Honey Hot Sauce Recipe (2 Ingredients, 1 Minute)
This homemade honey hot sauce recipe is sweet, spicy, crunchy, and delish, but calling it a recipe is a bit of a stretch I realize. Simply combine honey and chili crisp, and warm it for a few seconds in the microwave. That’s it!
More importantly, check out the great ways to use this addictive sauce, condiment or glaze. It’s a super versatile condiment and, as always, there are a few good variations to try.
What to expect
This is the easiest homemade hot honey recipe ever. A perfect combination of 2 simple ingredients, a nice kick of heat, better than a store-bought version and only 1 minute to make.
It’s different from many of the recipes online because you are:
- not cooking it on the stove
- not straining it so it has a wonderful crunchy texture (the crunchy bits in the chili crisp are a delicious twist on the more usual smooth sauce)
- only using 2 ingredients (unless you choose to add a few variations)
- getting all the additional flavors in chili crisp (crispy garlic and shallot bits, chili peppers and various spices)
Move over Mike’s hot honey and check this one out!
Ingredients – tailored to your taste
Honey: Any kind of honey will work for this recipe. I prefer pure local honey, or at least not the kind made with corn syrup. See FAQs for more info on honey.
Chili crisp: I buy it in a jar at my local Asian grocery store but many mainstream grocery stores and Amazon carry it now. Check out FAQs on the best brands to buy. You can also it yourself with this homemade chili crisp recipe by Chili Pepper Madness.
Variations
- For smokiness, add a pinch of smoked paprika or chipotle peppers (or ground chipotle)
- Add 2-3 teaspoons of butter before microwaving the hot honey for extra richness. Many recipes contain a lot of butter. I don’t find it necessary.
- Add a small splash of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to tame the sweet honey.
- Mix in a little sour cream or mayonnaise for a creamy dipping sauce.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon and/or salt for extra flavor.
- Experiment with different types of honey – clover honey, wildflower honey, orange blossom.
How to make homemade hot honey sauce
Great ways to use spicy honey sauce
Hot honey sauce can be used as a sauce, glaze or spicy-sweet condiment. It’s a great addition to so many dishes.
Enjoy a drizzle of hot honey on:
- biscuits
- goat cheese or ricotta spread
- cornbread
- hummus
- pizza
- baked brie
- corn on the cob
- french fries
- grilled peach halves
- roasted vegetables
Or use it as a spicy condiment or glaze for:
- chicken wings – make these delicious hot honey chicken wings with 5 ingredients.
- roast or grilled chicken (the one in the pictures)
- baked salmon – or on these salmon bites.
- sandwiches
- charcuterie board
Make Ahead
Store the honey hot sauce in the fridge in an airtight container for 2-3 months. To loosen it up, microwave it for 10-15 seconds.
Recipe FAQs
According to Healthline, most honey in grocery stores has been pasteurized, meaning it has been heated and many of its nutrients and health benefits destroyed. Raw honey is unpasteurized and comes straight from the beehive – just be careful you are buying it from a reliable source. Labels such as “natural,” “organic,” and “pure,” do not mean that it’s raw. There are many different varieties.
Prolonged high heat will destroy the benefits of honey. Microwaving it for a few seconds in short bursts is fine.
Honey has a very long shelf life – it never goes bad! Raw honey can crystallize but it is still fine to eat. You can decrystalize honey by putting the jar in warm water. Or microwave it in a microwave-safe container for 10-15 seconds. Do not overheat it – use short bursts.
Chili crisp, also known as chili oil flakes or chili crunch is a popular condiment in many Asian cuisines. It typically consists of fresh chili peppers, garlic, shallots, and various spices infused with oil and fried until crispy. Sometimes vinegar is added, but not always. Chili crisp adds heat, flavor, and texture to various dishes.
Bon Appetite editors recommend the top 10 chili crisps in a jar. Favorites are Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisps (crunchy and spicy but not too spicy), Mẹ’s Way Chili Sauce (includes fish sauce), Momofuku Chili Crunch (very hot, crunchy, umami with some sweetness). Check the ingredients if you are vegetarian (some contain fish sauce, anchovies or dried shrimp).
More recipes for condiments and sauces
- 5-minute herb sauce
- sriracha aioli
- 5 minute cranberry orange relish
- savory peach sauce
- peach chutney
- fruit salsa
If you like this recipe, please leave a 5 star rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟with a comment in the recipe card below. Thanks so much!
Honey Hot Sauce Recipe (2 Ingredients, 1 Minute)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey, any kind
- 2 tablespoons chili crisp, Note 1 (or more or less to suit your heat preference)
- pinch of salt (optional)
Instructions
- MAKE HOT HONEY SAUCE: Combine honey and chili crisp in a small microwave-safe cup or pyrex measuring cup. Start with less chili crisp, taste and add more to the heat level you prefer. To make it more liquidy, place in microwave and heat on high for 10-15 seconds. Add a few more seconds if needed. Note 2 for other heating options. For certain uses (like tossing with crispy wings), heating is not necessary.
Recipe Notes
- Chili crisps: Buy them at an Asian grocery store or on Amazon. Some good brands are: Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisps (crunchy and spicy but not too spicy), Mẹ’s Way Chili Sauce (includes fish sauce), Momofuku Chili Crunch (very hot, crunchy, umami with some sweetness). Or make them yourself with this homemade chili crisp recipe by Chili Pepper Madness if you like.
- Other heating options: Instead of the microwave you can place your glass bowl in hot water to loosen up the hot honey. Or warm it on the stovetop on medium-low heat in a small saucepan for a couple of minutes. Keep in mind you don’t have to heat the hot honey. For example, if using on baked wings, just toss it with the hot wings.
- Variations
- For smokiness, add a pinch of smoked paprika or chipotle peppers (or ground chipotle)
- Add 2-3 teaspoons of butter before microwaving the hot honey for extra richness. Many recipes contain a lot of butter. I don’t find it necessary.
- Add a small splash of apple cider vinegar or lime juice to tame the sweetness.
- Mix in a little sour cream or mayonnaise for a creamy dipping sauce.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon and/or salt for extra flavor.
- Experiment with different types of honey – clover honey, wildflower honey, orange blossom.
- Use spicy hot honey sauce on: fried chicken, baked wings, salmon, biscuits, corn on the cob, cornbread, roasted vegetables, goat cheese or ricotta spread, baked brie, fries, and sandwiches.
- Make ahead: Store in the fridge in an airtight container for 2-3 months. It can also be stored at room temperature, but that will depend on the ingredients in the chili crisp. I would use the fridge to be safe. To loosen it up, microwave it for 10-15 seconds.
