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Home » Recipes » Sauces, Dressings & Dips

Subway Sweet Onion Sauce Recipe

Published: Nov 29, 2022 by Geetanjali · This post may contain affiliate links · 18 Comments

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Easy Subway sweet onion sauce recipe made from scratch within 15 minutes. If you love sweet onion sauce at Subway, this recipe is for you!

Image showing sweet onion teriyaki sauce in a white bowl.
Subway Sweet Onion Sauce
Jump to:
  • What to eat with Sweet Onion Sauce
  • Is this Sweet Onion Sauce Healthy
  • Sweet Onion Sauce Ingredients
  • How to make Subway Copycat Sweet Onion Sauce
  • How to store
  • FAQ
  • Recipe
  • Comments

Subway is a popular fast-food restaurant chain that specializes in sandwiches and salads.

Sweet onion sauce is one of their signature sauce on the menu, which is a sweet and tangy onion-flavored condiment mainly added to subway sandwiches or as a salad dressing.

The recipe I am sharing is very close to what you would get at Subway restaurants. It has the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. I always make this subway sweet onion teriyaki sauce to pair my Subway-style dinner - especially with chicken teriyaki sandwiches. 

This easy, inexpensive, homemade Subway's sweet onion sauce/dressing recipe is so useful when you are at home and want to enjoy a copycat subway experience.

This sweet onion sauce is 

  • vegan
  • gluten-free
  • preservative-free
  • oil-free
  • & kid-friendly

What to eat with Sweet Onion Sauce

Sweet onion sauce pairs very well with tuna, chicken, or turkey subs. However, you can use this sauce for so much more:

Spread: Use It as a spread on bread or your favorite sandwiches. 

Salad dressing: Drizzle on salad to give the salad a flavor boost.

Dipping sauce: Excellent dipping sauce for roasted, grilled, or fried veggies, fish, or chicken. 

Marinade: Use as a marinade for meat, chicken, and fish.

I also love using mine with chips, french fries, baked potato, paratha, and pita bread. Here are some of the great recipes that work with sweet onion sauce.

  • Paneer Pakora
  • Aloo Bonda
  • Grilled Potato wedges
  • Paneer Potato Balls
  • Chicken Fry
  • Gobi Pakora
  • Watermelon Mango Salad

You can also check our Mayo Ketchup Sauce

Is this Sweet Onion Sauce Healthy

It is a far better alternative than store-bought sauces in terms of fat and sodium content. But it contains sugar. So, eating moderately is usually fine.

Sweet Onion Sauce Ingredients

The ingredients used in this sauce are simple and fresh. Once you have got all the ingredients ready it just takes minutes to come together. Here's all you need:

Image showing sweet onion dressing ingredients are placed on a black background.

Onion: any sweet variety; Some popular sweet onion varieties include Walla walla, Texas sweets, Maui, and Vidalia. White or yellow onion will work as well.

Garlic: just a touch of fresh garlic to enhance the flavor. If fresh garlic is not available, you can use garlic powder instead. 

Vinegar: plain white distilled vinegar and balsamic vinegar.

Granulated sugar: you can also use brown sugar. 

Cornflour: cornflour or cornstarch to thicken the sauce. Arrowroot flour, tapioca flour/starch, or potato starch also work fine;

Black pepper powder: I recommend using freshly ground black pepper; 

Nigella seed(also called kalonji): available in Asian grocery stores. It tastes like oregano and onion mix. It adds a hint of extra flavor. I like the flavor, but you can choose to skip it; 

Lemon juice: fresh;
Salt: I use regular table salt.

Water: cold filtered water;

How to make Subway Copycat Sweet Onion Sauce

Making your sweet onion sauce is pretty simple. It only requires a handful of ingredients and takes 15 minutes or less.

  • First, peel the onion and garlic, roughly chop them, and blend until smooth. Squeeze the juice using a muslin cloth and transfer to a pan or pot.
  • Heat the pan. Add in water, sugar, salt, white vinegar, balsamic vinegar, black pepper, and nigella seeds, and bring the mixture to a boil until the sugar dissolves.
Four images showing preparing onion juice, then boiling with water and spices  for making sweet onion sauce.
  • Whisk ¼ cup water and cornflour together in a bowl, and make a slurry. Add cornflour slurry and stir continuously over medium flame until the sauce thickens and looks glossier.
  • Remove from heat and add lemon juice. Stir to mix and allow the sauce to come to room temperature. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use when needed.
Image showing sweet onion sauce in a white bowl.

How to store

Let it cool, then transfer it to an airtight container and this subway sweet onion sauce stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. I would not recommend freezing it.

FAQ

Where can you buy Subway sweet onion sauce?

It is not possible to buy Subway sweet onion sauce, as it is unavailable for sale. While you can get similar kinds of sweet onion sauce or dressing of other brands at most of the major grocery store chains, including Walmart.

If you try the recipe, please take a moment to leave a comment and rating. I love hearing from you and it also helps other readers who are thinking of making the recipe.

Recipe

Subway Sweet Onion Sauce

Subway Sweet Onion Sauce Recipe

Subway copycat sweet onion sauce recipe at home from scratch within 15 minutes. An easy, vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, recipe.
4.96 from 21 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Condiment, Sides
Cuisine: Global
Keyword: Subway sweet onion sauce recipe, Sweet onion sauce
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Servings: 1 cup
Calories:
Author: Geetanjali

Equipment

  • Blender or grinder, Measuring cups & spoons, Pan or pot, A spatula

Ingredients 

  • 1 medium-size onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ¾ cup water plus ¼ cup water
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon nigella seeds/kalonji
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 2 teaspoon cornflour/cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon lemon juice, fresh
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • Peel the onion and garlic, roughly chop them, and blend until look smooth. Squeeze the juice using a muslin cloth and transfer to a pan or pot.
  • Heat the pan. Add in water, sugar, salt, white vinegar, balsamic vinegar, black pepper, and nigella seeds. Bring the mixture to a boil until sugar dissolves.
  • Whisk ¼ cup water and cornflour together in a bowl, and make a slurry.
  • Add the cornflour slurry and stir continuously over medium flame until the sauce thickens and looks glossier.
  • Remove from heat and add lemon juice. Stir to mix and allow the sauce to come to room temperature.
  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use when needed.

Notes

Be sure to give the sauce a taste test to avoid over-seasoning. 
Ingredient notes: 
Onion: any sweet variety; Some popular sweet onion varieties include Walla walla, Texas sweets, Maui, and Vidalia. White or yellow onion will work as well.
Garlic: just a touch of fresh garlic to enhance the flavor. If fresh garlic is not available, you can use garlic powder instead. 
Vinegar: plain white distilled vinegar and balsamic vinegar.
Granulated sugar: you can also use brown sugar. 
Cornflour: cornflour or cornstarch to thicken the sauce. Arrowroot flour, tapioca flour/starch, or potato starch also work fine;
Black pepper powder: I recommend using freshly ground black pepper; 
Nigella seed(also called kalonji): available in Asian grocery stores. It tastes like oregano and onion mix. It adds a hint of extra flavor. I like the flavor, but you can choose to skip it; 
Lemon juice: fresh;
Salt: I use regular table salt. 
Water: cold filtered water;

Nutrition Disclaimer:

Nutrition information is a general estimate only. Actual values may vary depending on the specific ingredients and brands used. For the most accurate information, please consult a registered dietitian or use your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

    4.96 from 21 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating





  1. Sudhir sarkar says

    June 13, 2021 at 12:10 pm

    Excellent

    Reply
    • Geetanjali says

      June 23, 2021 at 11:50 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Anaiah says

    June 25, 2021 at 1:11 pm

    This sweet onion sauce was so flavorful and quick to make!

    Reply
  3. Alexandra says

    June 25, 2021 at 1:33 pm

    What a delicious sauce - full of flavour.

    Reply
  4. Kylie says

    June 25, 2021 at 2:27 pm

    Yum! We really enjoyed this!

    Reply
  5. Ramona says

    June 25, 2021 at 3:40 pm

    This was good!! Will definitely make it again!

    Reply
  6. Alice | SkinnySpatula says

    June 25, 2021 at 3:41 pm

    Looks smashing! I love that sauce at Subway and yours looks just like it.

    Reply
  7. Kristina says

    June 25, 2021 at 5:46 pm

    A great alternative to the real thing, only I suspect this one has way more "fresh" and "natural" ingredients. Thanks for sharing this!

    Reply
  8. Pam says

    June 25, 2021 at 6:47 pm

    I use this on everything!

    Reply
  9. Kayla DiMaggio says

    June 25, 2021 at 7:12 pm

    This was so good that I bookmarked it! I love Subway's sweet onion sauce and I get it everytime. Now I know how to make it from home!

    Reply
  10. Sue says

    June 25, 2021 at 7:18 pm

    My favorite sauce from Subway!

    Reply
  11. Oscar says

    June 26, 2021 at 4:38 am

    Great recipe

    Reply
  12. Ksenia says

    June 26, 2021 at 6:44 am

    Finally, one of my favourite sauce is revealed!

    Reply
  13. Mihaela|https://theworldisanoyster.com/ says

    June 26, 2021 at 2:59 pm

    I had no idea it was so easy to make!

    Reply
  14. Imran David says

    October 07, 2023 at 3:22 am

    Nice it's so help fully 👍

    Reply
  15. Mrs Trudi Baker Mrs Trudi Baker says

    November 25, 2023 at 4:03 pm

    Can this be preserved

    Reply
  16. Michael G says

    February 11, 2024 at 10:06 am

    We made this tonight
    It tastes amazing
    It doesn't turn out reddish like the picture but it's savory and a beautiful brownish

    Thank you
    My fifteen yr old son and I made this together
    He wanted some badly

    Reply
  17. Niknik says

    September 14, 2024 at 6:42 pm

    Very excited to try this! At the very beginning of the recipe, do you use just the liquid squeezed from the onion and garlic? I just wanted to clarify before I get started! 😁

    Reply
user profile

Hi, I'm Geetanjali! I am the cook, photographer, and author behind Spoons Of Flavor. I focus on simple, affordable, and easy-to-follow recipes for everyday life.

More about me →

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