This is how to make Popeyes sweet heat sauce homemade! A copycat sweet and spicy dip for their Louisiana chicken tenders, nuggets or wings is here. There are 9 Dipping Sauce for Chicken Wings at this popular fast food restaurant, but this is our favorite and probably the most popular.
This easy sweet heat sauce recipe is great on everything. From fried chicken sandwiches to chicken tenders, wings or nuggets you can adjust how spicy it is when you make it from scratch at home. Homemade is always best. (affiliate links present)
How to Make Popeyes Sweet Heat Sauce
You can in fact make any of their flavors right at home once you know the ingredients and understand how to incorporate all the flavors. Using a pan on the stove to heat them all up you can make this which is similar to their sweet ‘n’ spicy, honey bbq, signature hot, honey lemon pepper, roasted garlic parmesan or hottest ghost pepper for wings.
This isn’t just great as a dip for their smaller pieces though, if you know How to make McDonalds Fried Chicken Sandwich, theirs is quite similar if you get their classic version vs. spicy. The breading is thicker which does give it more of a CRUNCH which we love and the seasonings are more intense. Still served on a bun with pickles though which is a must. 😉
Copycat Popeyes Sweet Heat Sauce Recipe
Ok so my kids love this as a Chicken Nugget Dipping Sauce too. Most of the time we will have leftover packets but there is no way we are throwing those babies away!! You shouldn’t either. I have a gallon freezer bag in the fridge where we will keep the extras so when my teenagers come home they can grab one.
Served with some Frozen Chicken Tenders in Air Fryer crisped up and they will never go to waste, that would be tragic friends. When made yourself what I love is you can adjust the heat level. If you are daring you can make closer to their ghost pepper blend but we are more of mild to medium fans.
The basic steps are as follows;
- In a small saucepan over low heat, whisk the hot sauce, honey and sugar together for about 5 minutes.
- The sugar should dissolve and the sauce should slightly thicken.
- Remove from heat and whisk in the butter.
- Add the cumin, Worcestershire sauce and cayenne and whisk until smooth.
Allow to cool and it will continue thickening as it sits, then serve and enjoy with all the things. Tossed with fried chicken legs adds a ton of YUM.
What are the ingredients in Popeyes sweet heat sauce?
Another tweak you could make when creating this yourself is you could make it a creamy version like our Empanada Dipping Sauce with a bit of heavy cream. Now that would tame the heat so keep that in mind but an option. I wouldn’t add that until the end when it is cooling so it doesn’t curdle. To make you need;
- Use your favorite brand like Frank’s hot sauce
- We like using local organic honey
- White granulated sugar will make it sweet
- Salted butter or you could use a dairy free alternative that is plant based
- Cumin gives it a bit of zing
- The Worcestershire sauce gives it that punch and deepness
- And then you can adjust the cayenne pepper to your liking, or red pepper flakes work too
Is Hottie Sauce the same as sweet heat at Popeyes?
Not quite. “Hottie Sauce” is a spicy and sweet sauce originally made by Church’s Chicken, another fast-food restaurant chain. This one is sweeter than hottie which they have recently introduced into some regions. While the names sound similar and they both incorporate sweet and spicy elements, but they are not the same sauce.
Is sweet heat spicy?
Some sweet heat sauces may have a mild level of spiciness, offering just a hint of heat. Others may have a more pronounced spiciness, with a big kick of heat that lingers on your tongue. I would say this one is medium level wise. If you’re sensitive to spicy foods, it’s always a good idea to try just a tiny bit before adding it on your foods.
1. Sweet heat sauce pairs particularly well with chicken.
2. Use this copycat Popeyes sauce as a condiment for sandwiches and wraps.
3. Add a spicy-sweet kick to your tacos or burritos.
4. As a dressing for salads to add a unique flavor twist.
5. as a glaze for grilled meats such as pork chops, ribs, or salmon.
6. Add into stir-fries for a burst of flavor.
Unopened sauces stored at room temperature can typically last for several months to a year or more, depending on the ingredients and preservatives used. Storing unopened sauces in the refrigerator can extend their shelf life by several months beyond the printed expiration date.
Served as a dip for nuggets or on top of Deep Fried Chicken Breast with a bun as a sandwich, it is awesome.
Popeyes Sweet Heat Sauce
Equipment
- 1 pot
- 1 whisk
Ingredients
- 1/2 c hot sauce
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/4 c sugar
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over low heat, whisk the hot sauce, honey and sugar together for about 5 minutes. The sugar should dissolve and the sauce should slightly thicken.
- Remove from heat and whisk in the butter. Add the cumin, Worcestershire sauce and cayenne and whisk until smooth. Allow to cool. Serve with favorite chicken tenders. Sauce will store in the refrigerator for up to a week if stored when completely cooled and in a tight airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
