10 Best Sweet Chili Sauce Substitutes

Do you find yourself in a culinary bind, staring at an empty bottle of sweet chili sauce just as you’re about to finish a recipe? Fear not! I’ve curated a list of the best sweet chili sauce substitutes to get you out of this predicament.

Sweet chili sauce is a staple in my kitchen. The versatile condiment adds that sweet and spicy kick to dips and stir-fries. But sometimes, life throws a curveball and we need to get creative with what we have. Lucky for you, I love finding creative flavor solutions to your culinary dilemmas.

Join me as I explore the best alternatives to replace sweet chili sauce in various dishes. These substitutes range from common pantry ingredients like sriracha sauce to simple mixtures that replicate the sauce’s flavor profile. My favorite is a mix of chili garlic sauce and honey.

Three bottles of Thai sweet chili sauce on a white surface.

What is sweet chili sauce?

Sweet chili sauce is a versatile and popular Thai condiment. But it quickly gained global popularity thanks to its unique blend of sweet and spicy flavors.

Thai chili sauce’s appeal lies in its ability to add a quick and easy flavor boost to a wide range of dishes.

It’s a popular dipping sauce for spring rolls, chicken, and other appetizers. Additionally, sweet Thai chili sauce is a popular glaze for grilled meats and seafood. And it adds a zesty kick to stir-fries, marinades, and dressings.

Thai sweet chili sauce ingredients

The texture and flavor of store-bought sweet chili sauce varies depending on the brand, ranging from a smooth, jelly-like consistency to a more textured sauce with visible chili flakes.

Some versions lean towards a garlicky or vinegary profile, while others might be sweeter or spicier.

Sweet chili sauce ingredients typically include:

  • red chili peppers,
  • sugar,
  • garlic,
  • vinegar,
  • sometimes fish sauce
  • and salt.

The best substitutes for sweet chili sauce

The key to finding the best substitutes for sweet chili sauce is understanding the basic composition and flavor profile. We want a sweet and sticky, spicy sauce that is slightly tangy with an optional funky umami twist.

With a few minor alterations, many different chili sauces will fit the description.

So, now that we know what to look for, let’s explore the best sweet chili sauce alternatives.

1. Sriracha sauce

Sriracha, the popular hot sauce originally from Thailand, is a blend of red chiles, distilled white vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt. It has a smooth, ketchup-like consistency. And the unique flavor we all love is a balanced mix of savory, sweet, and spicy flavors.

Compared to Thai sweet chili sauce, sriracha has a more pronounced heat and less sweetness, but it still adds a spicy kick of Thai flavor to your favorite dishes.

In our kitchen, we often turn to sriracha as a readily available substitute for Thai sweet chili sauce. It’s especially suitable in recipes where the sweet chili sauce’s role is to add a spicy edge rather than a dominant sweet flavor.

When you use sriracha as a substitute, consider the difference in sweetness and how this will affect your recipe. For a closer match, add a teaspoon of sugar or honey for every tablespoon of sriracha.

This minor adjustment allows sriracha to seamlessly fit into recipes that call for sweet chili sauce, from glazes for grilled meats to dipping sauces for appetizers. Use as a 1:1 substitute.

2. Sambal oelek + maple syrup

Sambal oelek, a staple in Indonesian cuisine, is a fiery chili paste made from crushed red chilies, vinegar, and salt. Its texture is notably chunkier than sweet chili sauce, offering a raw, earthy heat.

Adding maple syrup to sambal oelek creates a harmonious balance of fiery heat and natural sweetness, akin to the profile of Thai sweet chili sauce.

To use sambal oelek as a substitute for sweet chili sauce, mix one part maple syrup with two parts sambal oelek to achieve a similar flavor as sweet chili sauce. Though not essential, you can also add some minced garlic cloves or a pinch of garlic paste for a savory flavor boost.

This substitute is a 1:1 swap for sweet chili sauce in most recipes, offering a fresh twist with traditional flavors.

3. Chili garlic sauce + honey

A single bottle of Lee Kum Kee chili garlic sauce.

Chili garlic sauce, a fiery blend of chilies, garlic, vinegar, and salt, offers a robust flavor profile with a dominant spicy and garlicky punch. Unlike sweet chili sauce, it lacks inherent sweetness but compensates with intense heat.

But, a drizzle of honey makes up for the lack of sweetness, creating a substitute that closely resembles the spicy-sweet balance of Thai sweet chili sauce.

Mix one part of honey with two parts of chili garlic sauce and use this substitute in the same quantity as sweet chili sauce. It’s perfect as a stir-fry sauce, dipping sauce, or relish for sandwiches or burgers.

4. Hoisin sauce, red pepper flakes, vinegar & sweetener

A squeeze bottle of store-bought dark brown hoisin sauce.

Hoisin sauce is a thick, fragrant sauce popular in Chinese cuisine. It combines sweet and savory elements, making it a great base for a sweet chili sauce substitute. To mimic the heat and tang of sweet chili sauce, we add red pepper flakes for spice and rice wine vinegar for acidity.

Mix one tablespoon of hoisin sauce with half a teaspoon of rice vinegar. Then, add crushed red pepper flakes (or chili powder) to taste—adding one pinch of chili at a time.

I like this mix as a not-so-sweet yet fragrant substitute for sweet chili sauce in marinades, dips, and glazes. But it’s not quite as sweet as the Thai sweet chili sauce. So, you can always add a drizzle of sweetener—sugar, honey, or agave syrup—if you want to match the sweetness.

Use this spicy sauce instead of sweet chili sauce as a direct replacement.

5. Hot sauce + honey

A glass bottle with Cholula hot sauce.

Hot sauce is a very accessible alternative to sweet chili sauce. Its straightforward spicy kick forms an excellent base for a simple yet effective substitute for sweet chili sauce.

I like to use Mexican hot sauces, like Cholula hot sauce, as my base. But Louisiana hot sauce and Tabasco sauce both work well.

Add one teaspoon of honey (or vegan honey) for every tablespoon of hot sauce. Mix it well to combine.

This hot sauce and honey mixture is a great substitute for quick marinades and dipping sauces. Use it as a 1:1 replacement for sweet chili sauce.

6. Plum sauce + hot sauce (or red pepper flakes)

Sweet and tangy plum sauce provides a fruity sweetness that forms an excellent base for a sweet chili sauce substitute. By adding hot sauce or red pepper flakes, we can introduce the necessary heat to replicate the spicy aspect of sweet chili sauce.

For every tablespoon of plum sauce, start with a few drops of hot sauce or a pinch of red pepper flakes. Taste, then adjust according to your heat preference.

This plum sauce blend is particularly effective in dishes where a fruity undertone can enhance the overall flavor—like glazes for poultry or pork—or as a dipping sauce for egg rolls and spring rolls.

Use this versatile substitute as a direct replacement for sweet chili sauce.

7. Spicy ketchup

A squeeze bottle of Heinz tomato ketchup.

Spicy ketchup is an effortless and accessible substitute for sweet chili sauce, especially in a pinch. It combines the familiar tangy sweetness of tomato sauce with added spices and heat, creating a flavor profile that can mimic sweet chili sauce in many dishes, though it’s much less sweet.

If you have regular ketchup, add a splash of hot sauce or ground cayenne pepper—one pinch at a time. You can also add sugar to better match the sweetness of the Thai chili sauce.

Use your spicy ketchup as a 1:1 substitute for sweet chili sauce. It’s perfect for quick sauces, marinades, or as a condiment for burgers and fries.

8. Thai chili paste, vinegar & honey

Thai chili paste contains several ingredients, such as dried chilies, garlic, shallots, shrimp paste, and fish sauce, pounded into a paste with a mortar and pestle. It is complex, savory, spicy, and packed with distinctive Thai flavors.

By combining Thai chili paste with vinegar and honey, we create a substitute that captures the essence of sweet chili sauce’s spicy-sweet balance. You can use rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or even a squeeze of lime juice to hit those acidic notes.

To replicate the sweet chili sauce’s profile, mix one tablespoon of Thai chili paste with half a teaspoon of vinegar for tanginess and a teaspoon of honey for sweetness.

This blended substitute is delicious. But it is a touch more fishy than even the fishiest sweet chili sauce. So, if you’re not a fan of the fish sauce funk, you’re better off picking another substitute from the list.

Adjust the ratio of ingredients in this mix to suit your taste, and add a splash of water if you need a runnier consistency.

Use it to substitute sweet chili sauce with a 1:1 ratio in dressings, dips, and glazes where you want a spicy kick with an authentic Thai flavor.

9. Tomato chili sauce + sweetener

Tomato chili sauce is a solid foundation for a sweet chili sauce substitute—akin to spicy tomato ketchup. Combined with a sweetener, it makes a decent substitute for sweet chili sauce.

This combination is especially useful in sauces that can accommodate the tomato-based flavor, such as barbecue sauce, meat glaze, and dips. Start with half a teaspoon of sweetener for every tablespoon of tomato chili sauce. Then, adjust the sweetness to taste.

Use it in equal parts as a substitute for sweet chili sauce.

10. Homemade sweet chili sauce

If you have the time, a homemade sweet chili sauce is certainly the best substitute for store-bought sweet chili sauce.

Creating homemade sweet chili sauce is not only rewarding but also allows you to tailor the flavors to your exact preference.

And making homemade sweet chili sauce is easier than you think. Simply blend red chili peppers and garlic to create a paste, cook it with sugar, vinegar, and water until thickened, and strain for smoothness or leave it chunky.

We love this homemade Thai sweet chili sauce recipe by Pailin from Hot Thai Kitchen. She is an authority on all things Thai cuisine and definitely worth a follow if you love Thai food as much as I do!

The worst substitutes for sweet chili sauce

While exploring alternatives for sweet chili sauce, I came across a few commonly suggested substitutes that simply don’t work. Worcestershire sauce, BBQ sauce, harissa sauce, and spicy soy sauce all have distinct umami-rich flavor profiles that diverge significantly from the flavors in sweet chili sauce.

While these sauces are undoubtedly delicious, you are better off simply substituting sweet chili sauce with freshly diced chilies and a pinch of sugar.

Frequently asked questions

What is sweet chili sauce made of?

Sweet chili sauce consists of a blend of red chili peppers, sugar, garlic, vinegar, salt, and water. Thai sweet chili sauce may also include fish sauce. It’s known for its sweet and subtly spicy flavor profile.

Can I use sriracha instead of sweet chili sauce?

Yes, you can use sriracha as a substitute for sweet chili sauce. But the flavor of sriracha is hotter and less sweet. For a closer flavor match, add a teaspoon of sugar for every tablespoon of sriracha.

What is the difference between chili sauce and sweet chili sauce?

Chili sauce typically refers to a spicier, savory condiment, while sweet chili sauce refers to Thai sweet chili sauce. It is milder and has a distinct sweetness.

Can you substitute Gochujang for sweet chili sauce?

Don’t use gochujang as a direct substitute for sweet chili sauce. It has a different flavor, being more fermented and less sweet. Instead, mix a tablespoon of gochujang with a teaspoon of white vinegar, a teaspoon of honey (or sugar), and a small (optional) splash of fish sauce.

Bottles of sweet chili sauce with a text overlay for pinterest.

I hope you found your favorite sweet Thai chili sauce substitute to get you out of this predicament. Let me know in the comments below which substitute you chose and how you used it!

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