Made with mustard, honey, molasses, sriracha, and other flavorful spices, this iconic Memphis honey gold sauce adds sweet, tangy flavor to chicken wings, tenders, and more!
If you have not yet had the pleasure of visiting Memphis, Tennessee, you are in for a treat with this recipe! Memphis is one of the nation's top chicken wing hubs, with over 200 wing spots throughout the city, and honey gold flavor is a local favorite.
For more iconic Southern recipes, check out our Mississippi comeback sauce and creamy Southern cheese grits recipes next!
Table of Contents
Important Ingredient Notes
The detailed ingredient list with measurements is in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Dijon mustard. Adds an extra tangy, peppery flavor to this sauce. Try our Southern deviled eggs!
- Honey. A sweet contrast to the tangy mustard. Try our hot honey butter corn next!
- Brown sugar. For rich, caramel-like sweetness to compliment the tangy flavors.
- Molasses. Very rich, caramel-like flavor with a subtle sweetness. I love Grandma's brand. Love molasses? You don't want to miss our spiced molasses cookies!
- Apple cider vinegar. Adds acidity to balance out the sweetness.
- Sriracha. For the perfect touch of heat.
- Garlic. Fresh garlic adds delicious flavor.
- Spices. Use your favorite spices to round out this sauce.
Variations and Substitutions
- Feel free to use yellow mustard instead of Dijon mustard. Your sauce will be a brighter yellow and slightly less tangy.
- Try pure maple syrup instead of honey.
- Swap the vinegar for fresh lemon juice to add citrusy acidity.
- Use Tabasco or your favorite brand of hot sauce instead of Sriracha.
How to Make This Recipe
Heat all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes until smooth. Allow the sauce to cool slightly before coating chicken wings or using this sauce as a dip.
Recipe FAQs
Honey gold sauce is a sweet and tangy sauce combining the flavor of mustard with caramel-like sweetness, garlic, spices, and a touch of subtle heat.
While this sauce has a subtle hint of heat from the sriracha, it is not spicy. Feel free to omit the sriracha if you are sensitive to heat.
Yes. Freeze batches of honey gold sauce in zip-top freezer bags and thaw in the refrigerator when ready to use.
How To Serve This Sauce
This honey gold sauce tastes PHENOMENAL slathered on chicken wings! Check out our Memphis honey gold wing recipe to try it out! You can also use this sauce to coat chicken tenders, nuggets, or fried shrimp. Some other uses for this tasty sauce are:
- Dip for vegetables
- Dip for fries
- Spread for sandwiches and wraps. Try substituting it on our hot honey catfish biscuits!
- Dressing for green salads
- Glaze or sauce for grilled or roasted meats
Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
Make this sauce up to two days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Leftover honey gold sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.
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📖 Recipe
Memphis Honey Gold Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup Dijon mustard
- ½ cup honey - raw, organic honey if possible
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar - or light brown
- 2 tablespoons molasses - such as Grandma's
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 - 3 teaspoons sriracha - or hot sauce
- 1 clove garlic - minced
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon mustard powder
- Salt - to taste
- Cracked black pepper - to taste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Simmer the sauce, stirring regularly, for 3 to 5 minutes until smooth. Allow the sauce to cool slightly before coating chicken wings or using this sauce as a dip.
Notes
- Make this sauce up to two days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Leftover honey gold sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.
A Nicole
This is the best honey gold sauce recipe I’ve found on the internet! Thank you for a great recipe.