This 3-ingredient potsticker sauce is savory, tangy, and with a hint of sweetness. It’s the perfect dipping sauce for gyoza, wontons, egg rolls, and more!

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.

Table of Contents

1. Why I love this recipe
2. Ingredients needed
3. Arman’s recipe tips
4. Storage instructions
5. More homemade sauces
6. Potsticker Sauce (Recipe Card)

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.

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
• Love homemade Asian sauces? Try my eel sauce, bulgogi sauce, katsu sauce, and tempura sauce next.

Originally published May 2022, updated and republished May 2024