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.
Toni says
The teriyaki sauce is spot on! I was lucky I had some ginger on hand and it took it over the top. I used it on chicken shish kabobs with vegetables and it was so luscious. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I’ll never buy another teriyaki sauce again. I’m going use this teriyaki sauce on beef jerky and make it spicy. I’ve used store-bought teriyaki sauce and and the jerky came out good, next time with homemade teriyaki sauce it’ll take it over the top.
Beth Spooner says
Best teriyaki sauce!!!
Eva Ryan says
SO YUMMY !!!
Dee NeJame says
Love the recipe, simple and very tasty!!
Arnella Brown says
Easy to make. Easy to make adjustments. I made as stated but added coconut aminos and less soy sauce… used fresh ginger. Delicious! Thank you!
Karen says
I haven’t made this yet, but I also prefer to make my own. Do we have a sodium content for this? (that’s why I prefer to make my own. On a sodium restriction). Looks amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Deborah says
I have just updated the recipe to include nutritional information. Different brands and products you use can change those numbers, so remember to just use them as a guideline. I hope you enjoy!
JENNIFER says
Just too overly sweet for teriyaki sauce. Not a fan of this recipe needs more flavor then just sweet.
Lauren Smith says
I loved this recipe
Jane WIlson says
So easy and fast to make. Best Teriyaki Sauce that I have had in years. Thank you for making my life a bit easier with this outstanding recipe.
Aisa T says
Yes this is legit teriyaki sauce! I needed all the cornstarch to reach the basting consistency that I wanted.
Beautiful and easy! Thank you!
Tim says
I just made this recipe and added just a touch more soy sauce and to be truthful this is a really really good teriyaki sauce and I will be using it not only for a teriyaki chicken Caesar salad but I will use it for a marinade for beef tenderline.
Cheyenne says
This stuff is amazing. For a healthier choice, I swap the brown sugar for coconut sugar and it turns out great! <3
Brandi Sokoloski says
This recipe is perfect. My husband loves Very Teriyaki and he thought this was better than that.
TS says
Thanks for sharing this easy recipe. It was enjoyed by all.
Ian F says
Easy to make and really tasty! I added some red pepper flake, onion powder and extra garlic for my preferred taste. But I didn’t even know I had the ingredients in my pantry to make teriyaki sauce! Never buying it from the store again. Thank you!
Julie Cage says
My family and I loved this Teriyaki Sauce recipe. I steamed Broccoli, Boiled Lo Mein Noodles, and sautéed fresh trigger fish and tofu (for the vegetarian) I put this sauce on everything it was delicious. Will definitely use this recipe again.