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Spicy Honey Mustard

Vegetarian

Whip up this six-ingredient spicy honey mustard in less than five minutes, adjust to taste, and dig in! This kickin’ honey mustard can be enjoyed as a dip, sauce, or dressing. Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian.

Close up of bowl of honey with honey stick surrounded by crunch chicken tenders.

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What you’ll love about this recipe


  • It is soooo simple! Once you realize how incredibly simple it is to prepare this spicy honey mustard dressing from scratch, I guarantee you will never again purchase it from the store. It requires only a handful of ingredients (six to be precise) and takes no more than five minutes to make ready. You don’t need any special kitchen equipment and the clean-up is a breeze.
  • You can customize it! The ability to make adjustments to this sauce to suit your taste is a major selling point in my opinion. You can easily make it sweeter, spicier, or tangier so that it tastes exactly how you wish. Additionally, you can experiment by adding garlic, spices, and/or fresh herbs to the mix.
  • The numerous uses! There are a plethora of uses for this tasty condiment. You can use it as a dip for pretzels, fries, or chicken tenders, as a sauce for vegetables or your favorite protein, or as a dressing for salad or coleslaw. The sky’s the limit!
Plate of chicken tenders with a bowl of honey mustard in center surrounded by jar of honey and bunch of parsley.

Ingredients (+ notes & substitutions)


Ingredients for spicy honey mustard dressing (see recipe card).
  • Dijon mustard: One of three main components, Dijon mustard is both creamier and spicier than yellow mustard, making it ideal for the base of this sauce.
  • Honey: Although I have not tried it myself, you could substitute the honey for agave to make this recipe vegan, keeping in mind you would also need to use vegan mayonnaise.
  • Mayonnaise: The third key component of this dressing. Feel free to use egg-free mayo if preparing a vegan version of this sauce or light mayo to cut some of the calories and fat.
  • Cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper is used to spice things up. While the recipe calls for 1/2 tablespoon, feel free to use less or more as desired.
  • Apple cider vinegar: A little bit of vinegar brightens and balances the flavors. Distilled vinegar and lemon juice are suitable alternatives.
  • Yellow mustard: I like to add just a touch of yellow mustard to the mix because although less complex in flavor than Dijon, it is a bit tangier.

How to make spicy honey mustard sauce (+ tips)


1. Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl or jar.

Ingredients for honey mustard in a bowl prior to whisking.

Whisk to combine.

Spicy honey mustard in a blue bowl.

2. Taste and adjust to your liking. You can add more honey to sweeten it up and/or more cayenne to spice it up. For more mustard flavor, add additional yellow mustard. Feel free to experiment by adding garlic, paprika powder, and/or fresh herbs such as parsley, chives, or dill. Serve immediately or refrigerate for later.


Storage


Honey mustard does need to be refrigerated. It will keep for up to two weeks when stored in an airtight container. Freezing is not recommended.


FAQ


Is honey mustard gluten-free?

Yes!!!

Is honey mustard vegetarian? What about vegan?

Honey mustard is vegetarian. It is not, however, vegan. Although not all, most brands of mayonnaise are prepared with eggs. Since mayonnaise is one of the ingredients, honey mustard does contain eggs typically. And while you could prepare it with vegan mayonnaise, it still contains honey which is not acceptable on a vegan diet. That being said, you could substitute the honey for agave which is a vegan-friendly alternative.

Is honey mustard dairy-free?

Since none of the ingredients contain dairy, it absolutely is dairy-free!

Is honey mustard healthy?

It depends! While I would not consider most store-bought honey mustards to be healthy due to the use of preservatives and added sugars, homemade honey mustard is another story. Because this honey mustard is prepared with unprocessed ingredients and is naturally sweetened, it is relatively healthy. One serving of this sauce contains approximately 114 calories which is fewer calories than a serving of ranch dressing but considerably higher than the calorie count of a serving of ketchup.



Chicken strip dripping with honey mustard atop bowl and plate of chicken.
Close up of spoonful of honey mustard with chicken in background.

How to use this spicy honey mustard sauce:


  • Use it as a dip for potato chips or french fries, like these truffle sweet potato fries.
  • Slather it on roasted or grilled chicken, salmon, or pork chops.
  • Serve it as a dip for chicken tenders or nuggets.
  • Serve it with soft or hard pretzels for dipping.
  • Use it as a dressing for salad or coleslaw.
  • Spread it on a burger or a chicken sandwich, like this crispy buttermilk chicken sandwich.
  • Serve it as a dip or sauce for your favorite raw or roasted vegetables. It pairs exceptionally well with asparagus and Brussels sprouts.
  • In this honey mustard chicken wrap.

If you make this spicy honey mustard dressing I’d love your feedback. Please leave a comment and/or a rating below as I greatly value your opinion. Or snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @taoofspiceblog. Love, light, and happy cooking ya’ll ♥

Close up of bowl of honey with honey stick surrounded by crunch chicken tenders.

Spicy Honey Mustard

Yield: ~ 3/4 cup
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Whip up this six-ingredient spicy honey mustard in less than five minutes, adjust to taste, and dig in! This kickin' honey mustard can be enjoyed as a dip, sauce, or dressing. Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 tablespoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, could sub for distilled vinegar or lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard

Instructions

  1. Add all of the ingredients to a bowl or jar and whisk to combine.
  2. Taste and adjust to your liking. You can add more honey to sweeten it up and/or more cayenne to spice it up. For more mustard flavor, add additional yellow mustard. Feel free to experiment by adding garlic, paprika powder, and/or fresh herbs such as parsley, chives, or dill. Serve immediately or refrigerate for later.

Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 114Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 338mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 1g

The nutritional information provided is computer generated. It is only an estimate and intended for informational purposes only. Nutrition details may vary depending on various factors such as origin, freshness of ingredients, etc

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Kate Ward

Tuesday 7th of February 2023

Think you meant to wrote “1/2 teaspoon of cayenne.”

Jessica

Wednesday 19th of April 2023

@Kate Ward, half a teaspoon is not enough spice to make this spicy honey mustard. That would be closer to the plain version.

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