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Here are my very best Asian-inspired sauces for grilled chicken that my family and I have been using for summer BBQs! There’s a great list of sauces for chicken you can pick and choose – from Chinese to Thai, Korean to Japanese, and more! These homemade sauces are healthy and easy, and they are not only great for barbeque but also as a dipping sauce

Let’s spice up your grill with my Asian-inspired sauces to make your grilled chicken recipe sizzle!

A cover image shows different types of Asian sauces can be used for grilled poultry chicken
You’ll love these terrific Asian-inspired sauces to bring your bbq to the next level!

Table of Contents

Chinese sauces

If you are looking for a list of delicious chicken sauce ideas beyond Peruvian chicken sauce, these homemade sauces will wow your taste buds! They are simple sauces to make for chicken with a blend of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a touch of chili pepper. You can use these sauces for grilled chicken breasts and thighs or brush them on when grilling.

Garlic chili sauce recipe served in a light colored bowl with a spoon in the bowl

1

Garlic chili sauce

4.98 from 36 votes
This homemade chili garlic sauce is loaded with flavor and made with avocado oil so you know it's healtheir for you! Inspired by huy fong garlic chili sauce but more fresh, garlicky, and a touch of sweet and savory! This is the best sauce to put on chicken!
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Sha cha sauce recipe shows the sauce after cooked and stored in a bowl with spoon inside

2

Taiwanese Shacha Sauce

5 from 9 votes
Also known as Taiwanese barbeque sauce, this umami-rich bbq sauce is used for hot pot and grilling! Great for both chicken breasts or chicken thighs. I recommend lightly season the chicken and serve this sauce on the side as a dipping sauce.
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Photo shows a bowl of creamy gluten free hoisin sauce blended to perfect consistency in a beautiful bowl.

3

Homemade gluten free hoisin sauce

5 from 12 votes
A must-have sauce for chicken. This homemade hoisin sauce tastes savory, sweet and tangy. Made with dates, tahini, garlic, and five spice powder. Simply blend the ingredients. Use it as a marinade or dipping sauce, or brush it on when grilling.
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A close shot shows 5 hotpot sauce recipe in 5 individual bowls

4

Hot pot sauce

5 from 5 votes
5 different hot pot sauces to choose! They are meant for hot pot dipping sauces but you can absolutely use them for grilled chicken, too! From savory to little spicy, and from creamy to light and refreshing!
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Vegetarian oyster sauce recipe made with shiitake mushrooms is the best Paleo stir-fry sauce for vegan and gluten-free people.

5

Vegetarian oyster sauce

4.92 from 24 votes
This homemade oyster sauce is vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. Made with Chinese dried shiitake mushrooms and with 5-ingredients only. Use it as a marinade, dipping sauce, and for grilling.
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Holding a spoonful of almond butter made peanut flavored sauce

6

Asian peanut sauce

5 from 15 votes
This Asian peanut sauces tastes perfectly balanced between sweet and savory. It's creamy smooth and nutty delicious. For those of you who are allergic to peanuts, use creamy almond butter to make the sauce.
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A spoonful of bam bam sauce dripping out of the glass jar

7

Bang bang sauce

5 from 4 votes
You might be associate bang bang sauce with seafood and fried food dishes but let me tell you good sauce is great for everything! My homemade sauce is creamy, tangy, a little spicy, and ready in under 5 minutes! Use it as a dipping sauce for grilled chicken!
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Japanese sauces

Growing up in Taiwan, Japanese cuisine is always close to my heart. 🙂 Here are some of my favorite Japanese-inspired easy sauces for chicken. Use them for dipping sauce on the side of your grilled chicken or brush it on when you grill.

A glass jar filled with creamy brown tahini, reminiscent of Creamy Roasted Sesame Dressing, sits on a wooden surface beside a yellow cloth and a spoon with tahini. An open jar and a white pitcher are in the background.

8

Roasted sesame dressing (kewpie-inspired!)

5 from 13 votes
This is my go-to Japanese dressing for everything! It's great for noodles, salads, tofu, and of course – grilled chicken! You can use it for chicken breasts, thighs, and drumsticks, too!
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A close shot to show a different angle of the sugar free sauce teriyaki recipe

9

Keto teriyaki sauce

5 from 12 votes
Probably one of the most popular recipes on the blog, this teriyaki sauce is not only homemade but also loaded with flavor! Use it as a marinade or brush the sauce on when you grill!
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Paleo Teriyaki Sauce Whole30 Gluten-Free from I Heart Umami

10

Paleo teriyaki sauce

5 from 6 votes
Same great flavor, easy to make, and this one is paleo friendly. My teriyaki sauce tastes sweet and savory, and with a touch of garlicky flavor!
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Creamy and tart Paleo Creamy Ginger Salad Dressing recipe is Paleo, Whole30, Keto, and Vegan from I Heart Umami.

11

Creamy ginger dressing

5 from 12 votes
If you love the dressing used at Japanese sushi restaurants, you'll love my homemade version! This dressing is light and gingery! Best sauce to go with chicken breasts.
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Thai sauces

These Thai-inspired sauces are a real gem when it comes to sauce recipes for chicken. You can whip up a simple sauce for chicken using fish sauce, lime juice, coconut sugar, and a touch of red chili pepper. Add some crushed and toasted peanuts and tamarind paste (if you have a jar at home), these grilled chicken sauces will tenderize the meat and give them a tangy kick.

Nam Jim Jaew Thai Dried Chili Dipping Sauce I Heart Umami

12

Thai chili sauce – Nam Jim Jaew

5 from 4 votes
This is one of my favorite Thai dipping sauces. It's a little funky, salty, acidic, and a little sweet and spicy. Use it as a marinade and dipping sauce. Great for chicken breasts or thighs.
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Paleo Easy Thai Peanut Sauce is Whole30 and peanut-free with nut-free option.

13

Thai peanut sauce

5 from 17 votes
Unlike the sweeter version of Chinese peanut sauce, this is an authentic Thai version. It tastes fruity, tangy, and tart. This is a creamy sauce that's great for dipping and put it on the chicken when you grill.
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A close shot of the food on a big white plate

14

Thai chicken satay

5 from 34 votes
Probably the best sauce chicken marinade Thai style! My readers love this chicken dish and there's a reason why. Easy to assemble and tastes amazing! I recommend using chicken thighs either bone-in or boneless and marinate the chicken overnight before you grill!
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Vietnamese sauces

If you love fresh and zesty flavors, these Vietnamese-inspired sauces for grilled chicken are written for you! Nuoc Cham is a classic dipping sauce for chicken and my Vietnamese sweet chili sauce isn’t just a good sauce for chicken, it’s great with pretty much everything!

Vietnamese Dipping Sauce - Nuoc Cham- is Paleo, Whole30, and Keto friendly from I Heart Umami.

15

Vietnamese dipping sauce – nuoc cham

5 from 17 votes
Love Vietnamese spring rolls and that delicious condiment sauce served on the side? This homemade version will satisfy your craving! It's perfect for grilled chicken skewers with perfectly charred chicken!
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Photo shows 6 grilled chicken legs drizzled with sauce on a big white oval plate

16

Grilled chicken drumsticks with sweet chili sauce

5 from 11 votes
Grilled chicken drumsticks with sweet chili bbq sauce are jam-packed with flavor! The chicken is perfectly tender and pair it with the sweet chili sauce on the side!
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Paleo Keto Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Lemongrass Chicken (Bun Ga Nuong) with Vietnamese dipping sauce Nuoc Cham from I Heart Umami.

17

Vietnamese lemongrass chicken

5 from 20 votes
Meant to pair the Nuoc Cham sauce on the side, this marinated Vietnamese lemongrass chicken sauce is perfect for charcoal grill! I recommend marinating the chicken overnight for the best flavor!
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Korean sauces

If you love a good sauce for chicken, these Korean-inspired sauces are moughwatering blend of spicy, sweet, and umami flavors. Gochujang paste is a must-have for Korean style barbeque chicken. My faux-gochujang is made without soy and fast to blend. It will have your taste buds dancing!

Paleo Gochujang Korean red chili paste gochujang substitute recipe

18

Gluten free gochujang paste

5 from 23 votes
My homemade gochujang paste is soy-free and gluten-free. You can use it for everything! From pasta sauce to salad dressing, and from kimchi marinade to Korean bbq sauce chicken grill!
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Photo shows LA galbi (korean short ribs) barbequed and served on a big white plate with side dishes on the side.

19

Kalbi marinade

5 from 13 votes
If you think kalbi marinade is only for short ribs, think again! This delicious Korean-inspired sauce is great for chicken, too! With a blend of kiwi and pear, you know it's going to be DELICIOUS! I recommend marinate the chicken for at least 24 hours and up to 2 days.
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FAQs

Which sauce is best for chicken?

Grilled chicken has a natural smokey flavor. If the chicken is not marinated and only lightly seasoned, a creamy sauce or a sauce balanced with sweet, saovry, and acidity will work best.

Do you put sauce on chicken before grilling?

It depends on the type of sauce. If the chicken is marinated in a thick sauce such as sweet barbecue sauce, lightly drench the chicken before grilling. Most often, marinated chicken will taste more flavorful before grilling.

How do you make the sauce stick to grilled chicken?

You want to marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour before grilling. During cooking, dip or brush the bbq chicken with more sauce on all sides until the chicken is cooked through.

Pairing your sauce

Now you have different sauces for chicken, what’s next? I always like to think about what type of chicken I will pair them with. For example, a thicker and more robust gochujang paste would work well with grilled chicken thighs, while a light Vietnamese nuoc cham would be perfect for grilled chicken breast.

You can use these chicken sauces for marinating or dipping. I recommend marinating thick-cut chicken breasts in one of these sauces before grilling so that the chicken will be more flavorful. For thin-cut or chicken skewers like my yakitori skewers, you can lightly season them with some salt and black pepper and brush the sauce on as you grill.

For food safety from USDA, the internal temperature of cooked chicken should be cooked to 165F. And always separate the dipping sauce that you served on the side from the sauce you used for marinating. Discard the marinade after using it.

Made a dish and loved it? Please rate the recipe and leave a comment in the section below! It helps my blog grow organically, allowing me to continue sharing free and awesome content with you. Thank you!

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1 Comment

  1. Nancy says:

    5 stars
    Absolutely love these sauces for chicken! And thank you for sharing such a great variety of flavors they are new and refreshing! The Vietnamese sweet chili sauce is great. Love the grilled drumsticks, too!