McDonald's Sweet and Sour Sauce (2022 Facts + Recipe)
What is the McDonald's sweet and sour sauce? McDonald's Chicken McNuggets come with a sweet and sour sauce. This sauce is very popular among customers and is seen as one of the best dipping sauces at McDonald's. However, some people might be curious about what ingredients go into this sauce or which sauce McDonald's actually uses.
What is Mcdonald’s Sweet and Sour Sauce?
McDonald’s Sweet and Sour sauce is one of the most popular dipping sauces from the fast food chain. The sauce is made with apricot and peach puree concentrate to add sweetness, but it’s balanced with the dried chili peppers for a bit of heat. The sauce is dairy-free and also vegan-friendly, however, it’s not gluten-free so you should avoid it if you have wheat allergies.
While the exact recipe for McDonald’s Sweet and Sour sauce is a closely guarded secret, there are a few copycat recipes available online that come pretty close to the real thing. If you’re looking for a dipping sauce that’s sweet, sour, and slightly spicy, McDonald’s Sweet and Sour sauce is definitely worth trying.
What’s in McDonald’s Sweet and Sour Sauce?
Customers might be surprised to learn what all goes into McDonald’s sweet and sour sauce. According to the popular fast food chain, the ingredients list includes: high fructose corn syrup, apricot puree and/or peach puree concentrate, water, distilled vinegar, soy sauce, salt, modified food starch, sherry wine powder, dextrose, xanthan gum, cellulose gum, garlic powder, natural flavors, sodium benzoate, spice, soybean oil, onion powder, caramel color extract of paprika, and dried chili peppers.
Some of these ingredients – like high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors – may not sound too appetizing. However, the sauce also contains some healthy ingredients like paprika and chili peppers.
It’s worth noting that the sauce also contains wheat and soy, so customers with allergies should take caution. All in all, the McDonald’s sweet and sour sauce is a complex blend of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors – and knowing what’s in it might just make it taste even better.
Is it possible to buy McDonald's Sweet and Sour Sauce?
While you cannot buy McDonald's Sweet and Sour sauce in stores, you can get it at the restaurant. It costs $0.25 per container, but there is usually a limit on how many you can buy. The sauce is meant to be a dip for McDonald's food. The sweet and sour sauce is a popular condiment for many cuisines, including Chinese and American dishes.
The sauce typically contains vinegar, sugar, and tomato paste, as well as other ingredients like onion, garlic, and cornstarch. While the recipe for McDonald's Sweet and Sour sauce is a closely guarded secret, there are a number of copycat recipes available online.
These recipes allow you to make a similar sauce at home, although they may not taste exactly the same as the real thing. McDonald's Sweet and Sour Sauce is a delicious addition to McNuggets or Chicken Selects. It also goes well with french fries or egg rolls. If you're a fan of Sweet and Sour sauce, it's worth trying to make your own copycat recipe at home.
Nutritional Information: McDonald’s Sweet and Sour Sauce
While McDonald's sweet and sour sauce may not be the healthiest of options, it is still a popular dipping sauce. Each container of the sauce has 50 calories, 11 grams of carbohydrates, and 160 mg of sodium.
Additionally, there are 10 grams of sugar in each container. While the nutritional information for the sauce is not terrible, it is important to remember that consuming multiple containers in one sitting can lead to weight gain or other health problems. Therefore, it is best to enjoy McDonald's sweet and sour sauce in moderation.
Is there gluten in Sweet and Sour Sauce from McDonald's?
Anyone who has celiac disease or is gluten intolerant knows how difficult it can be to find safe, gluten-free food options when dining out.
Thankfully, many restaurants now offer gluten-free menus or can accommodate special requests. However, one popular spot that has yet to jump on the bandwagon is McDonald’s.
While the fast-food chain does offer a few gluten-free items, such as french fries and grilled chicken, their Sweet and Sour sauce is not included on that list. The sauce contains wheat, meaning it is off-limits for those with celiac disease or wheat intolerance.
Is McDonald's Sweet and Sour Sauce dairy-free?
Dairy-free eaters rejoice! McDonald’s Sweet and Sour Sauce is lactose-free, so you can enjoy it without having to worry about any dairy-related digestive issues. This sauce is also a great option for those who are looking for a tasty dipping sauce that isn’t too heavy or unhealthy.
And, because it’s dairy-free, it can also be used as a spread on McDonald’s chicken sandwiches – no need to worry about the cheese! So next time you’re at McDonald’s, be sure to order some Sweet and Sour Sauce on the side. Your taste buds will thank you.
Is Sweet and Sour Sauce from McDonald's Vegan?
While McDonald's Sweet and Sour sauce is vegan, there aren't a ton of other vegan options at the restaurant. This makes it difficult to get a completely vegan meal.
The sweet and sour sauce is made with sugar, corn syrup, distilled vinegar, apple cider vinegar, modified corn starch, salt, onion powder, spice, and natural flavors.
There are no animal-based ingredients in the sauce. However, if you live within the United States, there are not that many vegan options at McDonald’s. The lack of vegan entrees limits the usefulness of the Sweet and Sour sauce as a condiment.
While the sauce itself is vegan, diners seeking a completely vegan meal will likely be disappointed with their options at McDonald's.
Is Sweet and Sour Sauce from McDonald's need to be refrigerated?
McDonald's Sweet and Sour Sauce is a delicious addition to any meal. However, many people are unsure whether or not the sauce needs to be refrigerated.
The answer is actually quite simple: if you have an open container of McDonald's Sweet and Sour, you should refrigerate it.
This will help to keep the sauce fresh and prevent it from drying out.
However, if you have an unopened container of the sauce, you don't need to refrigerate it since it has a prolonged shelf life.
Does McDonald’s Sweet and Sour Sauce expire?
McDonald's sweet and sour sauce does have an expiration date, but it is much later than most other sauces. The general rule of thumb is to toss any unopened sauce that’s over six months old for quality purposes, but McDonald's sauce can last over a year before it starts to break down.
The reason for this is because the McDonald's Corporation uses a different type of preservative in their sweet and sour sauce than most other companies.
Consequently, while it is still best to use the sauce within a year, it will not go bad as quickly as other sauces. Therefore, if you are looking for a sweet and sour sauce that will last a long time, McDonald's is a good option.
Conclusion
In conclusion, McDonald's Sweet and Sour sauce is a delicious dipping sauce that's perfect for nuggets, chicken strips, or even fries.
However, since it's a house brand made specifically for McDonald's restaurants, it's not available in stores. You can ask to buy additional containers for $0.25, although limits may apply on how many you can purchase.
So if you're looking for a tasty dipping sauce to take your McDonald's experience to the next level, be sure to ask for Sweet and Sour sauce!
Favorite Resources
Our favorite resources are included below.
Job interview resources
- Common Interview Questions by Marquette University
- Prepare for Behavioral Interview Questions by Marquette University
- Preparing for Job Interviews by the University of Kansas
- Mock Interview Handbook by CSUCI
- Interview Guidebook by Lebanon Valley College
Resume and cover letter resources
- Writing a Resume and Cover Letter by USC
- Resume Writing Tips by the University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Resume and Cover Letter Guide by Harvard University
Job search resources

Interview Question and Answer Guide (PDF)
Download our full interview preparation guide. Complete with common interview questions and example answers. Free download. No email required.
Download PDFPopular Resources

Featured
35+ Phone Interview Questions & Best Sample Answers
Phone interviews have become a core part of the process when attempting to find a secured placement for an open position. Companies receive massive responses from potential candidates for any..

Featured
12+ Best Questions To Ask A Recruiter
Concerning a job search, you might receive numerous offers from your recruiters. Before you choose one, you need to assess all the conditions, for which it is vital that you know everything associated with the offered position..

Featured
Answering "What Makes You Unique" In A Job Interview
Answering this question during a job interview requires more than knowing why you are unique as an individual. Yes, the true scientific answer is made up of two main components: your..

Featured
250+ Ice Breaker Questions for Life
An ice breaker question is a question that’s asked from one person to another person in order to act as a conversation starter. It brings a connection...

Featured
10 Best Answers to "What Motivates You?"
Open-ended questions like “What motivates you?” can elicit a deer-in-the-headlights reaction from job candidates if they are unprepared. It’s a broad question and can leave the interviewer..

Featured
Answering "How Did You Hear About This Position" In An Interview
A lot of interviewers ask this question - how did you hear about this position? This way they can judge you if you are a passive or an active job seeker..

Featured
8 Best Thank You Emails After an Interview (Samples, Free Templates)
Writing a thank you note after an interview says a lot about you as a potential employee. Most notably, it says that you care about the opportunities presented..

Featured
Writing a Resignation Letter (How To Write It, Samples)
Writing the perfect letter of resignation is more of an art than it is a science. And we’re going to cover how to master that art form in this full guide..

Featured
How to End a Letter (Example Salutations, Sign Off's)
Knowing how to end a business note or email is an important skill to develop. It helps portray a sense of confidence, respect and tone to your message..