Spicy Hot Honey Sauce Recipe (Garlic and Chili Infused Honey)

Sweet and spicy, this homemade hot honey sauce is great for dipping and drizzling. Made with added garlic, it's full of flavor.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Last Updated on February 3, 2022 by Betty Davies

Sweet honey is combined with fresh garlic and chili flakes to create the most delicious spicy hot honey sauce. The balance of flavors in this homemade sauce are so addictive, and it takes minutes to make with just 4 ingredients. Serve as a dip or drizzle over your favorite foods for a sweet and spicy kick.

Chili flakes and minced garlic floating in honey in a jar.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my privacy policy here.

If you are looking for an easy way to amp up the flavors on your wings or pizza, this homemade hot honey sauce is one delicious option!

Honey is infused with garlic and dried chilies for the most delicious sweet and spicy sauce that is just so addictive. You will be pouring it over everything!

Simple to make, this is a must have for any pantry! If you love Mike’s Hot Honey, then you are going to adore this homemade version!

Be sure to try my Green Sweet Chili Sauce and Chili Lime Dressing too!

Why you will love this recipe!

Quick and easy: Just mix the ingredients together, heat and let cool. It doesn’t get much easier in the kitchen!
Simple ingredients: You only need four everyday ingredients to make this sauce, so you have no excuses!
Long shelf life: Make up a big batch of this to have on hand whenever you need it.
Dietary info: This hot honey sauce is gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian.

Homemade garlic hot honey in a glass jar.

Ingredients

Honey: Use a clear honey for this recipe. There’s no need to buy an expensive floral flavored honey as we heat it up and this will dull any of those flavors, though I would recommend a pure honey that is natural and less processed.
Chili flakes: I find that a tablespoon give a great warm buzz without being too overpowering. You can add more or less depending on your tolerance.
Garlic: I love to add garlic to my hot honey. This is optional, but it creates a wonderful flavor that works well with all kinds of foods.
Rice Wine Vinegar: The acidity in the vinegar helps to balance out the heat of the chili and the sweetness of the honey. Rice wine vinegar works great as it has a mild taste, and apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar would also work well.

How to make hot honey sauce

Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!

Add the honey, chili and garlic to a pot (photo 1).
Heat til simmering, add in the vinegar and let cool (photo 2).

Two step by step photos to show how to make the recipe.

Recipe Variations

This hot honey sauce is pretty delicious as it is! If you are unsure about the amount of chilies you want to add in, you can start with half a tablespoon, taste it once it cools, then reheat and add more if you can take more spice.

I haven’t tried it, but I would suspect that you could make this recipe with maple syrup instead of honey so that it is vegan friendly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it keep?

Once your honey is cooled, store it in a clean and sealable glass jar for up to 3 months. It’s best to keep it at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, rather than in the fridge. If you chill it, the honey will become pretty hard, so keep it at room temp so that it’s ready to use.

Do you serve it warm or cold?

This sauce can be served at room temperature or warm. When honey is heated up, it becomes runnier, so if you’d like it a little thinner, you can simply warm it for a couple of minutes on the stovetop before drizzling.

Can you make this with fresh chilies?

Yes, fresh red diced chilies can be used in pace of the dried flakes. You could also make it with a hot sauce or even stir in some cayenne powder.

Do you have to strain the honey?

I prefer not to strain the honey straight away, as the flavors from the garlic and chili will become more pronounced the longer it sits. You can strain it straight away into a jar if you prefer, just pour it through a fine mesh sieve to collect the bits of garlic and chili. You can pour it over foods or use in a dipping sauce as is, or strain a little at a time to use.

Overhead shot of hot honey in a jar next to a spoon.

Serving Suggestions

This homemade hot honey sauce is great for drizzling on wings and pizzas, but there’s loads of other ways to use it too:

Drizzle it over roasted veggies.
Use it as a marinade for chicken, beef and pork.
Whisk it into salad dressings.
Use it to add to goats cheese crostini for a delicious appetizer.

Recipe Notes and tips

Don’t take your eyes off of the honey when you are heating it. Once it hits a simmer, if you leave it, it will boil over very quickly. Take it off of the heat as soon as it reaches a simmer.
If you don’t like things too spicy, make the hot honey up with half a tablespoon of chili flakes first. Once it cools, taste some and if you want it hotter you can reheat it and add some more.
Let the honey cool before transferring to your jar.
Working with honey can be a sticky business! Rub your measuring cup or jug with a little oil before you measure out the honey. The oil will stop it from sticking to the surface of the cup.

Close up of the chili honey in a glass jar.

This garlic and chili infused hot honey recipe is so crazy easy to make and I love that it has such a long shelf life. You’ll be happy to have this on hand to liven up your dishes!

More Sauces and Dressings

If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to leave a star rating and a comment below!