An easy homemade teriyaki sauce recipe made from pantry staples. This sauce is bold and thick and is great as a marinade or as a sauce served with your favorite meats or vegetables.
In the mood for teriyaki? Make up a batch of this sauce and then use it to make Teriyaki Chicken Pizza or Bacon Wrapped Teriyaki Chicken Skewers!
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
There are lots of things I used to never considered making before, turning instead to the conveniently bottled versions. Salad dressings, mayonnaise, etc. Some of them I still buy bottled – mayonnaise – and some I make from scratch at home – salad dressings. One of these condiments that I love to make from scratch is homemade Teriyaki sauce. It is so super easy and good, it made me wonder why I ever bought the store bought kind!
This homemade teriyaki sauce recipe only takes minutes to make, and tastes a lot better than the jarred sauce. This sauce is great just served as a sauce alongside your favorite meats as well as a marinade. I love that it is so versatile!
Ingredients
- Brown Sugar: I use light brown sugar. You could also up the amount of honey, but I think they both bring in different flavors, so I like to use both.
- Soy Sauce: I always use low sodium soy sauce. You could also use tamari.
- Honey: If you like the sauce sweeter, use 2 tablespoons, otherwise just use one.
- Garlic: I always have fresh garlic on hand, so I like to use fresh. You could sub in garlic powder. If you do, you’ll need about 1/4 teaspoon.
- Ginger: I don’t always have fresh ginger on hand, so that is why I use ground ginger. Feel free to use fresh if you do have it, though. You’ll need 1-2 tablespoons of fresh ginger if you do sub.
- Cornstarch: This is what will thicken up your sauce. The sauce will get decently thick, so if you prefer a thinner sauce, feel free to cut this amount in half.
How to Make Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
It really doesn’t get much easier than this recipe!
1: Start by combining all of your ingredients except the cornstarch and 1/4 cup of water. Whisk to combine, and set over medium heat.
2: In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and the 1/4 cup water.
3: Pour the cornstarch mixture into the saucepan.
4: Cook, whisking, until the sauce thickens.
How to Use This Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
This homemade teriyaki sauce makes a thicker sauce that the bottled sauce, so it would be good served on top of something, but I have also used it as a marinade. If you don’t want it thick as a marinade you can skip adding the cornstarch and extra water.
Here are some of my favorite ways to use this sauce:
- As sauce with grilled chicken
- Add it to chicken pieces and broccoli and serve over rice
- As a glaze for salmon
- Mixed into noodles
- In any stir fry
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Video
If you want to watch how this teriyaki sauce is made, watch the video above.
Storage
I usually make this teriyaki sauce when I need it, but it’s also great to just have on hand for an easy dinner.
I store it in a mason jar in the refrigerator. I will usually try to go through it in a week or less, but really, it should be good for 2-3 weeks if stored properly.
I have not tried to freeze this, although I’m assuming it would freeze well.
More Asian Inspired Recipes
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Mongolian Beef
General Tso Chicken
Orange Chicken
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Kung Pao Chicken
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Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup (8 oz) water
- 5 tablespoons (67 g) packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (2 oz) low sodium soy sauce
- 1-2 tablespoons honey
- 1 large clove garlic ,minced
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup (2 oz) cold water
Instructions
- Combine the 1 cup water, brown sugar, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger in a medium saucepan and set over medium heat.
- In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch with the 1/4 cup water and whisk until dissolved. Add the cornstarch mixture to the saucepan.
- Heat the sauce until it thickens to your desired thickness. If the sauce becomes too thick, add more water to thin it out.
Joe Ryan says
Delicious! Exactly what I was looking for. My family loved it! Thank you.
Judi says
Air chicken wings and then add to this sauce, delicious!!
Brynne says
How long does this last in the refrigerator?
Deborah says
I usually try to use it within a week, but it should be good up to 2-3 weeks.
NJ says
First time making and it was delicious. Thank you for sharing.
Anthony Pink says
Very delicious recipe, very easy to make, definitely a go to.
Ni says
I made this recipe twice and they are so good. I ran out of the honey for the second batch and I used maple syrup. It turned out wonderful as the batch I used honey! Thank you!!!!
Gerre Gannaway says
The idea of using maple syrup never occurred to me. I’ll give it a try and double the garlic (My wife eats garlic like candy.).
Tiffany says
If I wanted to make this and store in the fridge, how long would it last?
Deborah says
I try to use it within a week, but it should be good in the refrigerator up to 2-3 weeks.
Courtney Icenhower says
Great recipe!! Super easy!
Linda says
I wanted to make a good shrimp stir fry for dinner tonight. This sauce is going to be perfect. It’s 6 am and I’m already looking forward to dinner tonight.
SLY says
gonna try this recipe 😋❤
Micala W says
Very good! I didn’t want to go out to the store just for that so it worked out really well! It was a little sweet, but will use this again for sure maybe less honey.
Heywood5 says
Have been hunting for a recipe to replace our sushi teriyaki sauce that is no longer made.
This is perfect and the kids even gave it a full thumbs up of approval.
Patsy L Lokker says
The best teriyaki sauce recipe I’ve found ever… have tried many and this one will be my go to!
Cindy says
This recipe was a hit with my family and in laws! Thank you for sharing!
Jean D says
I loved the recipe it was great thank for a great recipe
Jean D says
I loved the recipe made rice n chicken it was great thank for a great recipe