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This bang bang sauce is creamy, sweet, spicy, and one of the easiest ways to add big flavor to dinner. It comes together fast and works with everything from shrimp and tacos to salmon, chicken, and crispy appetizers.
I often make this bang bang sauce recipe with my sweet chili sauce for a fresher homemade flavor, but bottled sweet chili sauce works really well too. I love using it on salmon tacos, shrimp tacos, and my Bang Bang Shrimp when I want that creamy sweet-spicy finish.
The Sweet-Spicy Sauce That Pulls Dinner Together
Bang bang sauce is a creamy mayo-based sauce made with sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and lime juice. It is best known for shrimp, but it also works really well with tacos, salmon, chicken, rice bowls, and other quick meals that need an easy flavor boost.
What makes this sauce so useful is how flexible it is. You can make it with homemade sweet chili sauce when you have it on hand, or grab a bottle from the store and still end up with a sauce that tastes great.
Why You’ll Want to Make This Sauce
- Quick to make: You only need a few ingredients and a bowl.
- Big flavor with little effort: It adds creamy, sweet, tangy, spicy flavor to simple meals.
- Easy to use in different ways: Drizzle it, spread it, or serve it on the side as a dip.
- Flexible for real life: Homemade sweet chili sauce tastes great here, but bottled works just as well when you want to keep things easy.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses a short list of ingredients, and you can make it with either homemade or store-bought sweet chili sauce.
- Mayonnaise: This gives the sauce its creamy, rich base.
- Sweet chili sauce: This brings the sweet heat and signature flavor. I often use my homemade sweet chili sauce recipe, but bottled sweet chili sauce is an easy option that works great too.
- Sriracha: This adds heat and balances the creamy base.
- Lime juice: This brightens the sauce and keeps it from tasting too heavy.
Why I Like Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce Here
When I have my sweet chili sauce on hand, I love using it in this recipe because it gives the sauce a fresher flavor. It comes together in one pan in about 15 minutes, so it is an easy homemade option when I want it. But this recipe also turns out well with bottled sweet chili sauce from the store, and that is the version I make sometimes too. Both work, so you can go with whatever makes dinner easier.
How to Make Bang Bang Sauce
Stir Everything Together
Add the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and lime juice to a small bowl. Stir until the sauce is smooth and fully combined.
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Taste and Adjust
Taste the sauce and adjust it to fit your meal. Add a little more sriracha for more heat or another squeeze of lime if you want it brighter.
What Bang Bang Sauce Tastes Like
Bang bang sauce is creamy, sweet, tangy, and spicy. The mayo smooths everything out, the sweet chili sauce brings that familiar sweet heat, and the sriracha gives it a little kick.
The lime helps balance the richness so the sauce still tastes bright. That mix is what makes it work so well on everything from shrimp and tacos to salmon and chicken.
What to Serve With Bang Bang Sauce
This is one of those sauces that can do a lot in your kitchen. Once you make it, it is easy to start finding more ways to use it.
- Shrimp: Toss or drizzle it over Bang Bang Shrimp, air fryer shrimp (breaded), or cast iron seared shrimp
- Tacos: Spoon it over salmon tacos or shrimp tacos for a creamy finish
- Salmon: Try it with salmon patties, salmon bowls, or air fryer salmon
- Chicken: Serve it with grilled chicken kabobs, chicken nuggets, or chicken skewers.
- Dipping: Pair it with roasted vegetables, fries, or other crispy appetizers.
Tips for the Best Bang Bang Sauce
- Use a smooth sweet chili sauce: This helps the finished sauce stay creamy and easy to drizzle.
- Start with less sriracha: You can always add more after tasting.
- Use fresh lime juice: It brightens the sauce and balances the richness.
- Chill before serving: A short rest in the fridge helps the flavors come together.
- Stir before serving: If the sauce has been sitting in the fridge, give it a quick stir before using.
How to Store Bang Bang Sauce
Store leftover bang bang sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Give it a quick stir before serving to keep the texture smooth and creamy.
More Sauce Recipes to Make Next
If you like having homemade sauces ready to use during the week, these are great next recipes to try:
Bang Bang Sauce Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp Easy Keto Sweet Chili Sauce, click for recipe
- 1 tsp Sriracha Sauce
- 1/4 tsp lime juice
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a bowl. Mix with a fork.
- Serve as a dipping sauce or salad dressing
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Recipe Notes
- Use smooth sweet chili sauce: This helps the bang bang sauce stay creamy and easy to drizzle.
- Start with less sriracha: You can always add more after tasting if you want extra heat.
- Use fresh lime juice: It brightens the sauce and balances the richness of the mayo.
- Chill before serving: A short rest in the fridge helps the flavors come together.
- Stir before serving: If the sauce has been sitting, give it a quick mix before using.
- Use homemade or bottled sweet chili sauce: My homemade version gives it a fresher flavor, but bottled works great when you want to keep things easy.
Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used.
