This Hot Honey Sauce Recipe is incredibly easy to make, with only a few ingredients required! All you need to make this delicious hot honey dipping sauce is 5 minutes and honey and hot sauce.
Try it drizzled over my Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Bites!
This sweet and spicy sauce can be served with all kinds of dishes, such as deep-fried tofu, fillets of chicken or fish, steamed vegetables, fried rice noodles, egg rolls, and more.
Another great thing about this simple yet delicious recipe is that you can use it on its own or mix it with some butter to make an insanely good hot honey butter! Keep reading to find out how.
Highlights
- Simple and fast
- Only uses 2 pantry ingredients
- Cheaper than store bought
- Can be served with a wide variety of dishes
Why it's great
Super easy - with just a few ingredients, this hot honey sauce recipe could not be easier to make!
Delicious - the sweet and the spice pair perfectly well with each other for a delicious dipping sauce that goes well with many different dishes.
Versatile - you can use this hot honey sauce recipe to elevate any dish! It is perfect with Asian-style dishes, meat dishes, and much more.
Key ingredients
Honey - local honey works great for this recipe, but you can use any honey that you have on hand. Organic raw honey would work really great as well.
Hot Sauce - for this dipping sauce recipe, you can use hot sauce, such as Louisiana Hot sauce or Tabasco, or any favorite hot sauce will do. You can use more or less depending on your taste.
How to make hot honey sauce
Always start with clean hands, work area, and kitchen utensils.
Step One: Pour honey and hot sauce into a heat-proof, microwave-safe container.
Step Two: Heat for 30 seconds. Stir the honey mixture and serve warm or at room temperature.
Stovetop: Heat honey and chili sauce over medium heat, let simmer for 30 seconds while stirring to combine. Serve warm or at room temperature.
How to make hot honey butter
Soften ½ cup (1 stick) cut up unsalted butter.
In a bowl add butter, 3 tablespoons hot honey and a pinch kosher salt and mix until smooth and completely combined.
Can be made ahead and kept covered, at room temperature for 8 hours. Refrigerate for longer storage, or until butter's expiration date.
My tips
- Use local honey if possible.
- Use a variety of hot sauces to change up the hot honey. My favorite is Louisiana, but Tabasco, Sriracha, or Cholula are good too.
- Use a combination of hot sauces like half Tabasco and half Cholula.
Serving suggestions
You can serve your hot honey sauce with a variety of dishes. Try it with some of my delicious recipes:
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Bites
- Air Fryer Biscuits
- Sweet Chili Salmon
- Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Breasts
- Chicken Wings
- Corn on the Cob
- Brussels Sprouts
- Sausage Kabobs
Some other great ideas to serve your hot honey sauce with would be:
- Pizza
- Cornbread
- Banana Splits
- Hot Dogs
- Cocktails
- Fried Chicken
- Shrimp and seafood
- Cheese and Charcuterie Boards
Storage and reheating
You can store your leftover hot honey sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
I do not suggest freezing your honey sauce as it will change the consistency when thawed.
To reheat from refrigerated: Re-warm your honey sauce in the microwave for as long as needed.
I suggest only heating up the amount you plan to use for your meal and microwaving it in 20-second increments, making sure to stir after heating each time.
Hot honey sauce can be served hot or cold.
Variations
Try different hot sauce brands and combinations.
Add a small amount (½ to 1 teaspoon) of apple cider vinegar. Adjust amount to your liking.
Gluten free: honey is naturally gluten free, but be sure to read food labels if you have a dietary restriction.
Low carb: due to the sugar content, this hot honey sauce recipe is not low carb.
Common questions
Hot honey is a delicious sauce that is made with honey that has been infused with chili peppers or hot sauce.
It is the perfect mix of hot and sweet that tastes great with any dish. Plus, you can change the heat level with the amount of spice that you use.
The best type of honey to use in a hot honey sauce would be local raw organic honey.
This is because it brings out the natural flavors in the sauce and has a richer flavor. The texture will also be thicker when heated up.
Luckily, your hot honey sauce can be saved in your refrigerator for up to 3 months. So you do not need to use it up quickly, even though you may not be able to help it as it's so good!
I believe so! In fact, there are several health benefits from eating local raw honey.
Some of the health benefits include: promoting a healthy immune system, helping with allergies, suppressing a cough, and more. Plus, the heat may help to clear out stubborn sinuses.
Check out this post from the Mayo Clinic for more info.
Hot honey has a yummy sweetness with a bit of a kick of heat, but the spice is not overpowering. It is the perfect mix of sweet and heat.
The best part is that you can customize your spicy honey to suit your tastes. Some people prefer a stronger heat and add more hot sauce, while others enjoy it as a sweeter "hot" honey.
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📖 Recipe
Hot Honey Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce such as Louisiana Hot sauce or Tabasco, more or less depending on taste
- Pinch red pepper flakes optional
Hot Honey Butter
- ½ cup butter, softened at room temperature
- 3 tablespoon hot honey sauce
- Pinch of kosher salt
Instructions
- Pour honey and hot sauce into a heat proof, microwave safe container.
- Heat for 30 seconds. Stir honey mixture and serve warm or at room temperature.
Stovetop
- Heat honey and chili sauce over medium heat, let simmer for 30 seconds while stirring to combine. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Hot Honey Butter
- Mix softened butter, hot honey, and salt together in a bowl until smooth and completely combined. Can be made ahead and kept covered, at room temperature for 8 hours. Refrigerate for longer storage.
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