Chili garlic sauce is a type of condiment that is made from the blend and combination of chili peppers and garlic, just like its name indicates, alongside vinegar and salt. Commonly found in Asian cuisines, the chili garlic sauce is known for its bold and spicy flavor.
Its bold and spicy flavor aside, it is also very important when it comes to adding the heat, tanginess, and garlicky kick to a variety of dishes, be it stir-fries, marinades, dipping sauces, and more.
However, there are days when the chili garlic sauce might be out of your reach and unavailable for you to make use of, which can be very frustrating since your dishes might not end up being cooked as planned. During such days as these, you might be left with no other option other than to go in search of some other available substitutes that can, to some extent, replicate the chili garlic sauce in your dishes.
Choosing the right choice of a substitute to swap in for your chili garlic sauce might not be an easy task for different people with their different needs of Marinating meats, preparing dipping sauces, crafting dressings, or making their soups and stews tasteful.
To assist you in making the right choice of substitute for chili garlic sauce to go for, below have been highlighted 7 of the best substitutions for chili garlic sauce.
7 Best Substitute For Chili Garlic Sauce
1. Sriracha Sauce
Sriracha sauce, as a substitute for chili garlic sauce, is a type of hot sauce that is commonly found in Vietnamese cuisine, one which is made from the blend and combination of chili peppers, garlic, vinegar, sugar, and salt.
Known for its combination of heat, sweetness, and tanginess, sriracha sauce as a substitute for chili garlic sauce is of top recommendation for individuals looking to add spiciness to their dishes.
Just like the chili garlic sauce has the capability of adding such spiciness, Sriracha is also capable of doing such as well, as they both share key ingredients such as chili peppers and garlic with one another.
2. Sambal Oelek
Sambal oelek, as an ideal substitute for chili garlic sauce, is an Indonesian chili paste that came about from rushed or ground red chili peppers, backed up by some other ingredients such as vinegar and salt.
Characterized by its thick and chunky texture, which mostly comes about from its use of crushed chili peppers, sambal oelek as your substitute for chili garlic sauce is one which guarantees you its heat and a vibrant chili flavor inside of your dishes, especially in Southeast Asian cuisines.
Examples of such Southeast Asian cuisines include Indonesian and Thai dishes, be it stir-fries, sauces, or marinades.
3. Red Pepper Flakes + Minced Garlic
Pairing the red pepper flakes together with minced garlic has also been proven as yet another ideal substitute for the chili garlic sauce, one which offers you an easier route of replicating the heat and garlicky flavor of the chili garlic sauce.
Generally, pepper flakes are known to contribute spiciness, while minced garlic, on the other hand, minced garlic is cherished for its robust garlic taste. Combining them both would result in a balanced flavor and heat inside of your dishes, providing enough reasons as to why it is a nice choice of a substitute to stick with.
Read also, 12 Best Substitutes For Tabasco Sauce
4. Tabasco Garlic Pepper Sauce

Tabasco garlic pepper sauce, as a substitute for chili garlic sauce, is a variant of the classic Tabasco sauce that came about from the blend and combination of aged peppers, salt, and distilled vinegar.
The presence of garlic in the mix of the garlic pepper sauce makes up the balance of heat, tanginess, and garlic undertones it has to offer, especially when it comes to spicing up the flavor of various dishes.
General, as a substitute for chili garlic sauce, the Tabasco garlic pepper sauce is known to offer spiciness and garlic presence inside of your Sauces and marinades.
5. Harissa sauce

Harissa sauce, as a substitute for chili garlic sauce, is a North African chili paste or sauce that hails from the far away Maghreb region in Tunisia, produced from the blend and combination of chili peppers, garlic, and olive oil, alongside some other spices such as cumin and coriander.
Known to offer a combination of heat, smokiness, and aromatic spices, harissa sauce, though, does not share the same specific taste as chili garlic sauce. The heat and garlic presence it brings to dishes makes it a perfect fit for service.
6. Gochujang sauce

Gochujang comes in next on our list of excellent substitute for the chili garlic sauce, a Korean fermented chili paste made from the blend and combination of chili peppers, glutinous rice, fermented soybeans, and salt.
Blessed with a complex and savory flavor profile, and known as well to add its perfect balance of sweetness, umami, and heat, alongside its chili base and additional depth of flavor that arises from its fermentation process, Gochujang sauce is a substitute for your chili garlic sauce is at its best when it comes to adding a unique twist to dishes.
7. Hot Sauce + Minced Garlic
The results of the blend and combination of hot sauce and minced garlic is also another ideal choice of substitute for chili garlic sauce, with its results adding the heat from the hot sauce alongside the robust flavor that arises from fresh garlic.
It is a proven and tested choice of substitute for individuals craving heat and garlic presence inside of their dishes like stir-fries, marinades, and sauces.
Conclusion
In conclusion, every single one of the aforementioned substitutes for chili garlic sauce can also be a reliable choice of a substitute you can always count on inside of your marinades, dipping sauce, and dressings on days when the chili garlic sauce itself is out of your reach.