McDonalds Sweet and Sour Sauce (Printable)

Tangy apricot-pineapple condiment ready in 15 minutes

# What's Needed:

→ Base

01 - 1/2 cup apricot preserves
02 - 1/4 cup canned pineapple juice
03 - 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar
04 - 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
05 - 3 tablespoons ketchup
06 - 2 teaspoons soy sauce
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Thickener

08 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
09 - 2 tablespoons cold water

→ Optional for Extra Zest

10 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
11 - 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

# How to Make It:

01 - In a small saucepan, combine apricot preserves, pineapple juice, vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, and salt.
02 - Place over medium heat and whisk until smooth and heated through, about 3–4 minutes.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch with cold water to make a slurry.
04 - Pour the slurry into the saucepan while stirring constantly.
05 - Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, whisking frequently, until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy, about 2–3 minutes.
06 - If using, stir in garlic powder and onion powder for extra depth.
07 - Remove from heat and let cool slightly before serving.

# Tips for Success:

01 -
  • You probably have everything in your pantry right now, meaning spontaneous nugget cravings can be satisfied immediately
  • Makes enough to last the week, though in my house it barely survives two days
  • Works on everything from actual chicken nuggets to morning toast and roasted vegetables
02 -
  • The sauce will seem too thin until it completely cools, so don't keep adding cornstarch like I did the first three times
  • If you strain it after cooking, you'll get that perfectly smooth restaurant texture, but I like the tiny fruit bits
03 -
  • If your sauce is too sweet after the first taste, add vinegar one drop at a time rather than making a whole new batch
  • Use a whisk instead of a spoon to ensure everything incorporates smoothly without any lumps

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