This soy-free honey garlic sauce is so flavorful and versatile. It can be used as a marinade, stir fry sauce, or dipping sauce. The flavor profile works well on everything from chicken to fish, noodles to tofu. Sweet, garlicky, and umami, this honey garlic sauce will become your Asian cooking staple too.

A jar of honey garlic sauce on a ceramic plate. There are a few cloves of garlic on the side and a dark napkin in the backgaround.

This is your guide to make the ultimate soy free honey garlic sauce that goes on just about everything.

Either you are just whipping up a quick noodle dish, or you want a good marinade for some chicken stir fry, this sauce has you covered.

I use the coconut aminos here to make this recipe soy free. My husband is sensitive to soy. So as a Chinese gal, born and raised in China, I had to find substitutions for soy sauce without losing all the flavors.

Ingredients line up to make honey garlic sauce.

My Favorite Soy Alternative

There are a number of alternatives to soy sauce when it comes to making this honey garlic sauce. I have tried a few, and my favorite is Coconut aminos.

They have a very similar flavor to soy sauce, but they are gluten free and much lower in sodium. From my experience, they have a hint of sweetness, which makes them great for many Asian recipes I make.

Even my picky Chinese parents approved it! In Chinese cooking, sugar is considered to bring out the harmony of flavors.

If you are used to cooking with soy sauce, make sure you taste the soy alternatives you choose to use, and adjust the seasonings to your taste.

How to Make Honey Garlic Sauce

Step by step instruction on how to make honey garlic sauce - In a small pot, mix together all the ingredients.
In a small pot, mix together all the ingredients.
Step by step instruction on how to make honey garlic sauce - Whisk together until no clumps left.
Whisk together until no clumps left.
Step by step instruction on how to make honey garlic sauce - Bring to a boil then turn to simmer. Continue to stir.
Bring to a boil then turn to simmer. Continue to stir.
Step by step instruction on how to make honey garlic sauce - Stir until the sauce thickens.
Stir until the sauce thickens.

Ways to Use this Sauce

Stir Fry Sauce:

You can add the sauce to pre-cooked chicken, salmon, or vegetables.

Make sure the sauce coat all around the ingredients you are using. You can use it for just about anything. One of my recent favorites is these Honey Garlic Meatballs.

Marinade for Chicken or Salmon:

You can also use this recipe (remove the broth) as a marinade for about 1 – 1.5 pound of chicken or salmon.

Make sure you include the starch as well. It helps lock the juice in and make the chicken or salmon extra tender and juicy on the inside.

A plate of honey garlic noodles with some red bell pepper, green onion chopped in the background. There is a pair of chopsticks.

Noodle Salad Dressing:

Simply mix it with your favorite Asian wheat noodles, pasta or ramen. Top with a handful of fresh veggies like chopped cucumber, bell pepper, and purple cabbage, then you have the best honey garlic noodles salad.

Like it warm? Try making honey garlic noodle stir fry.

Here is how you can do it.

Add cooked noodles to a pan over medium to high heat, stir for 30 seconds to a minute. Then add this honey garlic sauce. Combine well.

Serve with your favorite garnish, like sesame seeds, chili oil, and/or chopped green onions.

Let me know what you think of this sauce! Can’t wait to see your creation in the comment section 🙂

Get the recipe:Honey Garlic Sauce {Soy Free}

This soy free honey garlic sauce is so flavorful, and versatile. It can be used as a marinade, stir fry sauce or dipping sauce.
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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup coconut aminos
  • 1/4 cup vegetable broth
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced (~ 2 tablespoons)
  • 1 tsp arrowroot starch, optional *
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, optional **

Instructions 

  • In a bowl, combine honey, coconut aminos, garlic, broth and arrowroot starch
  • Pour the mixture in a small sauce pot.
  • Whisk together until no clump left.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn to simmer, continue to stir until it thickens for about 1 – 2 minutes.

Notes

How to elevate the flavor to the next level:

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a small saucepan until shimmering, add the minced garlic and stir for 20 – 30 seconds (watch to prevent it from burning).
Once it becomes fragrant, add the rest of the ingredients (except for the starch).
Sauté the fresh garlic will release the fragrance and flavor in the garlic! And you will also reduce the after taste and smell lingering in your mouth.

The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.

Author: Shuang Shuang Liang