Honey Garlic Sauce
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This homemade honey garlic sauce is sticky, garlicky, and finger-licking good. Serve it over salmon, pork chops, chicken, tofu, veggies, or use it as a dip. It will make any meal more delicious and it's ready in just 10 minutes!
For more delicious homemade sauce recipes, also try our bourbon bbq sauce, fish taco sauce, or tomato cream sauce.
Get your napkins ready because this honey garlic sauce is sticky, in the best kind of way! It's super simple to make and takes only five ingredients. We use butter as the base (instead of oil) then we add garlic, honey, apple cider vinegar, and soy sauce for a rich, full-flavor sauce.
It's great over everything from chicken to fish, meatballs to stir-fries, and more. Use it as a sauce or boil it down to a thicker consistency and use it as a dip. It's the familiar taste of take-out that everyone loves, made healthier!
Ingredients
Making honey garlic sauce at home means there are no unwanted ingredients. Here's everything you'll need to make it:
- Butter ā as the base of the sauce and to give it a rich, full body taste.
- Garlic ā a generous amount (six cloves!) for a bold garlicky sauce.
- Honey ā to add sweetness and make things sticky.
- Apple cider vinegar ā adds acidity to balance things out.
- Soy sauce ā for its salty and rich umami flavor.
How to make honey garlic sauce
It's easy to make homemade honey garlic sauce. Here's how it comes together in a few simple steps:
- Start by melting the butter in a small pot, then add the garlic.
- Next add the honey, apple cider vinegar, and soy sauce and bring it to a boil.
- This is where you have options depending on what you're using it for. If you're making baked or pan-fried chicken, fish, or pork, boil the sauce for another couple of minutes until it's slightly thickened.
- If you're using it as a dip, boil it for another few minutes so it thickens more. It will thicken considerably as it cools, too.
Full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below.
FAQS
Can I use oil instead of butter?
Using butter gives this sauce its rich taste. But if you're strictly avoiding dairy, you can use oil instead.
Can I use white vinegar instead?
In a pinch! Apple cider vinegar is a bit milder, and less acidic than white vinegar so you may need to adjust your recipe accordingly.
How to serve honey garlic sauce
We're all familiar with the irresistible taste of honey garlic sauce on chicken wings, but there are so many other ways to enjoy it! Here are some ideas for putting this honey garlic sauce to use:
Use it in place of the sauce on one of these recipes:
As a dip for:
Used as a stir fry sauce on one of these recipes:
Brushed on for added flavor to:
Favorite honey garlic recipes
- Honey Garlic Chicken
- Honey Garlic Corn on the Cob
- Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
- Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
- Paleo Honey Garlic Chicken Fingers
Honey Garlic Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 6 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- Ā½ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (can be gluten free)
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a small pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.2 tablespoons butter, 6 cloves garlic
- Add the honey, apple cider vinegar, and soy sauce and bring the pot to a boil.2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, Ā½ cup honey
- If you're using the sauce to make baked or pan-fried chicken, fish, or pork, boil the sauce for 2 minutes, until it's slightly thickened.
- If you're using the sauce as a dip, boil it for 4-5 minutes (total), so that it is thick enough to lightly coat the back of a spoon. Remember, it will thicken considerably as it cools.
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
