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Easy Honey Garlic Sauce

This honey garlic sauce recipe is simple to make and works with anything! Try it on salmon, chicken, stir fries,…

This honey garlic sauce recipe is simple to make and works with anything! Try it on salmon, chicken, stir fries, and more.

Need a simple, homemade sauce that will dress up any meal? Try this Honey Garlic Sauce recipe! It comes together with just 8 ingredients in less than 10 minutes, making it an easy, no-hassle sauce for quick meals.

You’ll 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. We first made it for our Honey Garlic Salmon, which was so good we’ve been making the sauce ever since.

Featured reader comment

“Just made this for some salmon. I followed the recipe to a T. Wow! This is my new sauce for everything.” -Rick

Ingredients in honey garlic sauce

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 we love it best painted on a lovely fillet of salmon. Even our 5 year old son loves it, which is a big win in our book! Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this simple recipe:

Soy sauce: We like using regular soy sauce for the most full flavor (not low sodium). Substitute tamari for gluten-free.
Honey: Honey brings a nuanced sweetness. For vegan, 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 our preferred cooking oil, but you can substitute 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 we 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

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

How to make honey garlic sauce: step by step

This honey garlic sauce is so quick and simple to make: it will take you longer to read about it than actually make the recipe itself! Here’s what to do:

Step 1: 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.

Step 2: 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.

More about the 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”: the process where the 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

How do you plan to use your honey garlic sauce? This recipe is extremely versatile and works with many different types of foods. Here are a few ideas:

Salmon: Brush it onto honey garlic salmon, grilled salmon, baked salmon, or pan fried salmon before and after cooking.
Chicken: Use for grilled chicken, chicken thighs, or wings.
Tofu: Try it with baked tofu or pan fried tofu.
Stir fries: Try in shrimp stir fry, cauliflower stir fry or tofu stir fry.
Vegetables: Add it to fried broccoli or sauteed carrots.

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.

More sauce recipes

Love making homemade sauces? Here are a few sauce recipes to try:

Go for pomodoro sauce or arrabiata sauce.
Grab zingy Spanish romesco sauce.
Make garlic butter sauce, lemon garlic butter sauce, or lemon pepper sauce.
Opt for fresh chimichurri sauce.
Try fan-favorite pizza sauce recipe.

Romesco Sauce

Pomodoro Sauce

Chimichurri Sauce

Pizza Sauce Recipe

Dietary notes

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

Frequently asked questions

What is honey garlic sauce made of?

This versatile sauce typically combines soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, and sometimes rice vinegar or sriracha for a touch of heat.

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: 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.

Can I make honey garlic sauce ahead of time?

Absolutely! This sauce keeps well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

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

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 5 reviews

Author: Sonja Overhiser
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 8 minutes
Yield: ½ cup

Print Recipe

Description

This honey garlic sauce recipe is simple to make and works with anything! Try it on salmon, chicken, stir fries, and more.

Ingredients

¼ cup regular soy sauce
¼ cup honey
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.

Category: Sauce
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Hugo Spritz

Cool down with a refreshing Hugo Spritz! This bubbly cocktail mixes elderflower liqueur, sparkling wine, and fresh mint for a…

Cool down with a refreshing Hugo Spritz! This bubbly cocktail mixes elderflower liqueur, sparkling wine, and fresh mint for a light and flavorful summer drink that’s easy to make at home.

Hugo Spritz cocktail with St-Germain bottle.

This cocktail might be the literal definition of refreshing. If you love bubbly spritzes, run don’t walk to try the Hugo Spritz cocktail! This Italian cocktail is a spin-off on the Aperol spritz and even better, in our opinion.

Why we love this recipe: A Hugo Spritz is made with delicate floral elderflower liqueur and bubbly Prosecco, which compliment each other perfectly. The bubbly combination transports you right to Northern Italy, where this cocktail was born and is popular to this day! It’s nuanced and lightly sweet, compared to the bold sweetness of an Aperol spritz.

What’s a Hugo Spritz?

The Hugo cocktail is a spritz cocktail made with Prosecco, elderflower syrup, and soda water. The drink was invented in 2005 by Roland Gruber in Northern Italy (the South Tyrol region just south of Austria). He created the drink as an alternative to the classic Aperol spritz, and it quickly spread across the country and into Europe.

Hugo Spritz ingredients

The Hugo Spritz cocktail is light and floral, accented with the delicate bubbles of Prosecco. Where the Aperol spritz is sweet and citrusy, this spin is sophisticated and even more refreshing. The original Hugo Spritz used elderflower syrup. Here in the US it’s easier to find a bottle of St Germain elderflower liqueur, so it’s a natural substitute. Here’s are the ingredients you need:

St-Germain liqueur: St-Germain is a liqueur made with elderflower, known for its floral flavor.
Prosecco: This Italian sparkling white wine is from the Veneto region, with a delicate flavor and light bubbles. You can use any type of champagne if desired.
Soda water: Use club soda or unflavored sparkling water (we use our SodaStream to make it at home). Avoid tonic water here, since it is flavored with quinine and lightly sweetened.
Fresh mint: Fresh mint as a garnish is what makes it a Hugo Spritz.

Tip: A 750 ml bottle of Prosecco is 25 ounces, enough for 8 drinks. If you’re making 2 drinks, a mini bottle is perfect—it holds 187 mL or about 6 ounces!

How to make a Hugo Spritz cocktail

The Hugo cocktail is so easy to make: you don’t even have to dirty a cocktail shaker! The spritz family of drinks is fantastic because you simply pour the ingredients into a glass.

The Hugo spritz is easy to make, and you can build the drink it right in the glass. This makes it a great choice for entertaining, especially as a summer cocktail. Here are the basic steps (or jump to the full recipe):

Step 1: Add St-Germain to a glass filled with ice and stir. Top with sparkling wine.

Step 2: Add soda water and garnish with mint.

Step 2: Add soda water. Garnish with fresh mint and serve.

More about St-Germain

The key to this Hugo spritz cocktail is the elderflower liqueur, which infuses a delicate floral flavor throughout the drink. St-Germain is one of our favorite unique liquors to stock. Here’s a bit more about it:

St-Germain is a liqueur that’s made with elderflowers, the small white flowers of an elderberry plant. The flavor is light, sweetly floral, and fragrant.
How do you say St Germain? The name is French, so say “Sahn-jer-MAHN” with your best French accent.
Fun fact: it’s relatively new to the scene. Get this: St Germain was invented in 2007! The vintage-looking bottle makes it seem like it has hundreds of years of history, but it’s a newcomer. (Here’s the story behind it.)
What cocktails can you make with St-Germain? Try the French Gimlet and all our top St Germain Cocktails.

Prosecco & more sparkling wines

Traditionally a Hugo spritz cocktail uses Prosecco, the Italian version of champagne. But you can use any type of sparkling wine you like! Make sure it is “Brut,” which means that it is dry. Here’s a breakdown of the major types of sparkling wine including Prosecco vs Champagne:

Prosecco: Italian sparkling wine. It’s a slightly sweeter than champagne and has lighter bubbles. It’s fruity and flowery, with notes of apple, pear and lemon.
Champagne: French sparkling wine. It tastes bubbly and fruity, with undertones of almond and orange. It’s typically the most expensive sparkling wine.
Cava: Spanish sparkling wine. It has more citrus notes, and is a little more savory and less fruity.

More spritz recipes

There are lots of members of the spritz family! The Aperol spritz is the most popular, but try these other types of spritz recipes to enjoy bubbly drinks all season long:

Try the famous and undeniably delicious Aperol Spritz
Go bubbly and bitter with a Campari Spritz
Try a unique caramel flavored Amaro Spritz
Opt for a citrusy St Germain Spritz

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between a Hugo Spritz and an Aperol Spritz?

Both are refreshing spritzes, but Aperol Spritz uses a bitter orange liqueur, while Hugo Spritz features the floral and delicate elderflower liqueur (like St-Germain).

I don’t have elderflower liqueur. What can I use instead?

St-Germain is the classic choice, but you can substitute with another elderflower liqueur or elderflower syrup. Elderflower is key the flavor here.

How can I customize my Hugo Spritz?

Get creative! Try adding muddled berries, a squeeze of citrus, or a sprig of rosemary for a unique twist.