If you love restaurant-style flavors but want to save money and eat better at home, these easy homemade sauce recipes are exactly what you need. From sweet chili sauce and teriyaki sauce to Thai peanut sauce and yum yum sauce, this guide includes eight versatile sauces that will instantly upgrade your meals.

These sauces are perfect for dipping, glazing, marinating, or drizzling over chicken, seafood, rice, noodles, and vegetables. The best part? Every recipe uses simple pantry ingredients and takes just minutes to prepare.

Let’s dive into these must-have homemade sauces.

---

1. Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe

Sweet chili sauce is the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and mildly spicy. It pairs beautifully with spring rolls, chicken wings, shrimp, and grilled meats.

Ingredients

• ½ cup red chilies, finely chopped
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 tsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp vinegar
• 2 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

1. In a saucepan, combine water, sugar, vinegar, fish sauce, and salt.
2. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
3. Add chopped chilies and minced garlic.
4. Mix cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water and stir into the sauce.
5. Simmer until thickened (about 3–5 minutes).
6. Cool completely before storing in a jar.

Storage: Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

---

2. Chili Garlic Oil

Chili garlic oil is bold, aromatic, and perfect for noodles, dumplings, eggs, pizza, and stir-fries.

Ingredients

• 1 cup neutral oil
• ¼ cup dried chili flakes
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small shallot, chopped
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• ½ tsp five spice
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Heat oil until hot but not smoking.
2. In a heatproof bowl, combine chili flakes, garlic, shallot, sesame seeds, and five spice.
3. Carefully pour hot oil over the mixture.
4. Stir in soy sauce.
5. Let cool before storing.

Pro Tip: Use avocado oil or vegetable oil for best flavor.

---

3. Sweet & Sour Sauce

This classic sauce is perfect for chicken, pork, shrimp, and stir-fry dishes.

Ingredients

• ⅔ cup pineapple juice
• ¾ cup rice vinegar
• ¾ cup ketchup
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp water

Instructions

1. Combine pineapple juice, vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, and soy sauce in a saucepan.
2. Heat over medium until simmering.
3. Mix cornstarch with water and stir in.
4. Cook until thick and glossy.
5. Cool before serving.

---

4. Sweet & Spicy Orange Sauce

This homemade orange sauce is perfect for orange chicken or glazed shrimp.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp orange zest
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• ¾ cup honey or sugar
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tsp chili flakes
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp water

Instructions

1. Combine soy sauce, honey, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and chili flakes in a saucepan.
2. Bring to a simmer.
3. Add orange zest.
4. Mix cornstarch with water and stir in.
5. Cook until thickened.

---

5. Honey Garlic Sauce

Sweet, sticky, and savory — perfect for chicken wings, salmon, or stir-fry.

Ingredients

• ½ cup honey
• ¾ cup soy sauce
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 tsp grated ginger

Instructions

1. Combine honey, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, and ginger.
2. Simmer for 3–4 minutes.
3. Add cornstarch slurry.
4. Cook until thick and glossy.

---

6. Teriyaki Sauce

This authentic homemade teriyaki sauce is better than store-bought.

Ingredients

• ½ cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp fresh ginger
• 1 tbsp garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 3 tbsp mirin
• ¼ cup water mixed with 3 tsp cornstarch

Instructions

1. Combine soy sauce, sugar, honey, mirin, garlic, and ginger.
2. Simmer gently.
3. Add cornstarch mixture.
4. Cook until thickened.
5. Stir in sesame oil last.

---

7. Yum Yum Sauce

A Japanese steakhouse favorite, creamy and slightly sweet.

Ingredients

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tbsp melted butter
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp rice vinegar
• ½ tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• Water (to thin)

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Add water gradually to reach desired consistency.
3. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

---

8. Thai Peanut Sauce

Creamy, nutty, and slightly spicy — perfect for noodles and spring rolls.

Ingredients

• ½ cup peanut butter
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1–2 tbsp lime juice
• 1–2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1–2 tsp chili garlic sauce
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ¼–½ cup warm water or coconut milk

Instructions

1. Whisk peanut butter and soy sauce together.
2. Add vinegar, lime juice, honey, sesame oil, and garlic.
3. Slowly add warm water or coconut milk until smooth.
4. Adjust spice level as desired.

---

How to Store Homemade Sauces

• Store in airtight glass jars.
• Refrigerate most sauces for 1–2 weeks.
• Oil-based sauces may last longer.
• Always use clean spoons to prevent contamination.

---

Tips for Perfect Homemade Sauces

✔ Always dissolve cornstarch in water before adding.
✔ Simmer gently to avoid burning sugar-based sauces.
✔ Adjust sweetness or spice to your taste.
✔ Double the recipe and freeze in small portions.

---

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How long do homemade sauces last?

Most homemade sauces last 1–2 weeks in the refrigerator when stored properly.

2. Can I freeze these sauces?

Yes! Sweet chili, teriyaki, honey garlic, and sweet & sour sauces freeze very well for up to 3 months.

3. What can I substitute for rice vinegar?

You can use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar as a substitute.

4. How do I make sauces thicker?

Use a cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1–2 tbsp water) and simmer until thickened.

5. Are these sauces gluten-free?

Use gluten-free soy sauce (tamari) to make most of these sauces gluten-free.

6. Can I reduce the sugar?

Yes, reduce sugar or substitute with honey or a natural sweetener.

7. What oil is best for chili oil?

Neutral oils like vegetable, canola, or avocado oil work best.

---

Conclusion

Making your own homemade sauces is one of the easiest ways to elevate everyday meals. Whether you love sweet, spicy, tangy, or creamy flavors, these eight versatile sauces give you everything you need to recreate restaurant-quality dishes at home.

From sweet chili sauce and teriyaki sauce to Thai peanut sauce and yum yum sauce, each recipe is simple, affordable, and customizable.

Save this guide, bookmark it, and start making your favorite sauces from scratch today — your kitchen will never be the same!