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My hot honey sauce recipe is sweet, spicy, and perfect for drizzling on fried chicken, pizza, buttermilk biscuits, and beyond. It’s ready in seconds and needs just three ingredients.
Once you get a taste of this homemade hot honey sauce, you’ll never go back to your regular condiments again.
It’s a 3-ingredient sweet and spicy sauce that is putting all others to shame. Not only is it a signature part of my hot honey chicken sandwich, but you’ll want to drizzle it on everything
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Easy to make. Despite it being made from only honey, vinegar, and chili flakes, this simple sauce delivers some seriously complex flavors.
- Better than store-bought. Making hot honey from scratch is less expensive and tastes much better than store-bought.
- Your spice preference. You are in complete control over the level of heat.
- Pairs with anything and everything. With its sweet heat and touch of tang, this sauce is one of the best to pair with chicken, pizza, pork, and more.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“Your hot honey sauce is spectacular. I had no idea how easy it was, and I found the bottled kind to never be spicy enough. Not anymore!” – Pepper
Key Ingredients
- Honey. Try to use unflavored filtered honey because it tastes better and has a wider variety of nutrients. I like to use Manuka honey.
- Apple cider vinegar. For a subtle, acidic, and tangy flavor that balances the rest of the sauce.
- Red pepper flakes. These add the heat! Feel free to start with only one teaspoon of chili flakes, then add more to reach your preferred level of spice.
How to make hot honey sauce
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Step 1 – Heat. Whisk the honey and apple cider vinegar in a small saucepan over low heat.
Step 2 – Infuse. Remove the saucepan from the heat as soon as the honey starts to simmer. Stir in the red pepper flakes.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Heat the honey to a simmer over low heat. Do not let it boil! If it boils, the flavor will be thrown off.
- Adjust the amount. This recipe makes about 16 tablespoons of sauce, but it’s very easy to double or triple the batch.
- Use the best honey. The flavor of the honey will be a key component of the sauce, so choose a high-quality honey with a flavor you enjoy. Raw honey or unfiltered local honey can add an extra layer of complexity to the sauce.
- If the sauce is too hot for your taste, you can reduce the spice level or add more honey.
- If the sauce is not hot enough, you can add a dash of hot sauce or cayenne pepper.
How to serve hot honey
My family consider hot honey to be the new ketchup, which means you can add it to anything. Here are some of our favorite pairings-
- Drizzled over my oven fried chicken or fried chicken tenders
- As a dipping sauce for French fries and sweet potato fries
- Add it to a charcuterie board
- Slathered on buttermilk biscuits
- Drizzled over vanilla ice cream (seriously!)
- Spread on your favorite pizza (we love pepperoni)
Storage instructions
To store: If stored in a sterilized dry jar, airtight container, or bottle, this sauce will keep at room temperature for 6 months to 1 year. Be sure to let it cool completely before sealing the container and storing it in a cool, dry place. Do not refrigerate.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, in particular, habanero peppers or jalapenos. Slice the fresh chili peppers first before stirring them into the honey and vinegar. Leaving the seeds and veins intact means the sauce will have more heat; however, you can remove them ahead of time for a milder sauce.
Absolutely. If the honey sauce crystallizes or solidifies, place the tightly sealed jar under hot running water until the honey melts and returns to a smooth liquid.
The thickness of hot honey sauce can vary depending on personal preference. Some people prefer a thinner sauce that can be drizzled over food, while others prefer a thicker sauce that can be used as a glaze. If you prefer a thicker sauce, simmer it on low heat for a few minutes to reduce the liquid.
More sauces and condiments to try
If you tried this Hot Honey Sauce recipe or any other recipe on The Big Man’s World, please rate the recipe and let me know how it went in the comments below. It really helps others thinking of making the recipe.
Hot Honey Sauce (3 Ingredients!)
Video
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1-2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Whisk together the honey and apple cider vinegar in a small saucepan and place over low heat.
- Once it starts to simmer, remove from the heat and add the red pepper flakes.
- Transfer it to a steralized jar or bottle.
