Uncle Johns Sweet Hot Dipping Sauce for Meat

Get ready to elevate your meat dishes with Uncle John’s Sweet Hot Dipping Sauce—a bold, flavor-packed condiment that's the perfect balance of sweet, smoky, and spicy. Crafted with pantry staples like ketchup, brown sugar, and honey, this sauce gets a zesty kick from hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, and cayenne pepper (optional for heat lovers). Smoked paprika and garlic powder add depth, while a touch of soy sauce rounds out the savory profile. In just 20 minutes, you’ll have a silky, versatile dipping sauce that pairs beautifully with grilled or roasted meats, crispy chicken tenders, or even hearty vegetables. Whether served warm or at room temperature, this homemade sweet-and-spicy sauce will quickly become your go-to for adding a flavorful punch to your favorite dishes. Perfect for cookouts, game days, or weeknight dinners—your taste buds are in for a treat!

Nutriscore Rating: 53/100

Prep Time:5 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 cup ketchup
• 0.5 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce (e.g., Tabasco or Sriracha)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 0.25 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (optional for extra heat)
• 0.25 cup water

Directions

Step 1

In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, honey, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, and water. Whisk until the ingredients are fully combined and smooth.

Step 2

Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.

Step 3

Stir in the hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using) until well incorporated.

Step 4

Reduce the heat to low and allow the sauce to simmer gently for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. This will help the flavors meld together and thicken the sauce slightly.

Step 5

Taste the sauce and adjust the sweetness or heat levels by adding a small additional amount of brown sugar or hot sauce, as desired.

Step 6

Remove the saucepan from heat and let the sauce cool slightly before serving. It will thicken as it cools.

Step 7

Serve the sweet hot dipping sauce warm or at room temperature alongside grilled meats, chicken tenders, or roasted vegetables.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(504.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	760.3

Total Fat 0.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 0.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1842.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 195.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 1.6g	0%
Total Sugars 174.0g
Protein 2.8g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 113.1mg	0%
Iron 1.7mg	0%
Potassium 320.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 0.5%

Protein: 1.4%

Carbs: 98.1%