This Homemade Mango Habanero Sauce is the best recipe with a sweet and spicy kick! If you love Wingstop hot wings or Sweet Baby Ray’s, you will love this recipe. It’s even better! Use this as a marinade for chicken wings, ribs, salmon, and more!
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Fresh Habaneros
- Honey
- Lime Juice
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Smoked Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Salt and Pepper
Fresh or Frozen Mango
Either will work for this recipe. Frozen works great because it’s convenient and available year round. If using frozen mango be sure to defrost it first.
How Spicy are Habaneros?
Habaneros have a bright, reddish-orange color and green stem. They originated in the Amazon, but you can typically find them in the hotter regions of Central America and Mexico.
Habaneros fall into the extra hot zone and have a heat rating of 100,000–350,000 Scoville heat units (the measurement of the heat of chili peppers). For comparison, a ghost pepper can hit one million Scoville heat unit, the habanero is three to ten times milder. You can read more about habanero peppers here.
These peppers are hotter than poblano, serrano, and cayenne peppers. If you don’t like spicy dishes, feel free to modify the servings used or substitute for a pepper that is less hot. The recipe calls for 1-2 habaneros, you can always use half, 1/4th, etc.
How to Make the Sauce to Suit Your Taste
In the recipe, I use 2 habaneros. This is pretty spicy, even for someone like me who loves really spicy food. If you are nervous or making this for the first time I recommend you start with half of a habanero, combine the sauce, and taste it. Continue to build in additional heat with additional habaneros as needed.
If you are looking for something on the medium side, in terms of spicy, I think 1 habanero works well. I still recommend starting with 1/2 a habanero even if you are looking for something hotter than mild.
It’s easy to add additional spice when needed. It’s difficult to take it away once it’s already been added.
Is it Sweet?
A little sweetness will balance out the heat so well! I like to add honey to the sauce but you can also use something like pure maple syrup. The key is to taste as you go. Add additional sweetness if you feel the need.
How to Make Mango Habanero Sauce
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Add all of the sauce ingredients to a large bowl to blend using an immersion blender or add the ingredients to a high-powered blender.
- Blend until smooth.
How to Store Leftover Sauce
Store the sauce tightly covered and sealed in the refrigerator.
How Long Will it Last
I like to use the sauce within a week of preparing it. It will last for 10-14 days refrigerated.
Freezer Tips
You can freeze the sauce, but it will impact the consistency a little bit.
Pair with these Recipes
Pan-Seared Salmon
How to Grill Chicken Wings
Traeger Smoked Ribs
Traeger Smoked Chicken Breast
Cedar Plank Salmon
Traeger Smoked Salmon
More Sauce and Dressing Recipes
Taco Bell Creamy Jalapeno Sauce
Chimichurri Sauce
Homemade BBQ Sauce
Italian Vinaigrette Homemade Dressing
Creamy Southwest Salad Dressing
Mango Habanero Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup diced mango
- 1-2 habaneros Chopped.
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar Any vinegar will work.
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika Regular Paprika is fine.
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a bowl to blend using an immersion blender or add all of the ingredients to a standard high-powered blender. Pulse and combine the ingredients until thick and smooth.
- The sauce will last for 10-14 days covered and refrigerated.
Jack
Wednesday 17th of April 2024
Is there anything I can do if the habeneros are out of season and I can,t get them?
staysnatched
Thursday 18th of April 2024
Use any of your favorite peppers.
Robin Itczak
Thursday 21st of March 2024
About how much sauce does this recipe make? Thank you!
staysnatched
Thursday 21st of March 2024
You can find this info in the recipe card. 2 cups.
Jasmine
Wednesday 25th of October 2023
I'm confused. Are you not supposed to cook anything in this recipe?
staysnatched
Wednesday 25th of October 2023
No. It's a sauce.