Love homemade Asian sauces? Try my eel sauce, bulgogi sauce, katsu sauce, and tempura sauce next. Just made a fresh batch of potstickers? My homemade potsticker sauce recipe has to be made alongside it. It’s my go-to sauce whenever I make any Asian appetizers. It tastes so much better than anything store-bought, and it comes together in under a minute.
Why I love this recipe
Just 3 ingredients. No hard-to-find ingredients are needed, just pantry ingredients. Perfect flavor and texture. The texture is thinner than other Asian sauces but perfect to coat the potstickers nicely. It’s salty, umami-forward, with just the right amount of sweetness. Easy to customize. You can change up the spice or sodium level depending on your preferences. Versatile. Who said this sauce is just for gyoza or dumplings? My family loves it with fries, veggies, or even as a marinade.
Ingredients needed
Chili sauce. Use any chili sauce or hot sauce you like, depending on how hot or mild you want. I like choosing a milder flavor, especially if serving it to others. Soy sauce. Or tamari/gluten-free soy sauce, if you want this to be gluten-free. Brown sugar. For a touch of sweetness. Garnishes. When I’m serving this sauce at parties or potlucks, I like to sprinkle some finely chopped green onions, ginger, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below. “This was a great way to “fancy” up a bag of frozen pot stickers. The recipe didn’t specify, but I used chili garlic sauce from the Asian section. It was a little spicy for me, but perfect for my husband. We also used the 1/2 tsp of cornstarch as suggested. Very good, simple, and fast.” – Christine
How to make potsticker dipping sauce
Step 1- Mix. Add everything into a small bowl and whisk together. Step 2- Serve. Transfer the sauce to a serving dish and enjoy with fresh potstickers or dumplings.
Arman’s recipe tips
Omit the sweetness. If you prefer a more umami and spicy sauce, skip the brown sugar completely. For a tangier sauce, swap out the brown sugar or rice vinegar. Add sesame oil. While most potstickers have sesame oil in their filling, intensify the flavor by adding a drop or two to the sauce. Add chili oil. For a more traditional twist, add 1-2 tablespoons of chili oil. Be sure to mix well so there is little separation. Make it thicker. Add 1/2 teaspoon of cornstarch. Skip the chili. For a simple, thin sauce, mix soy sauce, sesame oil, and brown sugar.
Storage instructions
To store: Leftover sauce can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to three days. Be sure to give it a good mix before serving.
More homemade sauces
Hot honey sauce Garlic yogurt sauce Pomodoro sauce Big Mac sauce Or any of these sauce recipes
Originally published May 2022, updated and republished May 2024
