A very easy to make copycat dipping sauce for chicken fingers and other appetizers everyone will enjoy.
Sweet and Sour Sauce Copycat Recipe
I made this quick and easy sweet and sour sauce copycat recipe with my grandson. The ever popular Mickey ‘D’s’ gives out a sweet and sour sauce with the chicken fingers which is my grandson’s favorite. He is a picky eater but he likes chicken as long as there is something to dip it in.
This recipe is terrific to make #cookingwithkids.
You can say, or my grandsons will say I’m the ‘fast food police’. You can almost bet your bottom dollar I will not drive to any drive-thru joint unless we were in an emergency.
I will go the extra mile to make as much as I can from scratch than go to a drive through – except for Dunkin’ coffee.
So I convinced my grandson that we could make a sweet and sour sauce. He was skeptical but was willing to make the sauce with me – probably so he could say, “see I told you it wouldn’t be the same!!!”.
The ingredient list is nothing unusual but does include light corn syrup. Fortunately there is a “0” gram high fructose corn syrup available. This recipe calls for only 2 tablespoons.
So let’s get cooking.
PrintSweet and Sour Sauce Copycat Recipe

Quick and Easy to make Sweet and Sour Copycat recipe, a delicious dipping sauce #cookingwithkids
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Cuisine: Condiment
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup peach preserves
- 1/4 cup apricot preserves
- 2 TBLS. light corn syrup
- 5 tsp. white vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp. soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp. yellow mustard
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
- 2 TBLS. water
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients EXCEPT WATER into a blender and puree until smooth – Approx. 20 seconds.
- Pour the mixture into a small saucepan on medium heat, now add in the WATER, stir well and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes stirring often. Sauce will thicken and the color will change from cloudy to clear.
- The sauce will thicken, remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes.
- Pour into an airtight jar or container. Keep covered and store in refrigerator.
My grandson was so surprised that we were able to make a sweet and sour sauce that tasted exactly like his favorite sauce from Mickey ‘D’s’. It was a huge plus for me not to have to hear “see I told you it wouldn’t taste the same!” but instead it was a resounding “Wow! that’s so amazing, I can’t believe it!”
All three of my grandsons are creative in different ways so I’m thrilled that cooking is something they like to do. They are always amazed at how the flavors come together.
I can firmly attest to the fact that if you engage the kids to help you in the kitchen they will be more then willing to try something new.
**I wrote out the recipe on a scrap of paper and do not remember where I found it. It’s very likely I saw it in a magazine while I was in a doctor’s office waiting room. I’ve been in many in recent months and I have no idea what magazine it could have been.
Lori Spurgeon says
Can’t wait to try this! I’m literally obsessed with mcdonalds sweet and sour sauce so much I even lick clean the little plastic cup.
Wine Lady says
Thanks Lori, my grandson thinks it’s the same, and the kids must know 🙂
Sue says
Thank you so much for this copy cat recipe! I’m trying to watch my sodium intake, and I really believe this is better than the 150mg of 1 packet McDonald’s sweet & sour sauce!! Thanks so much for sharing!
Agness of Run Agness Run says
This is a yummy sauce! Can’t wait to try it with tomorrow’s lunch. Keep up the good work, Joanne!
Wine Lady says
Thank You Agness.
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks for this inspiring sauce! I would love to take a dip in that!
WineLady says
LOL – Thanks so much Dan!
Sandra Shaffer says
What a delicious copy-cat sweet and sour recipe! This looks super yummy. I can see why it was a hit and I know it tastes better than McD’s!! p.s. your recipe finds are just like mine, except I started to take photos from the magazines 🙂
WineLady says
Thanks so much Sandra. I just re-made it again for another recipe and eliminated the light corn syrup and it was outstanding.