Thai sweet chili sauce is an underrated sauce within the pantheon of Asian sauces. Sure, sriracha is incredible. And, yes, chili crisp is having its rightful moment in the spotlight right now. But the best sweet chili sauce is versatile and good for so much more than egg rolls or spring rolls (although, it’s extremely good for those. Vegetables? Hell, yes. Cucumbers in sweet chili sauce are like a restaurant-worthy app if you do that fancy peeling along the side. French fries? Why the hell not?! Fried chicken? Are you helling kidding me?! Yes, drown your fried chicken in the stuff.
But not if it’s a bad sweet chili sauce. Because, yes, there are bad sweet chili sauces out there. Many are straight down the middle A-OK. A few are great (we’ll get to those). But some are bad. Do not eat bad sweet chili sauce. Only eat the best Thai sweet chili sauce.
Let’s talk about the qualities of the best sweet chili sauce: It’s not too thin, not too thick—just viscous enough to cling to whatever you’re dipping into it. It’s sweet and tangy. And it’s a little bit spicy—just a touch on the back of your tongue. That said, there aren’t many rules when it comes to sweet red chili sauce—it’s a mix of chili peppers, vinegar, sugar, and garlic, but that doesn’t mean a brand can’t put their own stamp on it. And, after tasting through nine of the top bottles, I can tell you there aren’t two that taste the same. Here’s the best sweet chili sauce you can buy.
- Lee Kum Kee Thai Style Sweet Chili Sauce
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This is the best Thai sweet chili sauce if you like your sweet chili sauce a little bit funky. I’m pretty sure that depth of funky flavor comes from the addition of pineapple, which also gives it a tropical flavor. Dip fried coconut shrimp into it—or, really, anything that might be at home on a pu pu platter would be excellent in this sauce. There is some heat but it’s very much on the mild end of the spectrum.
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- Panda Express Sweet Chili Sauce
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Sometimes you just want some food court level sauce. The Panda Express Sweet Chili Sauce is thick and gloopy and neon red, just like it’s meant to be. It’s perfect for crispy-creamy classics like crab rangoon or pouring over a platter of microwaved Chinese takeout leftovers. If those little packets are just never enough, this is the best sweet chili sauce for you to keep in the fridge at all times.
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- Maggi Mild Sweet Chili Sauce
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If your complaint about sweet chili sauce is that it’s too dang sweet, give Maggi a try. This thick, extra chunky sweet chili sauce is extremely savory. And it’s spicier than most of the other sweet chili sauces on this list (yes, even the mild!). Personally, I think this is the best sweet chili sauce brand to use as a marinade. Some tofu soaked in this and then air-fried? Gimme.
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- Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce
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This was the most hyped sweet chili sauce—and it pretty much lived up to its reputation. Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce stands apart from the rest due its texture. It’s very chunky and thick with lots and lots of chili pepper confetti throughout. It’s balanced between tangy and sweet, with a good hit of garlic. It’s the best Thai sweet chili sauce for scooping—you can really treat it like a dip rather than a sauce thanks to the texture.
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- Pantai Sweetened Chili Sauce for Spring Roll
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This gloopy, easy-to-pour sweet chili sauce is flecked with pepper but not spicy. The sweetness and mild tang make it a crowd-pleaser—the best sweet chili sauce for a crowd of varied palates. Of course, it’s true calling is in the name. “It tastes like spring roll sauce and that is what it has declared itself to be,” said Sporked managing editor Gwynedd Stuart approvingly. But senior staff writer Jordan Myrick also demanded you dip a chicken nugget in it.
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Best Funky
Best Fast Food
Best Savory
Best Chunky
Best of the Best
