7 Really Easy 5 Minute Sauces

Looking for an easy way to add variety to your meals? These 7 easy sauce recipes are exactly what you need! All 7 of these recipes are made in just 5 minutes and with nothing but a handful of everyday pantry ingredients and basic kitchen staples. #truestory

Sauces are the perfect way to transform those tried and true dishes, so you can avoid hearing “we’re having this again?!”

From zesty Remoulade, copycat Benihana Ginger Sauce and Hibachi-inspired Yum Yum Sauce and Bang Bang sauce, to Lemon Butter Sauce, classic Basil Pesto, and a kid-approved Honey Mustard Sauce, you can easily change up the flavor profile of family’s favorite meals.

Easy sauces likes these are also an inexpensive way to add tons of flavor to all sorts of main dishes, sandwiches, salads, soups, and dipping into during snacktime.

Or if you’re like me, eating spoonfuls straight from the jar. Great for serving along with Instant Pot and Air Fryer recipes

And for all you meal prep folks, these 7 sauce recipes will become your new BFFs. It is super simple to make a batch (or two) ahead of time and then stash it in the fridge or freezer to use later. Don’t forget to use the nifty ice cube tray trick to really step up your meal prep storage game!

The other great thing about these 5 minutes sauces is they are immensely adaptable. Use the recipes as a guide, then just swap out spices and seasonings to suit your taste, or to use up what you already have on hand.

Make them thinner to use for salad dressings, or slightly thicker when you want a hearty sandwich topping or dipping sauce.

Base Ingredients

While each of these sauces has a unique flavor profile, many easy sauce recipes can be made using these common ingredients:

• Butter
• Olive Oil
• Garlic
• Mayonnaise
• Sea Salt Flakes
• Ground Black Pepper
• Herbs (dried or fresh)
• Spices (dried or fresh)

Tools and Equipment

It’s quite easy to whip up a basic sauce recipe. Here are some of the tools you’ll need :

• Measuring Cups
• Tablespoons and teaspoons
• Mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Spatula
• Food Processor
• Mason jars (for storing)

Soooo, are you ready to learn how to make these basic sauces? Then read on!

5 Minute Yum Yum Sauce

This popular Japanese Hibachi style Yum Yum Sauce is SO easy to make at home. After just one taste of this utterly addictive condiment, you’ll want to use it with pretty much everything! Suitable for vegetarian and gluten free diets.

Head over to the Yum Yum Sauce post for the full printable recipe and all the tips. Use this for:

• Instant Pot Hibachi Fried Rice.
• Air Fryer Garlic Mushroom Steaks.
• Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Breast.

5 Minute Lemon Butter Sauce – 3 Ways

Lemon Butter Sauce just might be the most versatile sauce there is. It’s delicious paired with chicken, seafood and steaks as well as on top of vegetables and grains.

And with three different ways to whip up this easy sauce, there’s a flavor profile to suit everyone. Suitable for low carb, keto and gluten free diets.

Head over to the Lemon Butter Sauce Recipe post for the full printable recipe and all the tips. Use this for:

• Air Fryer Steaks.
• Lemon Butter Salmon Pasta.
• Easy Air Fryer Asparagus.

5 Minute Remoulade

Making your own Remoulade Sauce may sound complicated, but trust me when I say it is so quick and easy, you’ll wonder why you didn’t try it sooner.

While remoulade is the star of many traditional Southern recipes, it’s a great way to add bold flavor and a nice kick of heat to all sorts of meals. Suitable for vegetarian and gluten free diets.

Head over to the Easy Remoulade post for the full printable recipe and all the tips. Use this for:

• Salmon Croquettes.
• Crispy Air Fryer Fish.
• Cajun Shrimp.

5 Minute Honey Mustard Sauce

This homemade Honey Mustard Sauce is a kid-approved condiment that you’ll want to make sure to always have on hand. Deliciously savory and a little bit sweet, this sauce adds tons of great flavor to all sorts of dishes.

Head over to the Honey Mustard Sauce post for the full printable recipe and all the tips. Use this for:

• Parmesan Crusted Air Fryer Chicken Tenders.
• Instant Pot Pork Chops.
• Juicy Instant Pot Hamburgers.

5 Minute Basil Pesto Sauce

Make this Basil Pesto Sauce in just 5 minutes and with less than 5 pantry ingredients! Flavorful and versatile, basil pesto is a great way to change up those tried-and-true dishes. And you can use it so many different ways – as a dressing for salads, on a sandwich, or as a dipping sauce for snacks.

Head over to the Basil Pesto Sauce post for the full printable recipe and all the tips. Use this for:

• Instant Pot Pasta.
• Stuffed Roast Lamb.
• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese.

Benihana Ginger Sauce (copycat)

Copycat Benihana Ginger Sauce is so quick and easy to make! A handful of basic pantry staples and just 5 minutes are all that’s needed to make this restaurant-quality Hibachi ginger sauce at home.

Head over to to the Benihana Ginger Sauce post for the full printable recipe and all the tips. Use this for:

• Hibachi Shrimp Dinner.
• Air Fryer Salmon.
• Easy Instant Pot Hibachi Fried Rice.

Bang Bang Sauce (Bonefish Grill copycat)

This delicious Bang Bang sauce is so quick and easy to make! This appetizer and dip only need a few basic pantry staples and 5 minutes to whip up. It is great with shrimp, seafood, meat, veggies, and more.

Head over to the Bang Bang Sauce post for the full printable recipe and all the tips. Use this for:

• Air Fryer Grilled Shrimp.
• Salmon Croquettes.
• Air Fryer Steak.

More Easy Sauce Recipes

• Easy Creole Sauce.
• Air Fryer Pasta Sauce.
• Jamaican Jerk Sauce.

Thank you for reading my 7 Easy Sauce Recipes post. And please visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans, and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.