Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

With its sweet and tangy flavors, this Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce is perfect for serving alongside veggies, drizzling over grilled chicken, and jazzing up sandwiches.

Back when I ate a lot of fast-food chicken nuggets, my favorite dip was not the celebrated McDonald’s barbecue sauce. Nope, not for me. I always asked for the honey mustard. I didn’t understand how anyone could resist the tangy, sweet notes of that delicious golden goop coating their crispy nuggies. And for all those years, I never realized how easy the stuff was to make at home.

Fast-forward to me as a broke college student, learning how to navigate groceries and cooking for the first time. What’s a gal to do when she cannot afford her beloved drive-thru chicken nuggets with the golden honey mustard dip of the gods? “Well, it can’t be rocket science,” I thought. I ended up grilling some grocery store chicken thighs, cutting them into tiny pieces, and whipping up my own version of honey mustard dip. My chicken wasn’t quite as crispy as my favorite nuggets, but at least it was real chicken! But the dip? Whoa. Better than McDonald’s. Take that, fast-food joints!

This honey mustard dipping sauce recipe is equal parts tangy and sweet. It’s thick enough to stick to anything you dip in it, but it’s also thin enough to use as a salad dressing. If you bring it to a party, there’s a very good chance you’ll run out once people realize how good it is and overload their veggies and chips with it. So I suggest making a double batch if you want to save some for your chicken nugget dinner later!

Is This Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce Healthy?

Compared to most store-bought brands or sauces found at fast-food restaurants, this sauce is probably the better choice, since it isn’t loaded with artificial preservatives. However, this recipe does contain a good bit of mayonnaise. Even though it’s the low-fat kind, mayonnaise still contributes plenty of calories. Dijon mustard is extremely low in fat and calories, and lemon juice provides some vitamin C. The honey does kick up the sugar content of this dip. Overall, it’s not a healthy sauce if you drench your salad in it every day, but most people can enjoy this dip in moderation.

The recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free. You can make it vegan by substituting the honey for a vegan sweetener, like agave nectar or maple syrup, and using a plant-based mayo. If you can handle dairy, you can also try using Greek yogurt or sour cream in place of the mayonnaise for a slightly healthier version.

Put A Different Spin On Your Honey Mustard

Lots of folks enjoy regular honey mustard without any additions or substitutions, and that’s just fine. But what’s life without a little variety? Here are some fun ways to change the flavors of this dip.

Add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar: If you like a more vinegary dip, apple cider vinegar is the way to go! It’s a little on the sweeter side of vinegars, so it pairs nicely with the honey flavor of this recipe.

Try a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce: Worcestershire sauce adds a deep savory note to this dip, and I add a few dashes of it to my honey mustard when I’m planning on eating it with grilled chicken.

Throw in a sprinkle of garlic powder: Maybe I just put garlic in everything, but garlic powder tastes great in this honey mustard!

Spice it up with cayenne or a dash of hot sauce: Adding some spice to this dip is phenomenal if you’re a fan of spicy food! Just a tiny bit of cayenne powder or a few drops of your favorite hot sauce will amp up the heat.

Serving Suggestions

This dip is so versatile and tasty, you should have no problems finding new and exciting ways to use it. You cannot go wrong with honey mustard as a dipping sauce for fries! Whip up a batch of Cottage Fries and savor the honey mustard goodness. This recipe for Almond-Crusted Chicken Bites With Honey Mustard Dip is also a perfect candidate for dipping!

Making a sandwich for lunch? I recommend my Superfood Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Sandwich, and instead of mustard or mayo, use this honey mustard as a spread on your bread to get the best of both worlds. Or use it in a wrap, like this “Honey” Garlic Roasted Chickpea Wrap.

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