What Is Chili sauce and How Can I Use It?

Chili sauce rewards a little know-how: how to choose it, cook it, store it, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 259 recipes to cook with it.

Key Points

A thick, sweet-and-tangy tomato condiment like a bolder ketchup, not a hot sauce.
It is the base of cocktail sauce: stir in horseradish, lemon, and Worcestershire.
Check the label reads tomato, since Asian chili sauces share the name but are fiery.
Fake it from ketchup with brown sugar, vinegar, a little chili powder, and grated onion.

What is chili sauce?

Chili sauce, in the American sense, is a thick, sweet-and-tangy tomato condiment that tastes like ketchup's bolder cousin. Heinz is the bottle most people picture. It is built from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, onion, and a gentle blend of warm spices, with just a whisper of chili heat.

This is not the same thing as the fiery Asian chili sauces. There is no sriracha burn here and barely any spice you would call hot. It reads as savory and slightly chunky, a little sweeter and more seasoned than plain ketchup.

How to Use Chili Sauce

Its single most famous job is cocktail sauce. Stir a cup of chili sauce with a tablespoon or two of prepared horseradish, a squeeze of lemon, and a few drops of Worcestershire, and you have the classic dip for shrimp and oysters in minutes.

That same tomato-and-spice base is why it turns up in seafood dishes like Steak & Oysters a la Creole and the saucy Mock Lobster.

Beyond seafood, it works as an instant glaze and braising base. Brush it onto meatloaf for the last twenty minutes, or stir it into baked beans and pulled meats, where its sugar and acidity do the work of several pantry items at once.

It is the backbone of a pot of Burbon Baked Beans.

A spoonful also lifts a homemade Thousand Island dressing or a sloppy joe when you want sweet-tangy tomato flavor from a single bottle.

Pairing and Common Mistakes

Chili sauce pairs naturally with shellfish, beef, pork, eggs, and cream cheese, and it is a friend to anything that wants a sweet-tangy tomato hit. Horseradish and lemon are its classic partners.

The most common mistake is buying the wrong bottle. Reach for "chili sauce" expecting this mild tomato condiment and grab an Asian garlic-chili sauce or sriracha instead, and your cocktail sauce or meatloaf glaze comes out searingly hot and thin. Check that the label says tomato.

The second trap is treating it like ketchup in every spot. It is sweeter and more seasoned, so swapping it one-for-one into a recipe tuned for ketchup can make the dish taste cloying or oversauced.

Substitutes

Out of chili sauce? The fastest fix starts from the ketchup in your door. Stir a cup of ketchup with a tablespoon of brown sugar, a tablespoon of vinegar, a pinch of chili powder, and a little grated onion.

Cocktail sauce itself works in reverse: if you have a jar, it stands in for chili sauce in most savory uses, just expect the added horseradish.

A good barbecue sauce can also cover for it in baked beans and glazes, though it brings smoke and more sugar, so taste and adjust. In a true pinch, plain ketchup alone will do, accepting that the result is milder and less complex.

Buying and Storing

You will find it shelved near the ketchup, often in a similar bottle, so read the label to confirm it is the tomato style and not a hot Asian sauce. The ingredient list should lead with tomatoes and vinegar.

An unopened bottle keeps in the pantry until its printed date, since the vinegar and sugar make it shelf-stable. Once opened, cap it tightly and move it to the refrigerator, where it stays good for about six months.

Give it a sniff and a look before each use. The high acidity means it lasts a long time, but if the color darkens badly or the smell turns sharp and fermented, let it go.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 cup (273g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 283Calories from Fat 7

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0.8g 1%

Saturated Fat 0.1g 1%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 3652mg 152%

Total Carbohydrate 54.0g 18%

Dietary Fiber 16g 64%

Sugars 28.8

Protein 6.8g

Vitamin A 37% Vitamin C 73%

Calcium 5% • Iron 12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find chili sauce: Chili sauce is usually found in the condiments section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Chili sauce is a member of the Soups, Sauces, and Gravies US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese: 辣椒
British (UK) term: Chili sauce
en français: sauce chili douce
en español: salsa de chile dulce

How much does chili sauce weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 cup	273 grams
1 packet	6 grams

Soups, Sauces, and Gravies

Soup, cream of celery 97 Soup, cream of chicken 234 Soup, cream of mushroom 483 Soup, french onion 32 Beef bouillon cubes 116 Beef bouillon granules 66 Chicken bouillon, powdered 81 Chicken bouillon cubes 127 Vegetable bouillon cubes 56 Soup mix 6

Recipes using chili sauce

There are 259 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Party Wieners

Party wieners, cocktail franks, or little smokies are beloved party appetizers. In this classic rendition of the quick and easy party favorite, they are coated in a sweet, tangy sauce.

Combo Burgers

Three-meat combo burgers: ground sirloin, pork, and veal blended with oats, chili sauce, and Worcestershire. Grilled patties with serious depth.

Kettle River Gazpacho

Kettle River gazpacho with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, garlic, and chili sauce. A hot-and-spicy chunky version of the Spanish classic that works chilled, room temperature, or gently warmed.

Double Decker Hamburger

Big Mac copycat double decker hamburger with two thin smashed patties, special sauce, shredded lettuce, and American cheese. Includes the homemade hamburger sauce that nails the fast-food flavor at home.

Meatballs Extraordinaire

Tender beef and onion meatballs glazed in a sweet chili sauce spiked with grape jelly and lemon juice. A retro party appetizer that hooks every guest from the first bite.

Zesty Grilled Chops

Grilled pork chops marinated in soy sauce, lemon juice, chili sauce, and brown sugar. A sweet-savory-spicy glaze that caramelizes beautifully on the grill.

Chinese Idli

Traditional south indian idlis with a twist of chinese taste.This is a fusion of north and south Indian recipe. Serve as a snack or starter. Tastes delicious with schezuan sauce!

Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs

Cranberry cocktail meatballs: ground beef bound with cornflake crumbs, briefly baked, then simmered in a sweet-tart cranberry-chili sauce. The classic holiday party appetizer.

Turkey Cocktail Meatballs

Lean ground turkey cocktail meatballs baked on a broiler pan with a sweet-tangy chili sauce dip. Lower-fat party appetizer, makes about 50 bite-sized balls.

Soba Bibimbap

My craving for Korean food has officially come back to life again, and this was the dish I made for dinner yesterday. Instead of using cooked rice that traditional bibimbap does, this time I cooked soba noodles instead. Sauteed a few veggies that I had on hand separately, tossed with the spicy Korean chili sauce and a bit ketchup, and served with homemade kimchi. YUM!

Bibimbap2 (Korean Seasoned Vegetables & Rice with Spicy Sauce)

Bibimbap is my all-time favorite Korean dish, I have no problem to make it and eat it everyday :) I made this recipe a few days ago, this time I added homemade bean sprouts as well, and served it with three different kinds of homemade kimchi (cucumber, daikon and cabbage kimchi) and a fried egg as always. Delicious, that's the only word I can say every time :)

Cranberry Meatballs

Cranberry meatballs glazed in a sweet-tangy sauce of melted cranberry, chile sauce, brown sugar, and lemon. A three-ingredient glaze, dumped in the slow cooker, and they're party-ready.

Cool Soba Noodle Salad

Assorted fresh crunchy vegetables, sour, sweet and spicy sauce, and soba noodles make this quick, easy and tasty cool summer salad!

Chauvinist Pig Sauce (For Pulled Pork)

Had some leftover pulled pork and wanted something a little different than your standard barbeque sauce. Why "Chauvinist Pig"? Secret's in the sauce!

Beau's Sweet-Sour Chicken Wings

Sweet-sour chicken wings pressure cooked for tenderness, then glazed with a tomato, orange marmalade, ginger, and garlic sauce and broiled until sticky and caramelized. A hot sauce finish adds adjustable heat.

Baked Beer Burgers

Juicy baked beer burgers seasoned with chili sauce, garlic, hot pepper sauce, and onion soup mix, then basted with beer in the oven. No grill needed. Ready in 45 minutes, serves 6.

Bob's Hot Chili

Bob's hot chili: ground beef simmered low and slow with whole tomatoes, tomato paste, red beans, chili sauce, and a kick of cayenne. The classic two-hour chili with serious heat.

Hot Chinese Fried Rice

I've always thought of fried rice as the quintessential comfort food. Think of it - a bowl of steaming white rice cooked to just the right consistency, filled with full of vegetable. No wonder fried rice is one of the world's most popular rice dishes!

Korean Seasoned Vegetables & Noodles with Spicy Sauce

A classic Korean dish, seasoned vegetables are served with Korean noodles and spicy sauce along with a small bowl of miso soup and kimchee.

Crockpot Sweet & Spicy Meatballs

Super easy sweet and slightly spicy meatballs using your slow cooker.

Tuna Burger

Crispy pan-fried tuna burgers with celery crunch and a chili sauce kick, served on toasted English muffins. Just 20 minutes from bowl to plate. A budget-friendly canned tuna patty the whole family devours.

Memphis Chopped Coleslaw

A sweeter Memphis slaw featuring bold southern flavors so it can stand up to full flavor barbecue classics such as pulled pork or Memphis ribs.

Bibimbap (Korean Seasoned Vegetables & Rice with Spicy Sauce)

A classic Korean dish, seasoned vegetables are served with steamed rice and spicy sauce along with a small bowl of miso soup and kimchee.

Dijon Cranberry Holiday Italian Meatballs

This recipe makes the perfect appetizer for a busy holiday host!

Spicy Thai Noodles with Chicken & Shrimp

Glass noodles with chicken and shrimp lightly coated in a mildly spicy refreshing thai inspired sauce.

Crockpot Barbecued Meatballs

Crockpot meatballs in a tasty home-made BBQ sauce.

Crockpot Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Easy holiday cranberry sweet and sour meatballs for your slow cooker.

Pitkin County Pork Chops

Pretty darn easy and tasty. I had all ingredients on hand and didn't have to worry about a trip to the store. I didn't use any cayenne because we have small children, but it still came out great. The sauce was tasty over rice!

BLT Pasta Salad

Always a hit and it's quick and easy to make. Tastes just like a BLT sandwich in the form of a pasta salad.

Authentic Orange Chicken

My Chinese-American version of crispy fried chicken nuggets tossed in a savory citrus sauce with a touch of heat. Great served over hot rice.

German Short Ribs - Crockpot

Slow cooker German short ribs braised in red wine, chili sauce, and brown sugar with a tangy hit of vinegar and Worcestershire. Fall-off-the-bone beef served over wide egg noodles.

Hoisin Chicken Stir Fry

Why Chinese stir-fry is popular, not only it's quick and easy to make, but also packed with delicious flavor. The Chinese ingredients in this recipe should be easily found in almost all the grocery stores. Serve it over a bed of rice to make a tasty meal.

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