If you’re craving the Polynesian sauce from Chick-Fil-A, now you can make it at home! This homemade version of the popular dipping sauce is easy to make with only 3 ingredients!
Copycat Chick-Fil-A Polynesian Sauce
My kids LOVE Chick-Fil-A… 9 times out of 10 if you ask them where they’d like to pick up food, this is what they’ll ask for. Nuggets and fries are their go-to meal of choice, and I mean, can you blame them?
Because my kids love those Chick-Fil-A nuggets so much, my husband (who is the chef in our family) actually started making his own copycat nuggets at home. It’s way more budget friendly to make your own and you can prepare a big batch (they heat up great the next day). Check out that copycat Chick-Fil-A nugget recipe here!
Polynesian Sauce is one of the most popular dipping sauces at Chick-Fil-A and it’s been on the menu as long as I can remember. I used to ask for it as a kid too!
A bold and zippy sweet and sour sauce, Polynesian Sauce tastes amazing on nuggets, chicken sandwiches and those delicious waffle fries.
When I first saw Chick-Fil-A sauces available for sale by the bottle at the grocery store, I was so excited! No more needing to collect those little sauce packets! (Who else has a condiment drawer at home?!)
I was even more excited when I realized how easy it would be to create this popular sauce at home…using only 3 simple ingredients!
Related: For a sauce with a kick, try our Homemade Thai Sweet Chili Sauce recipe!
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What is Chick-Fil-A Polynesian Sauce Made Of?
The product label for Chick-Fil-A Polynesian sauce shows this ingredient list: sugar, soybean oil, water, corn syrup, corn cider vinegar, distilled vinegar, tomato paste, salt, paprika, mustard seed, modified cornstarch, beet juice, onion powder, garlic powder, xanthan gum, propylene glycol alginate, and natural flavor.
We’ve shortened that list by a LOT — our copycat recipe has only 3 ingredients!
- 1/2 cup Catalina dressing
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 1/2 Tablespoons honey
You might be wondering how that works…how could we condense a lengthy ingredient list down to just three items and re-create that distinctive tangy flavor?
Well, because Catalina dressing is tomato and vinegar based, it provides the perfect base for our own version of Polynesian sauce. Honey adds sweetness and apple cider vinegar a touch more tanginess.
As you can see from the photos, the color and texture of our sauce looks just like the original! And the taste is spot-on too!
More Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sauce Recipes
Directions
Whisk together all ingredients together in a mixing bowl. This recipe as written makes about 1 cup of sauce.
If you’d like to make a bigger batch, all you need to do is increase the ingredient amounts proportionately.
Enjoy as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders and nuggets or fries. Polynesian sauce also tastes fabulous in marinades or for drizzling on meat, fried rice, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Catalina Dressing?
Catalina salad dressing is known for it’s bright red hue and it’s sweet and sour flavor. Catalina dressing is tomato based, made with vinegar, sugar, and spices.
While it is reminiscent of sweet and sour sauce, it is not quite the same thing. One key difference is that traditional Chinese sweet and sour sauce recipes are pineapple-based.
But if you enjoy sweet and sour sauce, then you will probably love Polynesian sauce too!
How Long Does Homemade Sauce Stay Good?
Homemade salad dressings and sauces should be kept refrigerated. Though the catalina dressing used in this recipe probably has added preservatives, the rest of our recipe does not.
Vinegar does act as a preservative to a certain degree, so when stored in a sealed airtight container in the refrigerator, this homemade Polynesian sauce should stay fresh for 1-2 weeks.
As with any homemade sauce or dish, check for signs of mold before using. Anything that looks or smells “off” is a hint that it’s time to toss it and whip up a new batch.
Grab a free printable copy of our Homemade Chick-Fil-A Polynesian Sauce recipe:
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Copycat Chick-Fil-A Polynesian Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- whisk
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Catalina dressing
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
- 3 1/2 Tablespoons Honey
Instructions
- Add ingredients to mixing bowl and whisk together until well blended and smooth.
- Keep refrigerated in a mason jar for 1-2 weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin our homemade sweet and sour sauce on Pinterest:
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Danielle says
Marzetti Honey French dressing in the short glass jar is the same exact thing as Polynesian sauce!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Thanks for the tip!