5 Most Popular Asian Stir-Fry Sauces

5 Most Popular Asian Stir-Fry Sauces — Master these five essential Asian stir-fry sauces and instantly elevate your home-cooked meals! From savory brown sauce to tangy sweet and sour, these versatile sauces can be used in countless dishes like General Tso’s chicken, teriyaki stir-fries, sesame chicken, and more. Best of all, you can make them ahead and store in your fridge or freezer to make weeknight cooking faster and easier.

Serves: 2 to 4 per sauce
Prep time: 5 minutes per sauce
Cook time: varies per dish

1. Brown Sauce Recipe

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• ½ tablespoon dark soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice wine
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• Pinch of sugar
• Pinch of white pepper
• ½ cup chicken or beef stock
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water)

Tip: Add minced ginger, scallions, and garlic to infuse extra flavor when making a larger batch.

Great for: lo mein, chow fun, beef and broccoli, stir-fried greens, and many classic Chinese dishes.

2. General Tso’s Sauce Recipe

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon red chili oil
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• Pinch of white pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 5 dried red chilies
• ½ cup chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch slurry

Tip: You can add garlic and dried chilies while stir-frying instead of in the sauce.

Great for: General Tso’s chicken, crispy tofu, or any protein you want with a spicy-sweet kick.

3. Teriyaki Sauce Recipe

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons mirin
• 2 tablespoons sake
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ cup chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch slurry

Great for: grilled chicken, salmon, stir-fried vegetables, and rice bowls.

4. Honey Sesame Sauce Recipe

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice wine
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons roasted white sesame seeds
• ½ cup chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch slurry

Great for: sesame chicken, roasted vegetables, tofu dishes, and stir-fry with a sweet nutty flavor.

5. Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe

• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons ketchup
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• ½ cup chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch slurry

Great for: sweet and sour chicken, pork, fish, and vegetable stir-fries.

How to Use the Sauces

1. Marinate the protein:

• For extra flavor, marinate your protein (chicken, beef, tofu, shrimp) with a little soy sauce, rice wine, and a pinch white pepper before cooking.

2. Stir-fry your protein:

• Cook the marinated protein until nearly done, then remove and set aside.

3. Stir-fry vegetables and herbs:

• Cook your vegetables until tender-crisp and set aside.

4. Cook the sauce:

• Pour your chosen sauce into the wok and bring to a simmer until thickened.

5. Combine and serve:

• Return the protein and vegetables to the wok. Toss everything together and serve immediately.