This is a simple homemade hot sauce with big garlic flavor, easy to make, customizable to your heat preference, perfect for every day use, a new favorite.
Garlic lovers! Looking for a hot sauce recipe that truly delivers when it claims to have big garlic flavor? This is the recipe you need. Behold - Garlic Bomb Hot Sauce.
It's the perfect everyday hot sauce for garlic lovers, made with a mix of hot chilies (easy to customize the heat) and lots of fresh garlic, a Chili Pepper Madness favorite.
I was going to do my own hot sauce line (and still might!), and this is a small batch version of one I nearly released. I love it so much, I wanted to share it with you so you can enjoy it at home.
Let's talk about how to make garlicky hot sauce, shall we?
Mike's Garlic Bomb Hot Sauce Ingredients
The full ingredients list with measurements is listed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Mixed Chilies. I'm using a blend of red cayenne, red jalapeno, red serrano, and cherry peppers from my garden. You can use your favorites with heat levels you prefer. This recipe works with green chilies.
- Fresh Garlic. Lots of garlic in this hot sauce!
- Apple Cider Vinegar. For a tangy quality. Red wine vinegar is a great alternative. It does work with white vinegar.
- Salt. To taste.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Don't Skimp on the Garlic. After many batches and experimentation, I've found that it's hard to add too much garlic. Keep upping the amount while batch testing to get the full garlic flavor you prefer.
- Customize the Heat. You can make a mild version by subbing in red bell pepper (fresh or roasted) for part or all of the hotter chilies. Make a more fiery version by tossing in a habanero or even a superhot or two. Fire it up!
Serving Suggestions
- Everyday Drizzle. This is the perfect go-to table sauce . Splash it over eggs, breakfast burritos, pizza, or tacos. It’s bold but balanced, so it won’t overpower your meal.
- Garlic-Lovers’ Marinade. Mix a few tablespoons with olive oil and lemon juice to marinate chicken, shrimp, or steak before grilling. You'll get some big garlicky heat and tang.
- Kick Up Your Pasta. Stir a spoonful into Alfredo, marinara, or butter sauce for fiery garlic flavor. It’s also awesome mixed with mayo for a spicy garlic aioli.
- Spicy Stir Fry Sauce. Toss it with noodles, veggies, or fried rice for a quick hit of heat and umami. Garlic + vinegar + chili = flavor explosion.
- Sandwiches & Burgers & Wings. Use in place of ketchup for next-level burgers, dogs, and grilled cheese.
- Wing Sauce. Mix equal parts Garlic Bomb and melted butter for an instant spicy garlic wing sauce. Compare to my Homemade Buffalo Sauce Recipe.
Storage
Store Garlic Bomb Hot Sauce in a sealed bottle or container in the refrigerator for several months. For longer keeping, freeze in small portions.
Because it uses ¾ cup vinegar, the acidity should be safe for short-term refrigeration, though pH can vary. If you want longer storage or shelf stability, test with a pH meter and be sure it’s below 4.0.
See my post - Does Hot Sauce Need to Be Refrigerated?
That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy the homemade hot sauce! Extra garlic! Let me know how you'll be using yours!
Cookbook Recommendation
If you enjoy spicy cooking, I hope you'll check out my cookbook! 100 easy recipes with big, bold flavor.
- Flavor Madness Cookbook, by Mike Hultquist
- Also see - The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook, by Mike Hultquist (affiliate link, my friends!)
Tools Used For This Recipe
- Hot Sauce Bottles (5 ounces) - I use these like crazy! Perfect for gift giving or home keeping.
- Hot Sauce Bottles (10 ounces) - For larger batches.
- Plastic Squeeze Condiment Bottles with Red Tip Cap (16-ounces)
Amazon Affiliate links, my friends! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes
- Jalapeno hot sauce recipe, bright and citrusy, made with fresh jalapenos and lime juice, only 6 ingredients.
- This habanero hot sauce recipe is the perfect mix of fire and flavor.
- Learn how to make tabasco with my homemade tabasco sauce recipe. Fermented and non-fermented versions.
- My mango-habanero hot sauce recipe is the perfect balance of fruity and spicy.
- See all of my Hot Sauce Recipes
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.
Garlic Bomb Hot Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 ounces mixed red chili peppers ~285 g (I'm using a blend of cayenne, red jalapeno, red serrano, and cherry peppers from my garden - use your favorites with heat levels you prefer)
- 3 ounces garlic chopped (~85 g) (use 4 ounces/113 g for more pronounced garlic flavor)
- ¾ cup apple cider vinegar ~180 ml (or use red wine vinegar)
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste, ~ 1.5 g
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a small pot or saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes to soften.
- Cool slightly then transfer to a food processor or blender. Blend until very smooth.
- Taste and adjust for salt. Add water or more vinegar 1-2 tablespoons at a time to thin to your desired consistency, if needed.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Frank Wickstrom says
Made this recipe with fresh Calabrian chilis from my garden, mixed with Fresno peppers. I strained it and then added more vinegar to thin it out. Made a great tasting hot sauce with plenty of heat! The remaining pulp makes a great chili garlic paste for use in asian cooking!
Mike Hultquist says
Yes! I love this. Thanks, Frank. I may grow Calabrian chilies again this year. Cheers!!
Mike H. says
Congrats on the garden, and thank you for the review, Frank!
Ranger Rick says
I had a package of red Aji Amarillo peppers from last years garden in the freezer that I fire roasted prior to freezing, so this seemed like a great recipe to use them up. I scaled all the ingredients based on the original recipe and the weight of my peppers and proceeded to make the sauce. I used Datu Puti Filipino cane vinegar instead of the ACV called for, which added a mellow, not quite sweet note to the finished product. Great garlic punch, and great heat! I'll be making more once my garden gets going. Thanks, Mike!
Mike Hultquist says
Very nice!! I love this variation! Thanks so much! I love to hear it.
Lavina says
Love a recipe that says don't skimp on the garlic!! 🙂 🙂 This is going to be magnificent with some Bird's Eye red chilies and Prik Kee Nu chilies I have on hand! Thanks Mike!
Mike Hultquist says
Yes!! Extra garlic for me! Perfect choice of peppers, Lavina!! I know you like it spicy. Cheers!
Andrew Ronnow says
What do you think about using store bought cherry peppers pickled in red wine vinegar? That's the closest thing I can find near me, but I worry the pickled aspect might affect the taste. I plan on using red wine vinegar anyway instead of apple cider vinegar, so I'm hoping it wouldn't affect it too much; but what do you think?
Love your website BTW! 🤤
Mike Hultquist says
Andrew, you can do that, and I want to do a post on making a hot sauce from pickled peppers. However, you'll get better results from fresh. You can use other peppers available to you. I would look for red Fresnos or similar chilies at your grocery store, OR you can use red bell or red sweets but add some HOT powder, like cayenne, to add heat. Let me know what you have available and I can try to help you adapt. Glad you're enjoying the site!