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.
Emily D says
This was a great base recipe. I added about a 1/2 tsp of oyster sauce & a tablespoon of hoisin sauce to get it to my desired flavor, but I think it was good on its own!
Liiketilat Vantaa says
Love this sauce!
Cyn says
Easy to make and great tasting. Definitely will make this instead of buying. I used 1.5 TBSP honey and just about the right enough of sweetness. Also used garlic powder, regular soy sauce, and ginger spice.
Tammy K says
Oh thank you for this! I’ve run out of teriyaki before.
MaryB says
I love that this is made from things I always have on hand. My husband loves teriyaki so of course I knew I had to make this. I’ll be making it often.
Pam says
really easy and better than store bought. now all I need is a recipe for sweet chili sauce 😄
Cont says
What a load of nonsense, unnecessary amount of ingredients. This is not teriyaki, name it what it is and don’t mislead people.
Tammy says
What is it then?
Eliana says
I think this recipe is pretty similar to a lot of teriyaki sauce recipes…. Just simpler. I like simple!
Jan killgore says
I had no cornstarch so I used flour
had no ginger, added bit of butter and it was great!
To Jan says
Thanks Jan, that’s exactly what I needed answered.
Sue Fazio says
Wow! Even my picky hubby loved it. I used it for wings!
Deborah says
Thanks for the review, Sue! So glad you and your husband both enjoyed it.
Brandy says
I thought this recipe tasted like watered down teriyaki. We ended up adding brown sugar, more soy sauce, and garlic.
Rachael S Reese says
I love this recipe. I have corn and wheat allergies and used arrowroot starch in place of the corn starch and tamari sauce in place of the soy sauce. It turned out great, nice and thick with great flavor.
Kristen says
I’ve used this recipe many times. So easy and great flavor! My husband loves it so that’s a sure sign this sauce is a keeper. Thanks for the recipe!
Mike says
Used it for beef raman….bussin bussin
Siggy says
This recipe was so eau to make and it tastes delicious! It was better than any store bought teriyaki. I’m so glad i found this recipe! No more pie made stiff for me. This is waaaaaay better!
Mary Frainie says
This is a easy and very tasty teriyaki sauce! It is now our go-to and has replaced the unhealthy store bought version. Thank you!
Leah B says
Great recipe that saved me a last minute trip to the store! This will FOREVER replace the store bought version in my home! Thank you!