Name: Bang Bang Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: 1/2 cup mayo; 1/3 cup sweet thai chili sauce; 2 tablespoons soy sauce low sodium; 1 tablespoon hot sauce; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; 1 clove garlic grated; 2 teaspoons honey

There are a lot of Bang Bang Sauce recipes out there, but this one? This is the one you’ll keep coming back to. If you’ve ever had Bang Bang Shrimp at a restaurant, you know how good that creamy spicy sauce is. But let’s be honest, store-bought versions don’t taste the same. This from-scratch Bang Bang Sauce is smooth, packed with flavor, and ridiculously straightforward to cook with a handful of ingredients. It’s the well-balanced way to add major flavor to shrimp, chicken, fries, and about anything, all in under 5 minutes.

A hand dips a piece of breaded shrimp into a white bowl of creamy sauce. The shrimp are arranged around the bowl on a plate, garnished with green onions.

We've tested a lot of Bang Bang Sauce recipes, and this one is hands-down a house favorite. It’s not a basic mix of mayo and sweet chili sauce. It’s smooth, creamy, and has the right amount of heat without being overwhelming. Plus, it’s not too sweet like some versions can be.

A lot of recipes keep it basic with mayo and sweet chili sauce, but that always felt like it was missing something. The touch of soy sauce adds depth, the honey balances out the heat, and freshly grated garlic gives it a bold kick. A house favorite part? It’s straightforward to cook in a few minutes with some straightforward to find ingredients. Personally, we think this is a house favorite dipping sauce for shrimp—especially crispy shrimp.

Bang Bang Sauce Ingredients

Mayonnaise – This is the base of the sauce, giving it that creamy texture and flavor. Full-fat mayo works best, but you can use a lighter version if you prefer.
Sweet Thai Chili Sauce – Adds the signature sweetness with a hint of tang and spice. This is what gives Bang Bang Sauce its classic flavor.
Low Sodium Soy Sauce – This adds a depth that you won’t find in most versions. However, we highly recommend sticking with the low-sodium kind to keep it from tasting overly salty.
Hot Sauce – a little kick to balance out the sweetness. Use your favorite brand. A lot of people go for sriracha, but personally, we love Tabasco for this.
Rice Vinegar – Brightens everything up and keeps the flavors from feeling too heavy.
Garlic – Freshly grated garlic makes all the difference. It blends smoothly into the sauce so that no one bites into a chunk of raw garlic.
Honey – a touch to smooth out some of the heat.

How to cook Bang Bang Sauce at Home

Grab a medium-sized mixing bowl and add the mayo, sweet Thai chili sauce, soy sauce, hot sauce, rice vinegar, grated garlic, and honey.
Use a whisk to mix everything together until it’s fully combined and silky smooth. You want the garlic evenly distributed so you don’t get any overpowering bites.
Give it a taste and tweak it to your liking. Add more hot sauce for extra heat, a little more honey if you like it sweeter, or a splash of vinegar for more tang.
Use it right away or store it in an airtight container in the fridge. The flavors get even better as they sit!

bang bang sauce ingredients in a mixing bowl

Tips and Tricks

Grate the garlic finely. A zester or microplane works best to avoid biting into raw garlic chunks. It blends right into the sauce, giving it a smooth consistency and bold flavor.

Let it sit for a house favorite flavor. While you can use it right away, letting it rest for about 15-30 minutes in the fridge allows the flavors to meld together.

Use a good quality mayo. Full fat mayo gives a house favorite texture and flavor. Light mayo will be thinner. We always reach for Duke’s!

Adjust to your taste. Want more heat? Add extra hot sauce. Prefer it tangier? Add a little more vinegar.

Make it ahead. This sauce keeps well for up to a week in the fridge.

How to keep From-scratch Bang Bang Sauce

If you want to keep your Bang Bang Sauce fresh, here’s how to keep it right:

Store the sauce in an airtight container or glass jar in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to 1 week.
Separation is normal. If the ingredients slightly separate over time, give it a quick stir before using.
Do not freeze! Mayo-based sauces don’t freeze well. They separate when thawed, so it’s best to make it fresh as you need it.

Close-up of a creamy dipping sauce in a white bowl surrounded by breaded fried shrimp. The sauce is pale and smooth, while the shrimp are golden brown and crispy, suggesting a savory appetizer or seafood meal.

BangBang Sauce Recipe FAQs

Prep 5 minutesTotal 5 minutesMakes 12 servings

Ingredients

1/2 cup mayo
1/3 cup sweet thai chili sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce low sodium
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 clove garlic grated
2 teaspoons honey

Method

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the mayonnaise, sweet Thai chili sauce, soy sauce, hot sauce, rice vinegar, grated garlic, and honey.
Use a whisk to combine everything until the sauce is completely smooth and well blended.
If you prefer a spicier sauce, add more hot sauce. For extra sweetness, add a little more honey.
Use immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to a week.

Notes

It’s important that the garlic is grated well to avoid biting into a large chunk. A zester works great for this.
Add more or less hot sauce to suit your heat preference. You can also swap the hot sauce for sriracha for a slightly different flavor.
If you prefer a thicker consistency, reduce the soy sauce slightly or add an extra tablespoon of mayo.
For a thinner sauce, add a splash of water or more rice vinegar to make it more drizzle-friendly.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. Stir before using as separation may occur.
This sauce goes great with shrimp, chicken, fries, tacos, or even as a salad dressing.