Never miss a recipe! Subscribe Here

  • About
  • Contact
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cotter Crunch

Cotter Crunch

Delicious Healthy Gluten Free Recipes

  • All Recipes
    • By Diet
      • Dairy-Free
      • Egg-Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • Grain-Free
      • Low-Carb
      • Nightshade-Free
      • Nut-Free
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Whole30
    • By Type
      • Breakfasts
      • Casseroles
      • Condiments
      • Desserts
      • Drinks
      • Main Dishes
      • Sides & Salads
      • Snacks & Appetizers
      • Stews & Soups
    • By Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Blender
      • Instant Pot
      • No-Bake
      • Oven
      • Slow Cooker
      • Stovetop
    • Quick Meals
    • With Video
  • Meal Plans
  • Shop
  • Start Here
    • Gluten-Free Eating
    • More Diet Guides
      • Autoimmune Protocol
      • Anti-Inflammatory
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Whole30
  • Cookbooks
  • Search
Home › Recipes › By Type › Condiments
★★★★★14 Comments

Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce (No Refined Sugar)

Avatar photo

by Lindsay Cotter Published: Feb 20, 2020

Dairy-FreeEgg-FreeGluten-FreeNut-FreeVegetarian
Jump to Recipe

This sweet and sour sauce recipe helps you create a Chinese carry-out favorite, with a healthy twist. It has no refined sugar, but it tastes just like the real thing! Plus, it’s dairy free, and has no MSG or artificial colors. 

homemade sweet and sour sauce in white bowl and on wooden spoon

Alright my friends, we’re getting saucy today! Consider this a 101 series for healthy homemade sauces.

Back in 2017, when I was creating my Superfoods Nourishing Bowl cookbook, I came to realize that sauces are the KEY to making healthy food shine. Not store bought sauces, although some are quite healthy these days. But rather, homemade sauces.

My homemade sauce recipes start with simple ingredients you may already have in your pantry. Which brings me to this homemade sweet and sour sauce recipe today. This version is better for you, made with less sugar. Even better news is that the sauce is dairy free, and has no MSG or artificial colors!

Uses for sweet and sour sauce

Side view of sweet and sour pasta in wok on stovetop
Overhead view sweet and sour noodles with ham and veggies in orange wok

Sweet and sour sauce is delicious in so many different Asian foods, including dinners and appetizers. I keep a jar on hand to mix with rice or veggie noodles, to serve as a dipping sauce, use as a coating for chicken, etc. I’ll be sharing a recipe later this week that uses the sauce, so be sure to whip up a batch soon. Mmm k?

Now, let’s discuss how to make sweet and sour sauce that’s better for you!

How to make sweet and sour sauce healthier

The problem with many of the store-bought condiments and sauces are the excess sugar and artificial ingredients. Most of the store brand sweet and sour sauces include red food coloring and a lot of sodium, too.

To make the sauce a bit healthier requires just a few simple ingredient swaps. Here’s how we do it:

  • Sweetener – Rather than using sugar to sweeten our sauce, we use some pineapple juice and honey. Both are sweet, but unrefined sugars. They add to the Asian flavor of the sauce without packing on the calories, too.
  • Asian flavor-To add some umami flavor to the sauce, many manufacturers use high sodium soy sauce. Not only is it unhealthy, but it’s also not gluten free. Our healthy gluten-free swap is to use tamari sauce or coconut aminos instead.
  • Chili sauce – It can be difficult to find, but when it’s available, I like to use sugar-free or low sugar chili sauce. Can you use ketchup? Yes, but I find that chili sauce gives this sauce a lot of more flavor!

Recipe ingredients

All ingredients for homemade sweet and sour sauce on white wooden cutting board.

Here’s the full list of ingredients you will need to make the sweet and sour sauce recipe.

  • pineapple juice
  • chili sauce or Asian red sauce of choice – (check ingredients for refined sugars)
  • tamari sauce (or coconut aminos)
  • raw honey
  • rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • arrowroot starch or cornstarch, combined with equal amount of cold water

Step by step instructions to make sweet and sour sauce

sweet and sour sauce in pan with spoon
  1. Add the pineapple juice, chili sauce, tamari (or coconut aminos), honey, and rice vinegar to a saucepan over medium heat. Stir well to combine the ingredients.
  2. Continue cooking over medium to medium high heat until the mixture comes to a boil.
  3. Mix the water and arrowroot together in a small bowl, then add it to the saucepan. Whisk well until the starch is fully incorporated and the sauce has thickened.
  4. Allow the sauce to cool before serving.
Homemade sweet and sour sauce in small white bowl with wooden spoon.

How to store this healthy homemade sauce

Although it might be safe to store the sauce at room temperature, I recommend keeping it in the refrigerator. Depending on what type of pineapple juice you use, it may not be shelf stable. It’s not worth the risk of contamination (and food poisoning… UGH.)

Other healthy sauce recipes to try:

After you make sweet and sour sauce at home, I think you’ll realize that it’s so easy, there’s no reason to keep buying it! Here are a few other healthy sauce recipes you will probably like:

  • Ginger Curry Dipping Sauce
  • 3 Spring Pesto Sauce Recipes
  • Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce (Healthy)


★★★★★

5 from 7 reviews

  • Author: Lindsay Cotter
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 1 – 1.5 cups 1x
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

This sweet and sour sauce recipe helps you create a a Chinese carry-out favorite, with a healthy twist. It has no refined sugar, but it tastes just like the real thing! Plus, it’s dairy fre and gluten freee, with no MSG or artificial colors.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • ½ cup chili sauce or Asian red sauce of choice (check ingredients for hidden sugars)
  • 2 Tablespoons tamari sauce (or coconut aminos)
  • ½ cup honey
  • 4 teaspoons rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 ½ tablespoons arrowroot starch or cornstarch, combined with equal amount of cold water

Instructions

  1. Add the pineapple juice, chili sauce, tamari (or coconut aminos), honey, and rice vinegar to a saucepan on medium heat.
  2. Stir to combine and continue cooking (on medium high) until the mixture comes to a boil.
  3. Mix the water and arrowroot together in a small bowl, then add it to the saucepan. Note – Be sure to thorough mix the slurry (arrowroot or cornstarch with water) so that the sauce does not get clumpy when mixed.
  4. Whisk well until the starch is fully mixed in and the sauce begins to thickened. Just a few minutes.
  5. Remove from heat to cool before serving.

Notes

Sugar Swaps and Substitutes

  • Substitute refined sugar free chili sauce for the traditional version if you can
  • If you want to reduce spice, then substitute chili sauce for natural tomato sauce (ketchup)
  • Use coconut aminos instead of tamari sauce
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5
  • Category: condiments
  • Method: stove
  • Cuisine: asian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 104
  • Sugar: 23 g
  • Sodium: 338.3 mg
  • Fat: 0.1 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26.3 g
  • Fiber: 0.6 g
  • Protein: 0.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: sweet and sour sauce, homemade Asian sauces

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @cottercrunch on Instagram and hashtag it #cottercrunch

Alright my friends! Stay tuned for the next recipe post using this sweet and spicy sauce. Any guesses? Anyone? Bueller? 😉

Cheers,

LC


MORE HOMEMADE GLUTEN FREE SAUCES HERE!

This recipe is part of our Go-To Homemade Gluten Free Sauces collection. Check it out!

710 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Categories: Condiments, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Stovetop, Vegetarian Tags: sauce

More recipes you’ll love!

overhead shot of vegan mushroom gravy
How to Make Vegan Mushroom Gravy (Gluten Free)
overhead image of vegan mac and cheese sauce in a blue bowl
Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe
Side view of sriracha sauce in a glass mason jar.
Homemade Sriracha (whole 30 option)
wooden spoon in pan of dairy free alfredo sauce
Dairy Free Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce + Video
Lindsay Cotter of Cotter Crunch

About Lindsay

Hi, y’all, I’m Lindsay Cotter, a Nutrition Specialist with a focus on Gluten-Free eating. I love creating delicious nourishing food that anyone can enjoy.

  • About
  • Studio
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Have a question? Use ctrl+f or ⌘+f on your computer or the “find on page” function on your phone browser to search existing comments!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Rate & Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Brooke

    04/27/2020 at 1:29 PM

    Yum yum yum! We don’t have dietary restrictions here, so we used soy sauce and cornstarch. I might add more vinegar next time, we like it tangy. This was wonderful!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Avatar photoLindsay Cotter

      04/28/2020 at 6:45 PM

      Yaaayy! Thanks for the feedback Brooke! Glad you loved it!

      Reply
  2. kelly

    04/01/2020 at 9:52 AM

    We had been not knowing about this recipe ever.

    Reply
  3. Sabrina

    02/26/2020 at 6:50 PM

    I’ve always worried about how much sugar, the bad kind, is in this sauce and have basically avoided it because I know it’s loaded with it, so really appreciate these healty sweet swaps!

    Reply
  4. Suzy

    02/25/2020 at 7:30 AM

    I love how simple this is to throw together but so tasty too! Loved it!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  5. wilhelmina

    02/23/2020 at 5:24 PM

    This sauce is the best! So much better than anything out of a jar, YUM!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  6. Toni

    02/22/2020 at 11:11 AM

    Everyone at my house loved it!! So easy to make!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Avatar photoLindsay Cotter

      02/22/2020 at 6:42 PM

      Great! Glad to hear that Toni!

      Reply
  7. Katie

    02/21/2020 at 9:32 PM

    I always love your recipes, but this one is a lifesaver! Being able to make a sweet and sour sauce this good without added sugar- it’s amazing!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Avatar photoLindsay Cotter

      02/22/2020 at 6:42 PM

      Thank you, Katie! I’m so glad you like it!

      Reply
  8. lisa

    02/21/2020 at 9:00 AM

    thank you for this! I’ve needed a healthier alternative

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Avatar photoLindsay Cotter

      02/22/2020 at 6:44 PM

      You’re welcome, Lisa! Glad to help!

      Reply
  9. Lauren k

    02/21/2020 at 7:08 AM

    What an awesome recipe! I’m really trying not to order take out so this is perfect. Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Avatar photoLindsay Cotter

      02/22/2020 at 6:45 PM

      Glad to help! Thank you, Lauren!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Lindsay Cotter of Cotter Crunch

About Lindsay

Hi, y’all, I’m Lindsay Cotter, a Nutrition Specialist with a focus on Gluten-Free eating. I love creating delicious nourishing food that anyone can enjoy.

  • About
  • Studio
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Reader Favorites

  • photo collage of dairy-free gluten-free anti-inflammatory meal plan recipes
    Anti-Inflammatory Meal Plan {Dairy Free, Gluten-Free Recipes & Tips}
  • cinnamon bites in turquoise bowl, top protein ball has bite taken out to show inside texture.
    Cinnamon Vanilla Protein Breakfast Bites + Video
  • a bowl of curried cauliflower rice soup
    Curried Cauliflower Soup with Kale
  • Collage of 4 saucepans and skillets filled with 4 different varieties of gluten free roux.
    How to Make Gluten Free Roux for Keto Sauces + Soups
  • stack of dried orange slices on white background
    Dried Orange Slices (Oven or Dehydrator)
  • a skillet full of four balsamic roasted cranberry chicken thighs surrounded by roasted cranberries
    Balsamic Roasted Cranberry Chicken

Recipes by Diet

  • Dairy-Free
  • Egg-Free
  • Gluten-Free
  • Grain-Free
  • Low-Carb
  • Nightshade-Free
  • Nut-Free
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Whole30

Recipes by Method

  • Air Fryer
  • Blender
  • Instant Pot
  • No-Bake
  • Oven
  • Slow Cooker
  • Stovetop

Recipes by Type

  • Breakfasts
  • Casseroles
  • Condiments
  • Desserts
  • Drinks
  • Main Dishes
  • Sides & Salads
  • Snacks & Apps
  • Stews & Soups

Resources & More

  • Meal Plans
  • Nutrition Guides
  • How-To
  • Quick Meals
  • Videos
  • Round Ups
  • Cookbook
  • GF Start Here
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Cotter Crunch
  • About
  • Studio
  • Shop
  • Contact

© 2023 · Cotter Crunch · Disclaimer & Terms · Privacy Policy

710 shares