Last Updated on: February 23, 2024
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With this homemade Heinz chili sauce recipe, you’ll never have to buy the expensive bottle again.
With its wonderful combination of sweet, savory, tangy, and spicy flavors, the Heinz chili sauce tastes better than ketchup.
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If you agree, you’ll definitely have to try this copycat recipe. After experimenting with tons of ingredients and recipes, I finally found the one.
I kid you not, this chili sauce tastes even better than the original.
And you can make it at home in just 30 minutes at the fraction of the cost! Sorry, Heinz, but this sauce is here, and it’s here to stay.
What is Heinz chili sauce?
Heinz may be famous for their ketchup, but their chili sauce is also pretty epic. But what is it, exactly?
It’s a tomato-based condiment flavored with sugar, vinegar, and aromatic spices.
And just to set the record straight, this chili doesn’t contain chili.
It gets its heat from garlic powder and onions, which means it’s really not spicy at all. That’s why even kids can’t say no to it!
Another great thing about it is its sheer versatility. It’s not just a condiment, but a sauce, a dip, a dressing, and a marinade, too.
Because it has so many uses, I highly suggest you triple this recipe, at least. Don’t worry, just like most sauces, its shelf-life is pretty impressive.
Ingredients
- Tomato Puree – Not to be confused with tomato sauce, tomato puree is made of cooked strained tomatoes and has a thicker consistency and concentrated flavor. If you don’t have tomato puree, swap it with the same amount of tomato sauce and 1-2 teaspoons of tomato paste.
- Light Corn Syrup – I like to use a thick sweetener here to help achieve that thick consistency. Maple syrup and honey make great substitutes.
- White Vinegar – You’ll need just a few spoonfuls to lend just a bit of tanginess to the sauce. You can also use apple cider vinegar.
- Dried Onion Flakes, Salt, and Garlic Powder – These three are my choice of seasonings. This combination complements and enhances the taste of tomatoes and sugar, giving the sauce an even deeper flavor.
- Granulated Sugar – For an extra dose of sweetness. You can use brown sugar as well.
- Lemon Juice – The tartness counterbalances the sweetness of the sauce.
Tips for the Best Chili Sauce
- Make a sweet swap. If you don’t have corn syrup on hand, maple syrup makes a fantastic alternative. You can also use a mix of brown sugar and honey.
- No tomato puree? Use a mix of tomato sauce and paste. Don’t add too much paste, though, or the sauce will be way too thick. Just 1-2 teaspoons will do.
- Season it up. I like a simple seasoning of salt and garlic powder in mine but feel free to make it your own. Some add cloves and nutmeg to give the sauce a bit of warmth. Try it and let me know how it turned out!
- Kick up the heat. While it’s called a chili sauce, this sauce isn’t actually that spicy. If you want a spicier version, amp up the heat with cayenne, hot sauce, or red chili powder.
Serving Suggestions
Heinz chili sauce is remarkably versatile and can be used in a variety of ways.
- Shrimp dip. With its wonderful balance of sweet and fiery flavors, this chili sauce makes for a great dip for chilled shrimp. Use it just like you would a co*cktail sauce.
- Ketchup replacement. Because it has similar flavors, ketchup and chili sauce can be interchanged. Squirt this onto hot dogs, burgers, sausages, and fries!
- Meatloaf and meatball binder. Aside from the added layer of flavor, it’ll also keep the meat-based dishes super moist.
- Sauce for BBQs, stir-fries, and grilled meats. Ditch the usual BBQ sauce and use this! Or, combine the two condiments to create an even bigger explosion of flavors.
- Salad dressing. If you like your salad with a hint of sweetness, add a spoonful of chili sauce to your favorite dressing.
- Pasta sauce. It’ll give the classic spaghetti sauce a spicy kick.
- Soup enhancer. You’d be surprised at how much flavor this chili sauce adds to chili and all kinds of soups and stews.
More Sauce Recipes
A1 Steak Sauce
Arby’s Sauce
Heinz 57 Sauce
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Papa John’s Garlic Sauce
Taco Bell Diablo Sauce
Heinz Chili Sauce (Copycat Recipe)
Prep time
5
minutes
Cooking time
30
minutes
Ingredients
1 cup tomato puree
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 teaspoons dried onion flakes
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the tomato puree, corn syrup, vinegar, onion flakes, sugar, salt, lemon juice, and garlic powder.
- Once it starts to bubble, lower the temperature to low and let the mixture simmer for 30 minutes. Allow the chili sauce to cool completely. Enjoy!
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