8 Top Alternatives to Chili Garlic Sauce
By/ Published on February 22, 2023 / Last updated on November 24, 2023
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Who doesn’t love sauces? They can elevate any dish from mundane to spectacular. Among countless sauces available, chili garlic sauce stands out as a personal favorite for multiple reasons.
This fiery sauce combines hot chili peppers, sugar, garlic salt, and vinegar, making it a hallmark condiment in Vietnamese cuisine, now enjoyed around the globe.
The sauce enhances a variety of dishes, imparting a spicy kick to items like meatballs or stir-fries.
But what happens if you’re out of chili garlic sauce while preparing meatballs? You may need an alternative. Some of the top substitutes for chili garlic sauce include harissa sauce, sriracha, chili paste, red pepper flakes, and chili garlic paste.
What’s In This Article
Quick Overview: Chili Garlic Sauce

Before diving into substitutes, let’s briefly overview chili garlic sauce.
What Is Chili Garlic Sauce?
Chili garlic sauce is crafted from chili peppers, sugar, garlic, vinegar, and salt. Many people mistakenly assume that sriracha and chili garlic sauce are interchangeable, but that is not the case.
Flavor and Texture of Chili Garlic Sauce
This sauce features a hot, spicy flavor accompanied by a garlic undertone. It’s notably fiery, often necessitating a drink of water by your side. Its consistency is thick and syrupy, typical for sauces.
Applications for Chili Garlic Sauce
Chili garlic sauce enriches dishes with its wonderfully delicious flavor. It pairs nicely with a variety of foods like sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, pasta, noodles, stir-fries, as well as oven-roasted, grilled, or fried meats and vegetables.
Besides enhancing flavor, it adds appealing texture and visual vibrancy to your dishes.
Health Benefits of Chili Garlic Sauce
Beyond flavor and texture, chili garlic sauce offers certain health advantages. As a spicy condiment, it can help curb hunger pangs and boost metabolism, along with aiding in alleviating inflammation associated with cold symptoms and contributing to longevity.
But what should you do when your chili garlic sauce bottle runs dry? The following selection of substitutes will come to your aid. Additional Food Substitutes You Can Explore
– Best Chili Paste Alternatives You Can Try
– Top Chili Sauce Substitutes to Consider
– Excellent Chili Powder Alternatives
– Alternative Options for Garlic Salt
– Plum Sauce Substitutes You Should Consider
– Oyster Sauce Substitutes for Your Cooking
– Adobo Sauce Alternatives You Must Know
– Applesauce Substitutes You Can Experiment With
– Ponzu Sauce Alternatives Worth Trying
– Light Soy Sauce Substitutes You Should Explore
8 Best Alternatives to Chili Garlic Sauce
Here are the eight best alternatives to chili garlic sauce:
1. Harissa Sauce
Harissa sauce ranks as the closest substitute for chili garlic sauce. This North African chili sauce is crafted from red chilies, garlic, vinegar, and various spices. Often used for dips or marinades, it boasts a potent peppery flavor with a hint of garlic. With a similar flavor and texture to chili garlic sauce, harissa can effectively replace it in any savory dish.
2. Sriracha
Sriracha is a chili sauce made from jalapeno peppers, distilled vinegar, sugar, salt, and garlic. It features a thick, oily consistency and delivers a spicy tang with a touch of sweetness. Although originating from Asian cuisine, sriracha has captured the taste buds of many globally. You can substitute it for chili garlic sauce in small amounts, considering its prominent vinegar flavor.
3. Chili Paste
If you’ve run out of all sauces, you…
[For more content, please refer to the original document.]Types of Sauces
# How To Use Chili Garlic Sauce Substitutes In A Recipe
## Chili Garlic Sauce Substitutes
Chili garlic sauce, a cherished condiment from Vietnamese cuisine, is now adored worldwide. It is often employed in a variety of dishes to provide a spicy enhancement, such as in meatballs or stir-fries. However, if you find yourself without chili garlic sauce while cooking, there are several effective alternatives available.
– Review the substitutes and identify which one aligns best with your recipe.
– Gather your ingredients and opt for the substitute of your choice.
– Employ the substitute in the specified amount, then continue to prepare the dish as outlined.
Most of the substitutes listed above can effectively mimic the flavor of chili garlic sauce in different ways.
Nonetheless, consider the type, brand, and flavor profile of the sauce before making your selection. This decision should be tailored to the nature of your recipe. Experiment with them and let me know your thoughts. Until next time!
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