Get ready to whip up this easy and delicious homemade bang bang sauce! This creamy, sweet, and perfectly spicy sauce is so versatile, you'll want to drizzle it over absolutely everything from cauliflower to chicken and fried shrimp.
I've personally tested this recipe many times to get that ideal balance of flavors, and it's truly a go-to in my kitchen. I'm confident you'll find it just as easy and delicious to make for your family and friends!"
This post is sponsored by Chef's Choice. All opinions are my own.
Notes from the Kitchen
- Balanced Flavors: This recipe has a great balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy, creating a sauce that's incredibly addictive and, as many have noted, often less sweet than store-bought versions. The secret? Just a touch of rice vinegar that makes all the difference!
- Lightning Fast: You can make up a batch of this delicious sauce in less than five minutes. Seriously, it's that quick!
- Endlessly Versatile: While famous for shrimp, this sauce is amazing on so much more – think chicken, cauliflower, tacos, and even as a dip for fries.
- Easy to Customize: Want more heat? Less sweetness? It's super simple to adjust the ingredients to suit your personal taste.
What to Gather
You only need 4 ingredients to make this bang bang sauce recipe!
Mayonnaise: Choose traditional, olive oil, avocado oil, light, or even vegan mayonnaise. Avocado oil mayo is my go-to!
Sweet Chili Sauce. Also known as Thai sweet chili sauce or sweet Thai chili sauce, this sauce is sweet and just lightly spicy. I used Chef's Choice's sweet chili sauce.
Sriracha. Adds heat and savory dimension to the creamy concoction. The sriracha I used was the Sriracha Chili Sauce (Dynamite Hot) by Chef's Choice.
Vinegar. Between the creamy mayo and the sweetness of the chili sauce, I like to add a little tang with some rice vinegar. Feel free to use apple cider vinegar, or some lemon or lime juice instead.
Tips for the Tastiest Bang Bang Sauce
Adjust the heat and sweetness to taste. Use more or less sriracha or sweet chili sauce to achieve your desired taste. I usually use 2 tablespoons of sriracha and ¼ cup of chili sauce.
Let the flavors develop. Enjoy it right away or let the sauce chill for up to 3 hours before serving to let the flavors develop.
Swap the vinegar for lemon or lime juice. Squeeze in 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or lime juice for a bright finish to the dip or if you mix in too much sriracha for your taste. The acid in the lemon juice cuts the heat, preventing waste.
Double the batch and save for later. Leftover sauce can be kept covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It does not freeze well, as the mayo will split in the freezing and defrosting process.
Bang Bang Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise regular or vegan
- ¼ cup Thai sweet chili sauce
- 1-2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
Instructions
- Add the mayo, sweet chili sauce, and vinegar to a small bowl and mix together.
- Add 1 tablespoon of Sriracha and add more to taste. Serve with coconut rice, bang bang cauliflower, fried shrimp, chicken, and more!
Notes
Nutrition
Serving Suggestions
Bang bang sauce is so versatile, you can serve it with a variety of dishes! Serve it with shrimp, salmon, chicken or tofu, add some zip to your favorite wrap, use it as a dip for veggies or tempura, or dollop it on poke bowls.
I personally love having coconut rice in a bowl topped with breaded cauliflower and avocado slices with homemade bang bang sauce drizzled on top! To make coconut rice, rinse and drain 1½ cups of rice. Heat a skillet on medium heat with 1 tablespoon of butter. Add 1 teaspoon of grated ginger, and once it becomes fragrant, add and sauté the rice. Add the rice, half a can of coconut milk (6.75 fl oz), and ¾ cup stock to a rice cooker and cook according to the rice cooker instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bang bang sauce is a creamy, spicy, and lightly sweet sauce that is often used as a dip or condiment. It was made popular with Bonefish Grill's bang bang shrimp menu offering.
Bang bang sauce is not the same as yum yum. Bang bang is made with mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and vinegar or a sweetener whereas yum yum is made with mayonnaise, ketchup or tomato paste, garlic, paprika, and vinegar.
Make a substitute for Thai chili sauce by mixing together equal parts maple syrup and sambal oelek, whisking 2 parts maple syrup with 1 part sriracha or hot sauce, or 2 parts spicy ketchup mixed with 1 part granulated sugar.
In Mandarin, the word bàng is used to describe something that is great or wonderful, making it the perfect name for this sauce!
Yes! Use equal amounts of vegan mayo for regular mayo in this recipe.
Absolutely!
Yes, bang bang sauce is gluten-free.
You can swap the mayo with plain Greek yogurt. It won't taste the same, but it will be just as creamy.
More Savory Vegan Recipes
If you're looking for another dip, try this creamy vegan spinach artichoke dip!
Love warm and comforting soups? My vegan pumpkin soup and roasted tomato soup are both great options when you're craving something warm and cozy.
This vegetable gyoza recipe is delicious as a side dish or appetizer!
My arepas recipe would be the perfect vessel for a sandwich, with some bang bang cauliflower inside!
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