Sweet Chilli-Pineapple Sauce Recipe

Zesty Sweet Chilli-Pineapple Sauce Recipe for Tasty Dips

Sweet chilli-pineapple sauce bursts with vibrant tropical flavors that dance across your palate.

Bold and tangy combinations create an irresistible condiment perfect for adventurous home cooks.

Complex layers of heat and sweetness craft ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary experiences.

Tropical ingredients blend seamlessly, producing a versatile sauce that complements multiple dishes.

Bright and zesty, this sauce offers a delightful balance between spicy and sugary profiles.

Mediterranean and Asian culinary influences shine through its innovative flavor composition.

Each ingredient contributes a unique dimension, elevating simple recipes with remarkable depth and character.

Why Sweet Chilli-Pineapple Sauce Adds a Zingy Kick

  • Create Explosive Flavor Combinations: This sweet chilli-pineapple sauce bursts with a perfect balance of tropical sweetness, tangy vinegar, and spicy heat that dances across your taste buds.
  • Master Quick Gourmet Sauce Making: The recipe transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality condiment in under 15 minutes, empowering home cooks to create professional-level sauces with minimal effort.
  • Versatile Culinary Companion: Use this vibrant sauce as a glaze for grilled meats, a dipping sauce for appetizers, or a zesty marinade that elevates everything from chicken to vegetables with its complex flavor profile.
  • No-Fuss Preservation technique: The easy refrigeration method ensures you can enjoy this homemade sauce for weeks, keeping your kitchen stocked with a delicious, customizable condiment that's always ready to enhance any meal.

Ingredients for Sweet Chilli-Pineapple Sauce

Sweet Chili-Pineapple Sauce Ingredients:

Base Ingredients:
  • White Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create a thick, glossy sauce with caramelized notes.
  • Pineapple Juice: Adds tropical fruity flavor and natural sweetness to the sauce.
Acidic Components:
  • Rice Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar: Balances sweetness with tangy flavor and helps preserve the sauce.
Flavor Enhancers:
  • Garlic: Adds depth and aromatic warmth to the sauce's overall flavor profile.
  • Red Chili Flakes: Delivers spicy kick and vibrant heat, adjustable to personal preference.
  • Tomato Ketchup: Optional ingredient that adds slight tanginess and rich color.
  • Salt: Enhances and rounds out the sauce's complex flavor.
Thickening Agents:
  • Cornflour, Cold Water: Creates smooth, glossy texture and helps sauce reach desired consistency.

Making Sweet Chilli-Pineapple Sauce from Scratch

Step 1: Craft The Base Liquid

Toss sugar, pineapple juice, vinegar, and salt into a heavy-bottomed pan. Crank up the heat to medium and watch the mixture start bubbling and dancing.

Step 2: Unleash Spicy Flavors

When the liquid reaches a rolling boil, sprinkle in:
  • Red chili flakes
  • Minced garlic
  • Tomato ketchup

Keep the pan boiling and stir occasionally to blend these zesty ingredients.

Step 3: Create Silky Thickener

In a separate small bowl, whisk cornstarch with cold water until perfectly smooth. Lower the pan’s heat and slowly pour this magical slurry into the bubbling sauce.

Step 4: Transform Into Perfect Sauce

Continuously stir the mixture until it transforms into a luscious, glossy sauce. The consistency should coat the back of a spoon beautifully.

Step 5: Cool And Store

Let the sauce cool completely. Pour into a clean glass jar and refrigerate. This vibrant sauce will keep for several weeks, ready to jazz up any dish.

Tips to Balance Sweet and Spicy in Pineapple Sauce

  • Master the Sugar Ratio: Balance sweetness by using precise measurements of white sugar to achieve the perfect sweet-tangy flavor profile.
  • Prevent Lumpy Texture: Whisk cornflour with cold water thoroughly and add slowly while continuously stirring to ensure a smooth, silky sauce consistency.
  • Boost Flavor Depth: Toast red chili flakes for 30 seconds before adding to enhance their aromatic intensity and develop a more complex taste.
  • Control Sauce Thickness: Simmer gently and watch closely, understanding the sauce will continue thickening after removing from heat, so stop cooking just before reaching desired consistency.
  • Enhance Storage Life: Use sterilized glass bottles and seal tightly, which helps the sauce maintain freshness and prevents bacterial growth in the refrigerator.

Storing Sweet Chilli Sauce the Right Way

  • Refrigerate: Transfer cooled sauce to an airtight glass container with a tight-sealing lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
  • Reheat Gently: Warm the sauce in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Add a tiny splash of water if the sauce seems too thick.
  • Check Quality: Discard the sauce if you notice any unusual smell, mold, or color changes before the 2-week storage period.

Meals That Benefit from This Pineapple Sauce

  • Spice Up Protein Pairings: Drizzle this sweet chilli-pineapple sauce over grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu for a tangy tropical kick that'll make your taste buds dance.
  • Create Dipping Magic: Use the sauce as a vibrant dipping companion for spring rolls, crispy wontons, or fresh vegetable crudités to add a burst of exciting flavor.
  • Elevate Sandwich and Wrap Game: Spread this sauce inside wraps or sandwiches with pulled pork, grilled vegetables, or rotisserie chicken for an instant flavor transformation.
  • Cocktail Hour Companion: Serve alongside tropical-inspired cocktails like a pineapple mojito or rum punch to complement the sauce's sweet and spicy profile, creating a perfect flavor harmony.

Flavor Variations for Sweet Chilli-Pineapple Sauce

  • Tropical Heat Infusion: Replace red chili flakes with fresh habanero peppers for an intense, fruity spiciness that complements the pineapple's sweetness.
  • Smoky Pineapple Blend: Add a tablespoon of chipotle sauce or smoked paprika to introduce a deep, smoky flavor that enhances the sauce's complexity.
  • Ginger-Chili Punch: Incorporate fresh grated ginger for a zesty, warming undertone that brightens the sauce's overall flavor profile and adds a subtle kick.
  • Herbal Garden Mix: Stir in finely chopped fresh cilantro or Thai basil during the final simmering stage to introduce a fresh, green aromatic element that balances the sweet and spicy notes.
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Sweet Chilli-Pineapple Sauce Recipe

Sweet Chilli-Pineapple Sauce Recipe


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4.8 from 23 reviews

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 10 1x

Description

Tangy sweet chilli-pineapple sauce brings tropical excitement to any dish, blending fiery chilies with juicy pineapple’s natural sweetness. Drizzle this vibrant condiment over grilled meats, roasted vegetables, or use as a zesty dipping companion for an instant flavor boost.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 1.5 cups (354 ml) white sugar
  • 1 cup (237 ml) pineapple juice
  • ½ cup (118 ml) rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) cornflour
  • 4 tablespoons (60 ml) cold water

Flavor Enhancers:

  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) minced garlic
  • 12 tablespoons (1530 ml) red chili flakes
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) tomato ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt

Instructions

  1. Pour pineapple juice, white sugar, vinegar, and salt into a robust saucepan, positioning it over medium heat to initiate a rolling boil.
  2. Introduce red chili flakes, finely chopped garlic, and tomato ketchup into the bubbling liquid, maintaining a consistent boil while stirring periodically to distribute flavors evenly.
  3. Create a smooth cornflour slurry by whisking the powder with cold water until no lumps remain, ensuring a silky texture.
  4. Reduce cooking temperature and slowly incorporate the cornflour mixture, continuously stirring to prevent clumping and promote even thickening of the sauce.
  5. Allow the sauce to gently simmer, watching as it transforms into a luxurious, glossy consistency that will further condense upon cooling.
  6. Remove from heat and let the sweet chilli-pineapple sauce cool completely, then carefully decant into a sanitized glass container for refrigeration.
  7. Seal the bottle tightly and store in the refrigerator, where the sauce will maintain its vibrant flavor and smooth texture for future culinary adventures.

Notes

  • A fiery-sweet symphony of tropical flavors dancing in your kitchen.
  • Homemade sauce bursting with vibrant pineapple and chili punch that elevates any dish from ordinary to extraordinary.
  • Quick and simple preparation transforms basic ingredients into a restaurant-worthy condiment perfect for marinades, dipping, or drizzling.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Snacks, Appetizer, Dinner
  • Method: Boiling
  • Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 10
  • Calories: 103
  • Sugar: 14 g
  • Sodium: 123 mg
  • Fat: 0 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 0 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
Alex Reed

Alex Reed

Founder & Lead Content Writer

Expertise

Recipe Development and Testing​, Culinary Education​, Food Writing and Blogging​, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Global Cuisine Exploration

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and contemporary cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development. Emphasized hands-on experience in diverse culinary traditions.​

Le Cordon Bleu Paris

  • Program: Diplôme de Cuisine
  • Focus: Advanced instruction in French culinary techniques, including sauce preparation, pâtisserie, and haute cuisine.​

Alex Reed is an inventive chef and food creator with a passion for dishes that balance taste, health, and sustainability. 

Trained at Portland Community College and holding an Advanced Pastry Arts certificate from Oregon Culinary Institute, Alex brings more than 10 years of practical culinary experience to every recipe he develops. 

His background uniquely blends traditional cooking skills with modern, mindful eating principles. As the founder of Beard and Bonnet, Alex creates recipes that encourage readers to cook confidently.

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