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If you’ve ever had Country Sweet sauce on crispy chicken wings, you know exactly why people love it. It’s sweet, tangy, a little spicy, and somehow completely different from regular BBQ sauce or hot sauce.

This homemade Country Sweet sauce recipe is my take on that famous Rochester sauce. It has plenty of sweetness, a vinegar tang, tomato paste, mustard, and just enough red pepper to give it a little kick without making it overly spicy.

And the best part? You can make the whole thing in one saucepan in about 20 minutes.

Use it for chicken wings, chicken tenders, grilled chicken, pork, sandwiches, or even as a dipping sauce for fries. I especially love it on crispy chicken because that sticky sweet sauce gets into every little piece of breading.

If you’re a fan of homemade copycat sauces, make sure to try my Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce Recipe next. It’s creamy, spicy, and another great one for chicken.

Country Sweet sauce on a spoon above a saucepan, with text reading “Homemade Country Sweet Sauce Recipe—Sweet, Tangy & A Little Spicy.

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What Is Country Sweet Sauce?

Country Sweet is a sweet and tangy cooking sauce that originated in Rochester, New York. It isn’t quite BBQ sauce, Buffalo sauce, or sweet-and-sour sauce.

It falls somewhere deliciously in between.

The original Country Sweet sauce is made with ingredients including sugar, vinegar, water, tomato paste, mustard seed, red pepper, spices, apple cider vinegar, xanthan gum, and natural flavor.

My homemade version uses simple grocery-store ingredients to recreate that same combination of sweet, tangy, tomato-y, and slightly spicy flavors.

This isn’t the restaurant’s secret recipe, of course. It’s my homemade copycat version inspired by the flavors and ingredient list of the original.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Crispy chicken tender dipped into a white ramekin of glossy, reddish-orange Country Sweet sauce.

If you like sweet chicken or saucy chicken wings, this is one of those recipes you’ll want to save.

It’s:

  • Sweet and tangy

  • Easy to make

  • Ready in about 20 minutes

  • Made with simple ingredients

  • Easy to make mild or spicy

  • Great for wings, tenders, pork, and more

  • Delicious as a dipping sauce or glaze

Plus, you can keep the leftover sauce in the refrigerator and use it throughout the week.

Ingredients

You will need:

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

  • 3/4 cup water

  • 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar

  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

  • 1/3 cup tomato paste

  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard

  • 1/2 teaspoon mustard seed, finely crushed

  • 1 teaspoon paprika

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional

How to Make Country Sweet Sauce

Making this Country Sweet sauce is easy: add everything to one saucepan, whisk it together, and let it simmer until the flavors come together. Here’s how I make it step by step.

1. Combine the base ingredients.

Two cooking steps showing tomato paste added to liquid, then the red sauce simmering in a saucepan.

Add the sugar, water, distilled vinegar, apple cider vinegar, tomato paste, and yellow mustard to a medium saucepan.

Whisk everything together until the tomato paste is completely incorporated.

2. Add the seasonings.

Crushed mustard seeds and seasonings added to Country Sweet sauce simmering in a stainless steel saucepan.

Add the crushed mustard seed, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper, and cayenne if you’re using it.

Whisk again.

3. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.

Place the saucepan over medium heat.

Stir frequently until the sugar has completely dissolved and the sauce begins to simmer.

Once it starts bubbling, reduce the heat to low.

4. Simmer until thickened.

Spoonful of finished reddish-orange Country Sweet sauce held above a saucepan.

Let the sauce gently simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

You don’t want a hard boil. A slow simmer gives the flavors time to come together without reducing the sauce too much.

Remember that the sauce will also become thicker as it cools.

5. Cool.

Homemade Country Sweet sauce cooling in a clear glass bowl on a countertop.

Let the sauce cool for at least 10–15 minutes before using.

Taste it once it has cooled slightly.

Want it hotter? Add another pinch of cayenne or red pepper.

Want it tangier? Add a small splash of apple cider vinegar.

Want it less tangy? Add 1/2 tsp of honey per 1/4 cup of sauce.

Chicken wing dipped into a glass bowl of homemade Country Sweet sauce.

Homemade Country Sweet Sauce Recipe

This homemade Country Sweet sauce is sweet, tangy, slightly spicy, and perfect for crispy chicken wings, tenders, pork, sandwiches, and dipping. It comes together in one saucepan in about 20 minutes with simple ingredients.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course condiment, sauce
Cuisine American
Servings 16 servings (2 tablespoons each)
Calories 90 kcal

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan
  • Whisk
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons

Ingredients
  

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup tomato paste

1 tablespoon yellow mustard

1/2 teaspoon mustard seed, finely crushed

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional

Instructions
 

1. Add the sugar, water, distilled white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, tomato paste, and yellow mustard to a medium saucepan. Whisk until everything is well combined and the tomato paste is incorporated.

    2. Add the crushed mustard seed, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper, if using. Whisk again.

      3. Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until the sugar has completely dissolved and the sauce begins to gently simmer.

        4. Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Don't let the sauce come to a hard boil.

          5. Remove the sauce from the heat and let it cool for 10–15 minutes. It will continue to thicken as it cools.

            6. Taste and adjust if needed. Add a little more cayenne or crushed red pepper for extra heat, or a small splash of apple cider vinegar for more tang.

              7. Serve with crispy chicken wings, chicken tenders, grilled chicken, pork, fries, or your favorite foods.

                Notes

                For chicken wings, start with about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of sauce for 2 pounds of cooked wings. Toss the wings with the sauce after cooking so the sugar in the sauce doesn't burn.
                For a milder Country Sweet sauce, leave out the cayenne pepper.
                For a less tangy sauce: After the sauce has cooled slightly, taste it. If the vinegar flavor is stronger than you prefer, stir in 1/2 teaspoon honey per 1/4 cup of sauce, adding more to taste.
                Store leftover sauce in a clean, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
                The sauce can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and whisk well before serving.
                Keyword chicken wing sauce, copycat sauce recipe, Country Sweet sauce, country sweet sauce recipe, homemade Country Sweet sauce, sweet and tangy sauce, sweet chicken sauce

                The Secret to Getting the Flavor Right

                The most important thing about this Country Sweet sauce recipe is balance.

                It shouldn’t taste like ketchup.

                It shouldn’t taste like straight vinegar.

                And it definitely shouldn’t taste like regular BBQ sauce.

                You want the sweetness to hit first, followed by the tang from the vinegar and mustard, and then just a little warmth from the red peppers.

                That’s also why I use both distilled vinegar and apple cider vinegar. Distilled vinegar provides that sharp, clean tang while apple cider vinegar gives the sauce a slightly softer flavor.

                The tomato paste adds body without turning the sauce into ketchup-based BBQ sauce.

                Mild vs. Hot Country Sweet Sauce

                For a mild sauce, leave out the cayenne pepper and use only a small amount of crushed red pepper.

                For a hotter version, increase to:

                1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

                You can add more if you really love hot sauce, but I recommend starting small.

                The goal is still a sweet sauce with some heat, rather than a traditional Buffalo-style hot sauce.

                Country Sweet Chicken Wings

                This is probably my favorite way to use the sauce.

                Prepare your chicken wings until they’re very crispy, then transfer them to a large bowl while they’re still hot.

                For approximately 2 pounds of cooked chicken wings, start with:

                1/2 to 3/4 cup Country Sweet sauce

                Pour the sauce over the wings and toss until every wing is coated.

                Don’t drown them in sauce immediately. You can always add more.

                Serve extra sauce on the side for dipping.

                For another easy chicken appetizer, try my Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip. It’s one of my favorite easy recipes for parties and game day.

                Extra Tip

                If you’re baking or air-frying your chicken wings, don’t add this sweet sauce too early.

                Because the sauce contains quite a bit of sugar, it can burn at high temperatures.

                Cook the wings until crispy first and then toss them with the sauce.

                If you want the sauce slightly caramelized, return the coated wings to the oven for just 2–3 minutes while watching them carefully.

                What Else Can I Use Country Sweet Sauce On?

                Don’t limit this sauce to chicken wings.

                Try it with:

                Chicken tenders, grilled chicken thighs, fried chicken, pork chops, ribs, meatballs, shrimp, burgers, sandwiches, roasted vegetables, French fries, onion rings, or even pizza.

                It also works really well alongside simple side dishes like coleslaw, potato wedges, macaroni salad, or corn on the cob. If you’re serving this sauce with crispy chicken, my easy homemade Marie’s Coleslaw Dressing would be especially good on the side.

                I have a bit of a thing for recreating restaurant sauces at home! If you do too, you might also like my Juicy Crab Sauce Copycat Recipe or my Chili’s Ranch Dressing Recipe.

                Basically, if you would normally reach for BBQ sauce, sweet-and-sour sauce, or a sweet hot sauce, there’s a good chance this will work too.

                How to Store Leftover Sauce

                Let the leftover sauce cool completely before transferring it to a clean, airtight container or glass jar.

                Store it in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature.

                For best quality, I recommend using homemade Country Sweet sauce within 1 week.

                Since this is a homemade sauce and hasn’t been commercially processed or tested for shelf stability, don’t store it in the pantry.

                Can I Freeze It?

                Yes.

                Pour the completely cooled sauce into a freezer-safe container, leaving a little room for expansion.

                Freeze for up to 3 months.

                Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and whisk it well before using.

                Frequently Asked Questions

                Is Country Sweet sauce the same as sweet and sour sauce?

                No. They have some similarities because both combine sugar and vinegar, but Country Sweet has more of a tomato, mustard, and spice flavor. It’s difficult to put into one category, which is part of what makes it so good.

                Is Country Sweet sauce a BBQ sauce?

                Not exactly. There is a Country Sweet BBQ variety, but the classic cooking sauce has its own flavor. Think of it as somewhere between a sweet-and-sour sauce, BBQ sauce, and sweet wing sauce.

                Is this the original Country Sweet recipe?

                No. The restaurant’s exact recipe isn’t published. This is a homemade copycat recipe inspired by the flavor and publicly available ingredient list of Country Sweet sauce.

                Why does this recipe use tomato paste instead of ketchup?

                Tomato paste gives the sauce tomato flavor and body without adding all the seasonings already present in ketchup. The original Country Sweet ingredient list also includes tomato paste.

                Can I make it less sweet?

                Yes, but I recommend making the recipe as written the first time. Country Sweet is supposed to be noticeably sweet, and reducing the sugar will change the balance between the sweetness, vinegar, tomato, and spices.

                Can I make it spicy?

                Absolutely. Add cayenne pepper or additional crushed red pepper until it reaches your preferred heat level.

                More Easy Recipes to Try

                If you enjoyed this Country Sweet sauce recipe, here are a few more easy recipes you might want to try next:

                Notes

                For mild sauce: Omit the cayenne and keep the crushed red pepper at 1/4 teaspoon.

                For hot sauce: Increase the cayenne to 1/4 teaspoon, adding more to taste.

                For a less tangy sauce: After the sauce has cooled slightly, taste it. If the vinegar flavor is stronger than you prefer, stir in 1/2 teaspoon honey per 1/4 cup of sauce, adding more to taste.

                For chicken wings: Toss about 2 pounds of freshly cooked crispy wings with 1/2–3/4 cup of sauce.

                Don’t sauce wings before cooking: The high sugar content can cause the sauce to burn. Cook the wings first and toss them with the sauce afterward.

                Final Thoughts

                If you’re from Rochester, or you’ve ever tried the real thing, you already know why Country Sweet has such a loyal following.

                There’s just something about that combination of sticky sweetness, vinegar tang, tomato, mustard, and a little red pepper that works especially well with crispy chicken.

                And while nothing replaces stopping in for the real Rochester item, this homemade Country Sweet sauce recipe is an easy way to get those same sweet-and-tangy flavors at home.

                Make a batch for chicken wings, keep the leftover sauce in the refrigerator, and don’t be surprised if you start putting it on just about everything.

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