of cornstarch and 2 Tablespoons of water.

Sweet and Sour Sauce being drizzled off a spoon into a jar

Serving Suggestions

Pour sweet and sour sauce over cooked chicken, pork, meatballs, shrimp, or vegetables in a skillet and toss to combine.

It can also be used as a delicious dipping sauce for crab rangoon, egg rolls or spring rolls, drizzled over white rice, used as a salad dressing, or as a dunker for things like french fries, chicken strips, or chicken nuggets.

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