How to Make Honey Garlic Sauce (5 Minutes!)

This honey garlic sauce recipe is easy to make and has a rich sweet-savory flavor that works with just about anything! Try it on salmon, chicken, stir fries, and more.

Need a simple, homemade sauce to dress up any meal? My favorite honey garlic sauce recipe comes together in less than 10 minutes, making it an easy sauce for quick meals!

I first made this sauce for Honey Garlic Salmon, which was so good it’s become a staple at my house ever since. You may want to paint a swath of this sticky, flavor-popping sauce on just about anything: it’s great for salmon, chicken, stir fries, and more. A reader told me they used it for meatballs, which sounds delicious!

Turinys

5-Star Reader Reviews

“Love this! I’ve been looking for a recipe that tastes like something a friend made years ago and this is it!” -Patti

“Just made this for some salmon. Wow! This is my new sauce for everything.” -Rick

Ingredients You’ll Need

This honey garlic sauce has a short ingredient list of mostly pantry ingredients, which magically come together into a sticky, thick glaze. It’s great for stir fries, though I love it best painted on a fillet of salmon. Even my kids love it, which is a big win in my book!

Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

Soy sauce: I use regular (not low-sodium) soy sauce for the fullest flavor. Substitute tamari for gluten-free.
Honey: Honey brings a nuanced sweetness. For vegans, substitute maple syrup.
Rice vinegar: Rice vinegar is a vinegar made with fermented rice that’s often used in Asian cuisine; it has a lightly sweet, tangy flavor.
Olive oil: Olive oil is my preferred cooking oil, but you can substitute it with any neutral oil. Sesame oil would work well here.
Garlic and garlic powder: For a flavor-packed sauce, use both fresh garlic (not jarred) and garlic powder.
Ginger root: Ginger root packs spicy, zingy flavor to this sauce. You can leave it out if it’s not a refrigerator staple for you, but it adds a depth that I think is absolutely worth the purchase.
Cornstarch: Cornstarch gives a shiny, thick body to the sauce. (Arrowroot powder works as a good substitute.)

Pro Tip for Grating

Use a microplane for easy grating! You can use it for both the garlic and ginger. To save time, you don’t even need to peel the ginger.

Using a Cornstarch Slurry

This honey garlic sauce recipe uses a cornstarch slurry, which is a mix of cornstarch and water, or another room-temperature liquid.. Here’s why:

If dry cornstarch is added directly to heated foods, it clumps up. It’s best to add it to sauces and stir-fries mixed with a little liquid first.
Cornstarch must be heated to around 203°F for the thickening to occur. It’s called starch gelatinization, or the scientific process where the particles of cornstarch absorb water. You’ll notice that once you add the cornstarch slurry to the warm sauce, it immediately starts to thicken. The starch gelatinization has been activated!

Honey garlic sauce on salmon with green onions on platter.

Ways to Use Honey Garlic Sauce

This recipe is extremely versatile and works with many different types of foods. Here are a few ideas for my favorite ways to use it:

Salmon: Brush it onto grilled salmon, baked salmon, or pan-fried salmon before and after cooking.
Chicken: Use it for grilled chicken, chicken thighs, or wings.
Tofu: Try it with baked tofu or pan-fried tofu.
Stir fries: Try it in shrimp stir fry, cauliflower stir fry, or tofu stir fry.
Vegetables: Add it to fried broccoli or sautéed carrots.
Noodles: Try it with soba noodles.
Meatballs: Add it to chicken meatballs (omit the marinara) or vegan meatballs for a delicious meal.

Storing Leftovers

This recipe is quick to whip up and stores well. Store homemade honey garlic sauce refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, it starts to lose some of the potency in flavor.

Dietary Notes

This honey garlic sauce recipe is vegetarian, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free (with tamari). For vegan, use maple syrup or agave syrup instead of honey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does honey garlic sauce taste like?

It’s a beautiful balance of sweet and savory! The honey adds a touch of sweetness that complements the savory notes of soy sauce and the pungent kick of garlic and ginger.

What can I use honey garlic sauce for?

The possibilities are endless! Here are some ideas:
Marinade: Marinate chicken, fish, tofu, or tempeh for a flavorful and sticky glaze.
Dipping sauce: This one is perfect for dumplings, spring rolls, chicken wings, or anything that needs a delicious dip.
Stir-fry sauce: Toss your stir-fry veggies and protein in honey garlic sauce for a quick and flavorful meal.
Glaze: Brush honey garlic sauce on chicken, salmon, or tofu during the last few minutes of cooking for a sweet and sticky glaze.
Noodle sauce: Toss cooked noodles with honey garlic sauce for a simple and satisfying dish.

How can I make my honey garlic sauce spicier?

Add a pinch of red pepper flakes, sriracha, or a chopped fresh chili pepper to the sauce while cooking.

Easy Honey Garlic Sauce

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5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 5 reviews

This honey garlic sauce recipe is easy to make and has a rich sweet-savory flavor that works with just about anything! Try it on salmon, chicken, stir fries, and more.

Author: Sonja Overhiser
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 8 minutes
Yield: ½ cup
Category: Sauce
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

¼ cup regular soy sauce (or tamari)
¼ cup honey (or maple syrup)
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
2 garlic cloves, grated
½ teaspoon fresh grated ginger
1 tablespoon cornstarch
6 tablespoons water

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Instructions

In a small saucepan, combine the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, oil, garlic powder, grated ginger, and grated garlic over medium heat.
Bring to a simmer and then reduce the heat to low.
In a small bowl, whisk together the water and cornstarch.
Pour the mixture into the saucepan and whisk until the sauce thickens, about 1 minute.
Remove from the heat.
Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

Spicy variation: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes, sriracha, or a chopped fresh chili pepper to the sauce while cooking.
Alternative sweeteners: Feel free to use maple syrup or agave syrup for vegan.
Other substitutes: Tamari or coconut aminos are good gluten-free substitutes for soy sauce. Arrowroot powder also works for the cornstarch.

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