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.
Katt D says
I’ve been looking for a teriyaki recipe that actually tastes RIGHT, and, here it is! I added a little sesame oil at the end, just cuz I like it! So good on broiled salmon…..
Jason N says
Delicious, the family enjoyed with with our peppers, onions, sausage and rice.
Lauren Malone says
Absolutely love this teriyaki sauce and so does my guy (Mr. Fussy lol). I wish you had nutritional information 😁
Tracy says
Absolutely delicious!!! Love this recipe
Angie Lou says
This was easy to make and tasty! Next time, I’ll probably cut back on the sugar a bit. It’s yummy; but I think it’ll still be good with a bit less.
Calie says
This sauce is boss! Thanks for sharing!
Mickey A says
Delicious!! Easy and fast! I used it for steelhead purchased at Costco as well as a topping for brown rice. I doubled the recipe and will try putting in freezer bags. Next time, I will finish with sesame seeds.
Danielle Gager says
Super easy and tasted great. I used cinnamon for the ginger substitute and it works
Sue Moore says
Wish I would have found this years ago, so easy and quick to make. Don’t know how I missed this one! DELISCIOUS!! Thank you.
Vinny says
Was out of teriyaki sauce. Ran across this and it worked out great. Will make again.
Mitch S says
This is beyond amazing. My girlfriend and I loved it. Can always sauté up some veggies like spinach and mushroom in a little bit of sesame oil, and throw sesame seeds on top. So good
D Lintz says
I made as directed. It was good but next time I’ll cut back on brown sugar by 1 TBSP and increase ginger and garlic. Very good base though!
Gloria Collins says
Great recipe and I had all the ingredients in my cabinet.
Jackie Donofrio says
This recipe was easy and good!
Dee Carter says
I normally have never liked store bought teriyaki sauce but I tried this recipe and it was amazingly delicious!!!!
I would definitely recommend it for anyone to try. Also it is super easy to make and homemade is always better and cheaper.
Cathleen says
Great recipe and so easy! I used fresh grated ginger to give it extra zing – it turn out as good or better than the store bought kind and a lot less expensive. Thanks!