Szechuan Sauce – McDonald’s Copycat

Szechuan Sauce – McDonald’s Copycat is a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy Szechuan sauce copycat recipe that brings back the cult classic from 1998. Perfect for dipping chicken nuggets, fries, or anything you like!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons plum sauce (or substitute with apricot preserves)
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon cold water (for slurry)
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground Szechuan peppercorns (optional, for authenticity)
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, 1/2 cup water, white vinegar, brown sugar, plum sauce, ketchup, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, rice vinegar, Szechuan peppercorns, red pepper flakes, onion powder, and black pepper.
2. Whisk together and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
3. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with 1 tablespoon cold water to make a slurry.
4. Once the sauce is boiling, reduce heat to low and stir in the cornstarch slurry.
5. Simmer for 2–3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
6. Remove from heat and let cool. The sauce will thicken a bit more as it cools.
7. Serve with chicken nuggets, fries, or your favorite dipping foods. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Tips for the Best Szechuan Sauce Copycat

• Adjust the spice level by adding more or less red pepper flakes.
• Use apricot preserves if you can’t find plum sauce.
• Try this sauce as a stir-fry base for chicken or tofu.

FAQ

Is this Szechuan sauce copycat gluten-free?
Use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari for a gluten-free version.

How long does Szechuan sauce last?
Store in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Looking for more Asian-inspired sauces? Check out our Asian recipes!