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.
Emilia McCauley says
Very nice recipe. Tastes real good used it on my Salmon
Claire says
This was okay, but not nearly as good as what I’ve had in restaurants or what my Japanese mother-in-law use to make. I used only about 3 Tbs. of brown sugar and even with that, it was still too sweet, so I would use a bit less sugar next time and a bit more ginger. Perhaps a bit more garlic as well. The consistency of the sauce was nice, though.
Desiree says
This is way too sweet
Ashley R says
We absolutely loved this sauce! I had all the ingredients on hand for teriyaki chicken (except the sauce), fortunately I had all the stuff to make it homemade!! My husband wants me to make more to keep on hand. 😉 So thank you!
Nancy Jayne says
I have made this recipe a few times and always love it, this is my definite go-to for my stir fry dinners,
Liz says
I made it for my daughter and son-in-law on gang night because we were having wings and they love teriyaki hot. I followed the recipe but added a touch of cayenne and some curry along with some black pepper and about a quarter cup of Texas Pete wing sauce. Perfect!
Mike says
This was a great recipe. A lot better than a bottle
Mark says
Loved it
Connie Turner says
I am so in love with this recipe! Perfect for a sauce or marinade.
Sam says
Next time I’ll add less honey, it was really sweet. I added garlic and fresh ginger. And a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar other wise so good . Better than the jar
dlb says
I made it tonight and I will be making it again for sure!
Patty says
Love this teriyaki sauce! Quick, easy and tastes great!
Melissa says
I’ve made this recipe at least a dozen times, so a bit overdue for a review! Perfect on salmon.
Alexa says
Teriyaki sauce turned out just as expected. Husband was impressed! Thank you for sharing!
Billy says
How long does this sauce keep? Can you freeze it?
Deborah says
I have not tried freezing it, so I couldn’t say how well it would work. My guess is that it would freeze just fine, though. And it should last 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator, although we always go through it much faster than that! 😉
v.patsalisis says
Yes. It is s fine sauce.