Heinz Chili Sauce (Copycat Recipe) (2024)

Last Updated on: February 23, 2024

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With this homemade Heinz chili sauce recipe, you’ll never have to buy the expensive bottle again.

With its wonderful combination of sweet, savory, tangy, and spicy flavors, the Heinz chili sauce tastes better than ketchup.

Heinz Chili Sauce (Copycat Recipe) (1)

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If you agree, you’ll definitely have to try this copycat recipe. After experimenting with tons of ingredients and recipes, I finally found the one.

I kid you not, this chili sauce tastes even better than the original.

And you can make it at home in just 30 minutes at the fraction of the cost! Sorry, Heinz, but this sauce is here, and it’s here to stay.

What is Heinz chili sauce?

Heinz may be famous for their ketchup, but their chili sauce is also pretty epic. But what is it, exactly?

It’s a tomato-based condiment flavored with sugar, vinegar, and aromatic spices.

And just to set the record straight, this chili doesn’t contain chili.

It gets its heat from garlic powder and onions, which means it’s really not spicy at all. That’s why even kids can’t say no to it!

Another great thing about it is its sheer versatility. It’s not just a condiment, but a sauce, a dip, a dressing, and a marinade, too.

Because it has so many uses, I highly suggest you triple this recipe, at least. Don’t worry, just like most sauces, its shelf-life is pretty impressive.

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Ingredients

  • Tomato Puree – Not to be confused with tomato sauce, tomato puree is made of cooked strained tomatoes and has a thicker consistency and concentrated flavor. If you don’t have tomato puree, swap it with the same amount of tomato sauce and 1-2 teaspoons of tomato paste.
  • Light Corn Syrup – I like to use a thick sweetener here to help achieve that thick consistency. Maple syrup and honey make great substitutes.
  • White Vinegar – You’ll need just a few spoonfuls to lend just a bit of tanginess to the sauce. You can also use apple cider vinegar.
  • Dried Onion Flakes, Salt, and Garlic Powder – These three are my choice of seasonings. This combination complements and enhances the taste of tomatoes and sugar, giving the sauce an even deeper flavor.
  • Granulated Sugar – For an extra dose of sweetness. You can use brown sugar as well.
  • Lemon Juice – The tartness counterbalances the sweetness of the sauce.
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Tips for the Best Chili Sauce

  • Make a sweet swap. If you don’t have corn syrup on hand, maple syrup makes a fantastic alternative. You can also use a mix of brown sugar and honey.
  • No tomato puree? Use a mix of tomato sauce and paste. Don’t add too much paste, though, or the sauce will be way too thick. Just 1-2 teaspoons will do.
  • Season it up. I like a simple seasoning of salt and garlic powder in mine but feel free to make it your own. Some add cloves and nutmeg to give the sauce a bit of warmth. Try it and let me know how it turned out!
  • Kick up the heat. While it’s called a chili sauce, this sauce isn’t actually that spicy. If you want a spicier version, amp up the heat with cayenne, hot sauce, or red chili powder.
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Serving Suggestions

Heinz chili sauce is remarkably versatile and can be used in a variety of ways.

  • Shrimp dip. With its wonderful balance of sweet and fiery flavors, this chili sauce makes for a great dip for chilled shrimp. Use it just like you would a cocktail sauce.
  • Ketchup replacement. Because it has similar flavors, ketchup and chili sauce can be interchanged. Squirt this onto hot dogs, burgers, sausages, and fries!
  • Meatloaf and meatball binder. Aside from the added layer of flavor, it’ll also keep the meat-based dishes super moist.
  • Sauce for BBQs, stir-fries, and grilled meats. Ditch the usual BBQ sauce and use this! Or, combine the two condiments to create an even bigger explosion of flavors.
  • Salad dressing. If you like your salad with a hint of sweetness, add a spoonful of chili sauce to your favorite dressing.
  • Pasta sauce. It’ll give the classic spaghetti sauce a spicy kick.
  • Soup enhancer. You’d be surprised at how much flavor this chili sauce adds to chili and all kinds of soups and stews.

More Sauce Recipes

A1 Steak Sauce

Arby’s Sauce

Heinz 57 Sauce

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Papa John’s Garlic Sauce

Taco Bell Diablo Sauce

Heinz Chili Sauce (Copycat Recipe) (5)

Heinz Chili Sauce (Copycat Recipe)

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup tomato puree

  • 1/3 cup light corn syrup

  • 1/4 cup white vinegar

  • 2 teaspoons dried onion flakes

  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the tomato puree, corn syrup, vinegar, onion flakes, sugar, salt, lemon juice, and garlic powder.
  • Once it starts to bubble, lower the temperature to low and let the mixture simmer for 30 minutes. Allow the chili sauce to cool completely. Enjoy!
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Heinz Chili Sauce (Copycat Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in Heinz chili sauce? ›

Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Distilled White Vinegar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Salt, Corn Syrup, Dehydrated Onion, Spice, Garlic Powder, Natural Flavoring. Contains Corn and its derivates.

What can I substitute for Heinz chili sauce? ›

A good substitute for Heinz chili sauce is a combination of ketchup and hot sauce or a mixture of tomato sauce, vinegar, sugar, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. These alternatives can mimic the sweet and tangy flavor with a hint of heat that Heinz chili sauce provides.

How to make Heinz sweet chili sauce? ›

WHISK all ingredients well in a medium bowl: 1 (6 ounce) can quality tomato paste, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup light corn syrup (Karo), 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar (Heinz), 1 tablespoon minced onion flakes, 1 teaspoon unseasoned sweet chili powder, 1 teaspoon plain salt, 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 teaspoon ...

What's the difference between Heinz ketchup and Heinz chili sauce? ›

The main difference between Heinz Chili Sauce and Heinz Ketchup is that the chili sauce contains onions rather than onion powder, and the spices are slightly different.

Is Heinz chili sauce the same as cocktail sauce? ›

There are only five ingredients in cocktail sauce, and you probably have most of them in your cupboard already. Ketchup and chili sauce are added in equal parts. Heinz chili sauce has a tomato base, like ketchup, but it isn't sweet. Strangely, in defiance of its name, it doesn't contain chilis.

Is Heinz chili sauce the same as Heinz cocktail sauce? ›

Chili sauce typically contains tomatoes, chili peppers, sugar, vinegar, and various spices. On the other hand, cocktail sauce is primarily made with ketchup or chili sauce, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce.

Is sriracha chili sauce the same as chili sauce? ›

THE BOTTOM LINE: Sriracha is a totally smooth counterpart to the chunkier chili-garlic sauce, with all the same ingredients but with added sweetness from sugar. Chili-garlic sauce is nearly identical to sambal oelek, except that it contains garlic and sambal oelek does not.

Why is chili sauce called chili sauce? ›

Chili sauce seems to have surfaced in New England in the last half of the 19th century, said James Farrell, director of the seaport's food services. How it got the name remains a mystery, he said, especially because the original product had no chili peppers in it.

Is there a difference between chili sauce and sweet chili sauce? ›

What is the Difference between Sweet Chili Sauce and Chili Sauce? There is a difference between this sauce and chili sauce. Sweet Chili Sauce is made with chili peppers and sugar, which gives it a sweet flavor. Chili sauce, on the other hand, is more tomato-based, almost like ketchup.

What is Heinz chili sauce used for? ›

It's also an essential component in nostalgically delicious grape jelly cocktail meatballs, and it tastes remarkably similar to the dipping sauce served with my Aunties' spicy Sri Lankan fish cutlets. It's also great slathered on meatloaf, stirred into a bloody Mary, or as a dip for salty, crispy fries.

Is Heinz chili sauce spicy hot? ›

Heinz began production of its Chili Sauce in 1895, shortly after its ketchup was first made. Most people assume that hot peppers are the main ingredient in Chili Sauce, but there are no hot peppers in Heinz Chili Sauce.

What does the 57 mean on Heinz sauce? ›

Heinz 57 is a synecdoche of the historical advertising slogan "57 Varieties" by the H. J. Heinz Company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It was developed from the marketing campaign that told consumers about the numerous products available from the Heinz company.

Why does Heinz Tomato Ketchup have 57 on it? ›

The '57 varieties' label represents the variety of products that Heinz has, but the number was actually selected at random by founder Henry Heinz himself. He didn't have 57 varieties when the brand began. Instead, it was a clever way to create authenticity and attract customers.

Did McDonald's use Heinz ketchup? ›

However, in 2013 Heinz was acquired by a new company with a new CEO, Bernado Hees. Hees was the former CEO of Burger King, McDonald's fast food rival. Because of Hees' history with Burger King, McDonald's decided to end its 40-year partnership with Heinz and produce its own ketchup instead.

What's the difference between hot dog chili sauce and regular chili sauce? ›

According to cooking blog, The Country Cook, hotdog chili is thicker than regular chili and uses tomato paste.

What is the best substitute for chili sauce? ›

Ketchup and Cayenne

Regular bottled ketchup provides a good blend of sweetness and acidity. It also has a nice thick consistency, making it a good substitute for chili sauce. To add the missing spicy flavor from regular ketchup, you can mix in a few dashes of Cayenne pepper powder.

Does Heinz chili sauce have MSG? ›

This product is likely msg free.

What is in store bought chili sauce? ›

PURE CANE SUGAR, WATER, PICKLED RED CHILI PEPPER (RICE VINEGAR, CHILI PEPPER, SALT), GARLIC, RICE VINEGAR, MODIFIED TAPIOCA STARCH, SALT AND XANTHAN GUM.

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