McDonald’s Copycat Sweet & Sour Sauce! (VIDEO)
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This is your favorite fast food McDonald’s Sweet and Sour Sauce but so much better – you need only 6 ingredients (NO cornstarch or preservatives needed) and it’s so easy to make in 10 minutes!
Watch the Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe Video!
A Note from CJ
Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce is so much better!
Stop going to McDonald’s and getting their Sweet and Sour Sauce when you can make it at home! My copycat version is the perfect dipping sauce for everything from Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets, Egg Rolls, homemade Dumplings, Chicken Tenders (or Air Fryer Chicken Tenders), Crispy Panko Shrimp, Coconut Shrimp, or even Crispy Air Fryer Tofu!
Ingredient Tips
Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements!
- white sugar – adjust if you prefer a less sweet sauce – FYI the dried apricots and pineapple juice already have sugar in them!
- dried apricots – other recipes call for using apricot preserves or fresh apricots – I prefer using dried apricots for their sweet flavor (McDonald’s uses apricot puree in their Sweet and Sour sauce), which I crush into the sauce as they soften.
- pineapple juice – I recommend using “no sugar added” pure pineapple juice (not from concentrate) to control the level of sweetness.
- ketchup – Some brands of ketchup are sweeter than others, so adjust the amount of sugar accordingly.
How to Make McDonald’s Sweet and Sour Sauce
Boil Sliced Apricots with Vinegar and Sugar – Slice open the dried apriocots lengthwise to expose the inside. In a medium pot, add the vinegar, sugar, and apricots. Turn the heat to high and stir occasionally until the vinegar boils and the sugar is dissolved. Boil for 3-4 minutes until vinegar has reduced by half. At this point, the apricots should be softened, so smash them a few times with a wooden spoon to release more of their flavor.
Simmer with Pineapple Juice, Soy Sauce, and Ketchup – Add the pineapple juice, soy sauce, and ketchup. Mix to combine and bring to a simmer. Reduce for 2-3 minutes until the sauce resembles a consistency slightly looser than pancake batter. Remove the apricots and place in a heatproof container to cool.
PRO TIPS
CJ’s Storage Tips
When I make my homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce, I like to double or triple the portion so I can keep it in the refrigerator and eat it with multiple meals! Make sure to store in an airtight container in the refrigerator – it should last for up to 4 weeks. Do not store on your countertop – the sauce has no preservatives, so it will go bad! Avoi dipping directly into the container to avoid cross contamination or crumbs.
If you tried this Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Copycat McDonald’s Sweet and Sour Sauce (VIDEO)
Ingredients
- 4 dried apricots
- 1 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
Instructions
- Slice open the dried apriocots lengthwise to expose the inside.
- In a medium pot, add the vinegar, sugar, and apricots. Turn the heat to high and stir occasionally until the vinegar boils and the sugar is dissolved. Boil for 3-4 minutes until the vinegar has reduced by half. At this point, the apricots should be softened, so smash them a few times with a wooden spoon to release more of their flavor.
- Add the pineapple juice, soy sauce, and ketchup. Mix to combine and bring to a simmer. Reduce for 2-3 minutes until the sauce resembles a consistency slightly looser than pancake batter.
- Remove the apricots and place in a heatproof container to cool.
Video
Notes
- I recommend using “no sugar added” pineapple juice to control the level of sweetness.
- Some brands of ketchup may be sweeter than others; therefore, I would adjust the amount of sugar accordingly.
- The dried apricots and pineapple juice already have sugar in them, so you may find that you don’t need as much sugar.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe was originally posted in February 2025, and updated in February 2026.
