Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce

This homemade sweet and sour sauce is a classic takeout-style sauce made on the stovetop using simple pantry staples you likely already have. It cooks in just a few minutes, thickening smoothly with no guesswork and delivering that glossy, balanced flavor you expect from your favorite Chinese restaurant. It’s naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, making it easy to fit into a variety of diets.

Prep Time2

Cook Time5

Total Time7

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: homemade sweet and sour sauce

Servings: servings - about 2 tbsp per serving

Author: Jean Choi

Ingredients

2/3 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
2 tbsp ketchup
2 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water

Instructions

Add water, sugar, vinegar, and ketchup in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat. Whisk until the sugar is melted.
2/3 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup vinegar, 2 tbsp ketchup
In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 2 tbsp water.
2 tbsp cornstarch
Once the mixture in the pot starts to boil, slowly add the cornstarch slurry while whisking continuously. Whisk until the sauce is thickened to your liking.
Remove from heat and serve.

Notes

This sweet and sour sauce is incredibly versatile and works well beyond just one dish. Use it as a dipping sauce for appetizers, brush it over proteins like chicken or pork as a glaze, toss it into a quick stir fry, or use it as a simple marinade. It also pairs beautifully with savory dishes like kimchi pancakes, adding a touch of sweetness to balance the heat and umami.
For easy customization, you can adjust the flavor to suit your meal. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or chili garlic sauce for heat, swap white vinegar for rice vinegar for a milder tang, or stir in a splash of pineapple juice if you prefer a slightly fruitier, more classic takeout-style sauce.

For thickness control, keep in mind that the sauce continues to thicken as it cools. For a pourable sauce, remove it from the heat just before it reaches your ideal consistency. The finished sauce should be glossy and coat the back of a spoon without feeling gelatinous.

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. The sauce will thicken as it chills, which is completely normal.
To reheat, warm it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave and add a small splash of water to thin it back out. Stir or whisk well before serving.

Nutrition