What Sauce Goes with Crab Rangoon? The 10 Best Options for This Classic Appetizer

Crab rangoon is a beloved appetizer found on Chinese restaurant menus across America. These crispy, deep-fried wontons are filled with a creamy mix of crab and cream cheese that simply melts in your mouth. While crab rangoon is delicious on its own, the right dipping sauce can really take it to the next level. But with so many options, what sauce actually goes best with crab rangoon?

I decided to dig into this important question and uncover the top sauces to serve alongside this classic appetizer. After researching recipes and reviews, I have narrowed it down to the 10 best sauces for crab rangoon based on flavor, popularity, and versatility.

An Overview of Crab Rangoon

Before diving into the sauces let’s start with a quick overview of crab rangoon itself. Crab rangoon consists of small wonton wrappers filled with a mixture of crab meat (either imitation or real) cream cheese, garlic, onions, and seasoning. The wontons are then sealed and deep fried until golden brown and crispy.

Crab rangoon was likely created in the 1950s by Chinese immigrants wanting to adapt traditional flavors for an American audience. The cream cheese filling helped make the dish more appealing to American tastes. These little crab and cheese-filled pouches became an instant hit.

Today, crab rangoon remains a staple Chinese takeout appetizer across the United States and Canada. It’s commonly served with sweet chili sauce or duck sauce for dipping, but as we’ll explore, there are many more sauce possibilities to consider.

The 10 Best Sauces for Crab Rangoon

1. Sweet and Sour Sauce

Sweet and sour sauce is a classic match for crab rangoon. This bright orange sauce provides a tangy yet sweet flavor that perfectly complements the rich filling. It strikes just the right balance between savory and sweet. The thick consistency also makes it ideal for dipping. For an authentic restaurant-style sweet and sour sauce, combine ketchup, pineapple juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and cornstarch.

1. Honey Mustard Sauce

Honey mustard is another excellent crab rangoon pairing option. The sweet honey plays off the crab filling, while the mustard adds a nice zing. And the creamy texture of this sauce makes it perfect for dunking each bite. Whisk together honey, mustard, mayo and a splash of lemon for a easy dipping sauce.

1. Garlic Chili Sauce

For those who like a little kick, garlic chili sauce is the way to go. The sweet yet spicy blend complements the rich crab rangoon filling. And the chunky texture makes for great dipping. Combine chili garlic sauce, honey, rice vinegar and sesame oil for a quick homemade version.

1. Yum Yum Sauce

This pink sauce is a contemporary favorite with crab rangoon. The creamy, tangy flavor profile matches the filling perfectly. And it has just the right consistency for dipping. Make yum yum sauce at home by combining mayonnaise, ketchup, honey, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil and a pinch of garlic.

1. Duck Sauce

The name says it all here. Duck sauce is commonly paired with crab rangoon, thanks to its sweet and sour taste. This sauce is made from plums, apricots, sugar, vinegar and spices. The thick consistency and tangy-sweet flavor make it a go-to for dipping crab rangoons.

1. Plum Sauce

For a similar flavor profile to duck sauce, try tangy plum sauce. Made from plums, vinegar, ginger and spices, this sauce offers a sweet and sour bite. The chunky fruit pieces add nice texture for dipping. And the bright color looks beautiful paired with golden crab rangoon.

1. Sesame Ginger Dressing

For a lighter sauce option, go with sesame ginger dressing. The gingery savory-sweet flavor provides excellent contrast to the rich crab filling. Whisk together rice wine vinegar soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar and grated ginger for an easy homemade version.

1. Orange Sauce

Orange sauce is a unique choice that works surprisingly well with crab rangoon. The sweet citrus flavor balances out the filling. And it has just the right consistency for dipping fried foods. Simply combine orange marmalade with rice vinegar, soy sauce, garlic and ginger.

1. Sweet Chili Sauce

Here’s a quick and easy sauce that adds flavorful heat. The combination of sweet and spicy enhances the crab rangoon filling. And the smooth, thick texture is perfect for dipping. For convenience, just pick up a bottle of sweet chili sauce at an Asian grocery store.

1. Creamy Asian Sesame Dressing

Lastly, try a creamy blend of Asian flavors. This sesame dressing brings nutty, gingery notes along with sweetness to contrast the crab. Mix tahini, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and a splash of water. The luscious texture is ideal for dipping or drizzling.

Tips for Serving Crab Rangoon

• Always serve crab rangoon hot and fresh for maximum enjoyment. Cool or stale rangoon loses its appeal.

• Offer at least two sauce choices so guests can decide their favorite pairing. Sweet and sour sauce and duck sauce make a good combo.

• For parties, set up a dipping station with the crab rangoons and array of sauce options. Let guests get creative mixing and matching.

• Garnish the crab rangoon platter with sliced green onions, sesame seeds or microgreens for a pop of color.

• Accompany the appetizer with hot tea or sparkling water to help cleanse the palate between bites.

Putting It All Together

Crab rangoon deserves a flavorful dipping sauce to take it to the next level. With so many options, from sweet and sour to sesame ginger, you can experiment to find your perfect match. Offer an array of sauces so guests can explore different flavors. Just be sure to serve the crab rangoons hot and fresh for the ideal appetizer experience.

Cream cheese rangoons are typically served with sweet and sour sauce, which provides a sweet and tangy flavor that complements the richness of the cream cheese filling, according to recipe sites. Other popular dipping sauces include sweet chili sauce, duck sauce, or even a simple soy sauce.