Healthy Sweet & Sour Sauce (Lower Calorie McDonalds Copycat)
This Healthy Sweet & Sour Sauce is going to be your new go-to condiment. It’s tangy, sweet, and glossy — just like your fave McDonald's takeaway sauce — but made without all the added sugar. This macro-friendly version is perfect for nugget dipping, drizzling over bowls, or tossing through a stir-fry.
Prep Time 2 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 7 minutes mins
Servings 6
Calories 40 kcal
- 100 g pure apricot jam *see notes
- 1/4 cup water
- 1–2 tbsp sweetener Like Natvia, Truvia or monkfruit, see notes
- 2 tbsp white vinegar
- 1/2 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- dash of garlic powder
- salt to taste
In a small saucepan, add the jam, water, sweetener, vinegar, mustard, soy sauce, garlic powder, and salt. Stir to combine.
OPTIONAL: Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce directly in the pan until smooth and silky.
Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with a splash of cold water to form a slurry. Stir it into the sauce.
Simmer for another 1–2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
Let the sauce cool slightly. Store in a jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
*Adjust the sweetness to taste based on the jam and sweetener you use.
*Sauce will thicken more as it cools.
*You can also use peach or pineapple jam for a variation.
Jam used: pure apricot jam (look for no added sugar)
Sweetener used: natvia
Immersion blender rec: Braun
Calories: 40kcalCarbohydrates: 9g
Keyword condiment, healthy sweet and sour sauce, sweet & sour sauce, sweet and sour sauce