Hoisin sauce is super tasty and goes great with all sorts of meals.
And the good news is, if you finish it off, you can whip up a quick homemade version in a snap!
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What is Hoisin Sauce?
Hoisin sauce is a game-changer when it comes to flavor—it’s the perfect addition to ramen, stir-fries, and dipping sauces for your favorite appetizers.
Thick, glossy, and packed with sweet and salty notes, this dark sauce works wonders as a dip, glaze, or key ingredient in tons of tasty recipes.
Traditional hoisin is made with fermented beans, five-spice, and soy sauce, giving it that signature sweet, savory, and slightly tangy flavor. Every recipe may tweak it a bit, but those core ingredients are what make it so irresistibly sticky and delicious!
Homemade Hoisin Sauce Substitutes
Of course, most of us don’t just have fermented beans sitting in our pantry. But no worries! If you’ve got kidney beans and molasses, you can whip up a pretty close hoisin sauce substitute in no time.
Toss in a few extra ingredients to deepen the flavor, and honestly, you might end up with something even better than the original!
If you’re not up for making your own, there are also a few ready-made hoisin substitutes available that work just as well. They include:
- Soy sauce
- Teriyaki sauce
- Black bean sauce
- Fish sauce
- Oyster sauce
But let’s be real—none of the store-bought substitutes will give you the exact same texture and flavor as real hoisin sauce.
If you want a really good alternative, you’ll need to put in a little extra effort. The recipes below might look a bit involved, but so is hoisin! The bonus of making it yourself? You get to tweak the flavors to match your dish perfectly.
And don’t worry—all of these swaps can be used 1-to-1, though the final consistency may vary depending on what you’re cooking.
15. Make Hoisin Sauce (Better than Store-Bought)
Store-bought hoisin can be way too salty, overly sweet, and thicker than it needs to be. That’s why our homemade hoisin sauce is a game-changer—it’s perfectly balanced with sweet, salty, and tangy flavors that make it absolutely irresistible.
This umami-packed sauce works wonders on chicken, salmon, ribs, tofu, and veggies. Since nailing down this recipe, we’ve found so many delicious ways to use it.
We’ve glazed salmon, tossed it with crispy tofu, slathered it on sticky hoisin ribs, and even used it to make the most flavorful chicken lettuce wraps.
Once you try homemade, you’ll never go back to store-bought!
14. Indonesian Sauce Kecap Manis
Another option is kecap manis, a sweet Indonesian soy sauce that’s thick, dark, and packed with bold aroma and flavor.
As the name suggests, it leans heavily on the sweet side, making it quite different from oyster sauce, which has a more subtle sweetness.
While the flavors aren’t an exact match, kecap manis can still work as a last-minute substitute if you don’t have any other options on hand.
13. Ginger Plum and Cherry Sauce Recipe
Plums and cherries are a perfect pair when it comes to texture and flavor. While plums break down beautifully when cooked, cherries hold their shape, creating a delicious contrast.
Since they’re both stone fruits, they naturally have a subtle almond-like essence, which you can enhance with a splash of brandy or kirsch.
Plums are incredibly versatile, working well in both sweet and savory dishes. When simmered down into a silky sauce with bold Asian-inspired flavors, they transform into an irresistibly smooth condiment.
Best of all, this sauce comes together quickly—in just over an hour, you’ll have a batch ready to jar. Whether you’re stocking up for yourself or making homemade gifts, these preserves are a must-try!
12. Delicious Thai Peanut Sauce
Here’s how to make the best Thai Peanut Sauce ever! This rich, flavorful sauce is super versatile—use it as a dipping sauce, a salad dressing, for peanut noodles, or with chicken satay.
This is my go-to peanut sauce recipe, and I use it for just about everything! Whether I’m tossing it with noodles, drizzling it over a salad, or using it as a dip, it always adds the perfect punch of flavor.
Once you try it, you’ll want to put it on everything!
11. Sriracha Barbecue Sauce with Molasses and Maple Syrup
This sauce isn’t just for barbecued ribs—it’s way more versatile than that! I love using it on my veggie-filled meatloaf and barbecued chicken, but here’s where it gets interesting…
It might sound a little unconventional, but I love dipping my homemade roasted fries into this barbecue sauce. And if you haven’t tried slathering lightly steamed cauliflower with it, you’re seriously missing out—it makes for an unexpectedly delicious side dish!
Let’s be real—good-quality BBQ sauces can be pricey and hard to find in stores, which is exactly why I started making my own. But if you’re short on time, no worries! Check out my notes for some solid store-bought recommendations.
Cheers to your Monday—now go make something delicious!
10. Homemade Chinese-style Black Bean Sweet and Sour Sauce
Cooked black beans are a surprisingly great way to add thickness and depth to homemade hoisin sauce—who knew?
This simple, homemade Chinese-style black bean sauce is made with fermented black beans (aka salted black beans), giving it that signature bold, umami-packed flavor.
The best part? The beans only need a quick 30-60 minute soak, and then they’re ready to be transformed into a rich, flavorful stir-fry sauce that’ll take your dishes to the next level!
9. Chee Hou Sauce for Hoisin Sauce Replacement
Chee Hou Sauce isn’t something you’ll see in a lot of recipes, and it’s not a staple in most Chinese household pantries.
Also known as chu hou paste (zhù hóu jiàng, 柱侯酱), this fermented soybean sauce has a similar base to hoisin sauce, but with a unique twist.
Depending on the brand, it can include salted plums, salted lemons, and fermented bean curd, giving it a more complex, savory depth of flavor.
If you’re looking to add rich umami and a slightly tangy-sweet note to your dishes, Chee Hou Sauce is definitely worth a try!
8. American BBQ Sauce – Best Hoisin Sauce Substitute!
They say it’s not polite to talk about religion, politics, or BBQ sauce at the dinner table, and for good reason. BBQ sauce is one of the biggest divides between the North and South, almost as if the Civil War never ended.
If you want to really understand the depth of this debate, the Serious Eats guide to regional American BBQ sauces is a great place to start.
Vinegar-based sauces from Kentucky and the Carolinas pair perfectly with spicy chicken wings.
A tomato and vinegar sauce is an excellent choice for slow-cooked meats like flank steak, and it also works beautifully for Sloppy Joes since the fat in the meat gives the sauce more body.
But if there’s one BBQ sauce that stands above the rest, it has to be Kansas City-style. Sweet, spicy, and completely irresistible, this recipe is the one you’ll want to try.
7. Miso Paste as Hoisin Sauce Alternative
Miso paste isn’t a sauce, so it won’t always be a perfect substitute for hoisin sauce—especially if you need something for dipping.
Making miso paste at home is easier than you might think, and it only requires four ingredients, a simple process, and a bit of patience. This recipe creates a versatile, mild yellow miso using koji rice (also known as Shinshu Miso or Kome Miso).
With the right fermentation time, you’ll end up with a homemade miso that adds depth and umami to all kinds of dishes.
6. Make Easy Hoisin Peanut Dipping Sauce
This Peanut Hoisin Sauce is an absolute game-changer! Creamy, salty-sweet, spicy, and downright addictive, it’s the perfect dipping sauce that comes together in just five minutes.
Whether you drizzle it, use it as a dressing, or dip to your heart’s content, this Vietnamese peanut sauce pairs with everything—especially vegan summer rolls!
My family is completely hooked on peanut butter hoisin sauce—we just can’t get enough. It takes simple dishes like tofu, tempeh, noodles, and salads from bland to bold with just a spoonful.
But the real magic happens when I serve it with fresh spring rolls, collard green wraps, or a Thai crunch salad—at that point, everyone’s licking their plates clean!
5. Quick Fish Sauce Recipe (Substitute Hoisin Sauce)
Fish sauce is sometimes used as a substitute for hoisin sauce because it shares a similarly sharp and salty profile. However, since it lacks hoisin’s sweetness, adding a bit of sugar or honey helps balance the flavors for a closer match.
I set out to create an umami-rich fish sauce that actually tastes like fish without being overly fishy. The goal was to make a sauce where you could use any fish species and still get a flavor that highlights that specific type of fish.
Most importantly, I wanted to achieve the same enzymatic fermentation process as traditional fish sauce—but in a fraction of the time!
4. Phenomenal Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
Hoisin sauce has a distinct garlicky kick, which is why garlic teriyaki sauce makes a great stand-in—it tricks your taste buds into thinking they’re getting the same bold flavor.
Plus, since teriyaki sauce usually contains soy sauce, it shares a similar umami-packed profile with hoisin.
If you’re looking for a phenomenal homemade teriyaki sauce, this is the one! Ready in just 10 minutes, made with real ingredients, and absolutely crazy delicious, you’ll never go back to store-bought again.
Don’t just take my word for it—this recipe has been a fan favorite for over a decade, with hundreds of rave reviews proving that it’s simply the best!
3. Make Oyster Sauce – Good Hoisin Sauce Replacement
Oyster sauce is a staple in Thai and Chinese cooking, known for its sweet, salty, and umami-packed flavor. Made with salt, sugar, and caramelized oyster extract, it has a deep, savory richness that enhances just about any dish.
With its thick consistency and rich brown color, oyster sauce brings a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors that work beautifully with stir-fries, rice, and noodles.
It’s also a great way to add a boost of flavor when sautéing vegetables or stirring into a broth or soup for extra depth. Simple but packed with bold, complex flavors, it’s an essential ingredient worth keeping in your kitchen!
2. Korean Barbeque Sauce – Good Substitute for Hoisin Sauce!
Hoisin sauce is often referred to as Chinese barbecue sauce, but if you can’t find it at the store, there are other great substitutes. Char siu sauce is one option, as it shares a similar sweet and savory profile.
Another solid alternative is Korean barbecue sauce, which also brings that balanced mix of salty and sweet. The best part? You can use it as a 1:1 substitute for hoisin, making it an easy swap in any recipe!
1. Tamari Japanese Sauce
If you need a gluten-free alternative to hoisin sauce—since most soy sauces aren’t gluten-free—your best bet is tamari.
This Japanese sauce is a by-product of the liquid from miso fermentation, containing fermented rice (koji) and soy, which gives it a deep, rich umami flavor with less salt than regular soy sauce.
Since tamari isn’t as thick as hoisin, you might need to adjust the consistency. You can thicken it with cornstarch and water or simply simmer your dish a bit longer.
When swapping tamari for hoisin, start with half the amount, then adjust to taste. You can add a little sugar for sweetness or a cornstarch slurry for texture to get closer to hoisin’s signature flavor and thickness.
15 Hoisin Sauce Substitutes: Find Your Perfect Sauce Alternative!
Discover 15 hoisin sauce substitutes to keep your dishes flavorful! From homemade hoisin sauce to easy alternatives, find the perfect sauce or marinade today!
Ingredients
- Hoisin Sauce
- Indonesian Sauce Kecap Manis
- Ginger Plum and Cherry Sauce Recipe
- Thai Peanut Sauce
- Sriracha Barbecue Sauce with Molasses and Maple Syrup
- Chinese-style Black Bean Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Chee Hou Sauce
- American BBQ Sauce
- Miso Paste
- Hoisin Peanut Dipping Sauce
- Fish Sauce Recipe
- Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
- Oyster Sauce
- Korean Barbeque Sauce
- Tamari Japanese Sauce
Instructions
- Choose any Hoisin Sauce Replacements from the post that you like
- Click on the link below the photo to get the full recipes and instructions.
- Try the best Hoisin Sauce Replacements and share your photo under my pin on Pinterest!
I’m Anastasia and I’m a full-time blogger, online entrepreneur, and Pinterest marketing strategist. I help digital entrepreneurs and bloggers drive targeted traffic from Pinterest either through my online courses or through Pinterest consultancy.