Rich, savory, and slightly sweet, this Chinese brown sauce is a versatile base that can be paired with chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, or vegetables. Made with soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and chicken broth, it’s thickened with cornstarch for a glossy, smooth finish that clings beautifully to stir-fried ingredients. The flavor is balanced, with the sweetness of the brown sugar complementing the savory soy sauce, while garlic adds a fragrant depth. It’s quick to prepare and works wonderfully for homemade stir-fries, making it easy to recreate a restaurant-style dish in your own kitchen.
Why this recipe works
- Simple, classic ingredients: Soy sauce, brown sugar, and chicken broth create a well-rounded flavor profile found in many Chinese-style sauces.
- Smooth, thick consistency: Cornstarch thickens the sauce so it coats proteins and vegetables evenly.
- Quick to make: Comes together in just minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknight meals.
- Customizable flavor: Easily adjust the sweetness, saltiness, or heat by adding more soy sauce, sugar, or chili paste.
- Restaurant-style results: Brings authentic-tasting Chinese takeout flavor to home-cooked meals without complicated steps.
Serving suggestions
- Pair with proteins: Toss with stir-fried chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, or tofu for a flavorful main dish.
- Vegetable stir-fries: Use as the sauce base for broccoli, snow peas, carrots, and bell peppers.
- Add spice: Mix in red pepper flakes, chili paste, or fresh ginger for a kick of heat.
- Serve over rice or noodles: Complements both steamed rice and lo mein-style noodles.
- Meal prep friendly: Make a batch ahead of time and store in the fridge for quick stir-fry nights.
Chinese brown sauce recipe
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Whip up Chinese brown sauce at home for stir-fry, chicken, beef, or shrimp with this simple, flavorful recipe.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon oil
Instructions
- In a bowl mix soy sauce, brown sugar, chicken broth, and corn starch. Make sure the mixture is well combined and set aside.
- Add 1 teaspoon of oil to a wok or saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and stir fry for 10 seconds.
- Add the chicken broth mixture and bring to a boil. Cook until the sauce becomes thickened and bubbly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 66
- Sugar: 7.8 g
- Sodium: 782.4 mg
- Fat: 1.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 11.8 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 1.9 mg