Chinese Garlic Sauce

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This Chinese garlic sauce is lightly sweet and so flavorful. It’s amazing as a stir-fry sauce or it can be used as a dipping sauce.

We love to make vegetable stir-fry with this sauce but it is amazing with beef and chicken. It can also serve as a dipping sauce for eggrolls!

Chinese Garlic Sauce on a spoon

Chinese Garlic Sauce

One of the reasons we often order Chinese takeout is it’s just so darn flavorful.

The variety of sauces, spices, and heat levels are completely satisfying because there’s something to fit every mood.

While today’s Chinese garlic sauce is nothing short of flavorful, it is low on the heat. Feel free to add more chilis if you want it spicier.

Toss the sauce with your choice of vegetables and meat for a hearty stir-fry that can be served with rice.

The sauce is also great as a dip for fried dumplings!

If you enjoy this sauce, you should also try my honey garlic sauce, orange ginger sauce and homemade hoisin sauce.

Chinese Garlic Sauce mixed with veggies

Chinese Garlic Sauce Ingredients:

To make this Chinese garlic sauce recipe, you will need:

  • Cooking oil: Use either vegetable or canola oil
  • Garlic: Finely minced for the best texture
  • Ginger: Makes the sauce taste brighter
  • Green chilis: The recipe calls for 1 but feel free to add more if you like spicy food
  • Soy Sauce: Or make it gluten-free by using tamari
  • Chicken broth: Make it vegetarian/vegan by using vegetable broth
  • Vinegar: Adds a light sourness that tastes damn good
  • Brown sugar: Sweet, spicy, and sour – is your mouth watering yet?
  • Sesame oil: Because sesame oil is incredible in Asian cuisine
  • Crushed red pepper flakes: For even more spice
  • Cornstarch slurry: Thickens the sauce so it’s not so watery
Chinese Garlic Sauce Overhead

How to Make Chinese Garlic Sauce:

To make this flavorful sauce, simply…

  1. Cook the garlic, ginger, and chili. Cook just until fragrant, about 15 seconds.
  2. Stir in remaining ingredients. Add everything but the cornstarch slurry. Bring to a boil then simmer for 1 minute.
  3. Add cornstarch slurry. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and continue to cook until thickened.
  4. Serve right away or cool before storing for later use.
Chinese Garlic Sauce side view

Chinese Garlic Sauce Variations:

There are quite a few ways you can doctor up this recipe.

  • Add 1-2 more tablespoons of minced garlic: For all you garlic lovers.
  • Add another chili pepper: This will make the sauce extra hot.
  • Add Sriracha sauce: This will add more spice and flavor.
Chinese Garlic Sauce and veggies close up

How to Store Chinese Garlic Sauce:

Refrigerate – Allow the sauce to cool for 1 hour then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

If you are looking for more Chinese inspired sauce recipe we’ve got you covered!

Chinese Garlic Sauce

4.49 from 429 votes
Chinese Garlic Sauce Recipe image
This Chinese garlic sauce is lightly sweet and so flavorful. It’s amazing as a stir-fry sauce or it can be used as a dipping sauce.
Sauce Fanatic
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Serving Size 8

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh green chiles
  • cup low sodium soy sauce
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • cup rice wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions

  • Heat the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and chilis. Cook, stirring constantly until fragrant, about 15 seconds.
  • Stir in the soy sauce, chicken broth, vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium and cook for 1 minute.
  • Stir the water and cornstarch together until fully dissolved and pour it into the sauce. Cook, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens.

Make ahead tip

  • Allow the sauce to cool for 1 hour then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat the sauce by warming it over low heat.

Notes

Green chilis: Any fresh green chile will work. We used serranos. If you’re in a pinch, canned green chiles will also work.
Red pepper flakes: You can use crushed red pepper flakes or Gochugaru for this recipe.
Makes about 2 cups.

Nutrition

Serving: 4tablespoons | Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 830mg | Sugar: 6g
CourseDinner
CuisineChinese

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Recipe Rating




36 Comments

  1. nice sauce. I hit it up with twice the garlic, and a touch of both chili- garlic paste and anchovy sauce for a bit more depth, though I used much less red pepper. a teaspoon was plenty. only used about half of the sauce, gonna add a bit more sugar and broil up some chicken wings with the stuff. oh
    yum.

  2. Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! I made this with extra garlic and instead of red flakes and peppers, I used 1.5 Tablespoon Trader Joe’s Crunchy Chili Onions. It has just a touch of heat which is good for me. But the sauce was fantastic in Garlic chicken (w/ peppers, onion and yellow squash) – twice – two nights in a row. And now just before I freeze it I am going to make Garlic beef and vegetables (broccoli, squash, onion, carrot). Can’t wait! Thanks so much for the brilliant recipe.

  3. this recipe is absolutely outstanding! i substituted soy free coconut aminos for the soy sauce, and it came out absolutely delicious! it’s been over 10 years since i’ve been able to go to any kind of asian restaurant, so i’ve been trying to experiment at home, and this is the perfect sauce with the perfect consistency. this is going into our regular rotation for dinner nights!