Homemade Yum Yum Sauce Recipe

If you’ve ever eaten at a Japanese hibachi restaurant, chances are you’ve had yum yum sauce. It’s creamy, slightly sweet, a little tangy, and absolutely delicious drizzled over grilled chicken, shrimp, vegetables, and rice.

The good news is that it’s incredibly easy to make at home.

You only need a handful of simple ingredients, and you can mix it up in just a few minutes.

I like keeping a jar in the refrigerator because it’s one of those sauces that can turn a simple dinner into something special.

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What Is Yum Yum Sauce?

Yum yum sauce is a creamy dipping and drizzling sauce commonly served with hibachi-style meals. It has a mild flavor with a combination of creamy, sweet, tangy, and slightly smoky flavors.

This homemade yum yum sauce is perfect for dipping grilled chicken, shrimp, vegetables, or drizzling over rice bowls. I especially love it with homemade fried rice and chicken lo mein.

How to Make Yum Yum Sauce

The base of this sauce is mayonnaise, which gives it that rich, creamy texture.

To the mayonnaise, you’ll add ketchup, rice vinegar, a little sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. A little water helps thin it to the perfect consistency.

Simply whisk everything together in a bowl until smooth.

For the best flavor, cover the sauce and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes before serving. This gives all of the flavors time to blend together.

If you’ve ever had yum yum sauce at a Japanese hibachi restaurant, you know how good it is. It’s creamy, slightly sweet, tangy, and just a little smoky.

And the best part? It takes about five minutes to make at home.

Ingredients

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 tablespoons water
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional

Instructions

Add the mayonnaise, ketchup, rice vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper to a small bowl.

Whisk everything together until smooth and creamy.

Add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce reaches your preferred consistency.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. This gives the flavors time to blend together.

Stir well before serving.

How to Use Yum Yum Sauce

There are so many ways to use this homemade sauce!

Try it with:

• Hibachi chicken
• Grilled shrimp
• Grilled steak
• Chicken fried rice
• Chicken lo mein
• Egg roll in a bowl
• Stir-fried vegetables
• French fries
• Burgers and sandwiches
• Rice bowls
• Sushi bowls
• Salmon

It’s also delicious as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders or crispy vegetables.

Make It Your Own

One of the best things about homemade yum yum sauce is how easy it is to adjust.

Want it sweeter? Add a little more sugar.

Want more tang? Add another splash of rice vinegar.

Want some heat? Add sriracha or cayenne pepper.

For a smoky flavor, add a little extra smoked paprika.

I usually start with the basic recipe and adjust it after tasting. That’s the nice thing about making your own sauces—you can make them exactly the way you like them.

How Long Does Yum Yum Sauce Last?

Store homemade yum yum sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should keep for about a week.

Give it a good stir before serving, especially if you’ve added extra water to thin it.

And if you’re putting together a homemade Asian-inspired dinner, this sauce is a great addition to recipes like Chicken Fried Rice, Chicken Lo Mein, General Tso’s Chicken, Beef and Broccoli, Teriyaki Chicken, and Egg Roll in a Bowl.

Once you have a jar in the refrigerator, you’ll probably find yourself looking for excuses to put it on everything.

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