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You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Recipes / Asian

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Published: Oct 28, 2019 · Modified: Jul 10, 2021 by Anna 64 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

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This Homemade Teriyaki Sauce is the best and easiest sauce for Asian dishes! It's thick, sweet and savory, and delicious used as a marinade, glaze, or as main sauce. Great with chicken, shrimp, salmon, and vegetarian stir fry!

Homemade condiments are so easy to make! Make a bottle of this sauce, the Sweet and Sour Sauce or Homemade Hoisin Sauce, and never go back to the store-bought kind again.

Homemade teriyaki sauce on a spoon over a jar, with sesame seeds visible.
Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Sauce
  • Ingredients:
  • How to make homemade Teriyaki Sauce?
  • Helpful Tips!
  • Substitutions:
  • Recipe FAQs:
  • How to use teriyaki sauce?
  • More homemade Asian sauce recipes:
  • Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Why You'll Love This Sauce

After so many requests, I am finally sharing my recipe for the best, thick Teriyaki Sauce! It's one of the easiest condiments I've made in my own kitchen. I use it in cooking or pour it over a finished dish to add Asian flavor. It only requires a handful of ingredients that I always have in my pantry.

I made it for the first time for my popular Quick Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls. I've since had many readers ask if it can be made ahead and stored so it's always ready for this dish. Best idea ever! When I have this sauce on hand, all I need to do is add it to the chicken! It's simple and so tasty!

This Homemade Teriyaki Sauce recipe is the best and easiest and will save you time in the kitchen! Forget the store-bought stuff and make a jar or your own homemade teriyaki sauce!

Ingredients:

Teriyaki sauce ingredients in glass bowls and bottles on a marble board.
  • soy sauce: I only use low-sodium to control the flavor; this ingredient is the base flavor for the sauce;
  • sesame oil: adds that specific flavor to the sauce; it's very potent so don't go overboard;
  • brown sugar: sweetens the sauce which has that perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors;
  • garlic: I prefer fresh, minced garlic for this recipe but garlic powder works too;
  • ginger: it's not often that I have fresh ginger on hand so I use ginger powder for this sauce;
  • cornstarch: this will thicken the sauce
  • water: the base for the sauce;
  • apple cider vinegar: adds a sour flavor to balance the sweetness.

How to make homemade Teriyaki Sauce?

  • Whisk all ingredients in a saucepan.
  • Simmer over medium-low heat for about 3 minutes.
  • Make a quick cornstarch slurry with water and add to the sauce. Cook just until it thickens. Done!
  • You can use the sauce right away by adding it to cooked chicken in a skillet or pour over salmon, shrimp, or chicken tenders and bake.
Teriyaki sauce in a cooking pot with a whisk.

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Helpful Tips!

  • Cornstarch: it is my go-to thickener for sauces as it will make a smooth and clump-free sauce every time. I almost completely stopped using flour in my sauces and just keep it for baking. Cornstarch will also make this sauce gluten-free, for those with gluten allergies. You can use flour in place of cornstarch in this recipe, just keep in mind that it will not be as clear in appearance.
  • Soy sauce: I recommend using low-sodium soy sauce to control the flavor.
  • sesame oil: if you don't have it on hand, skip it but I highly recommend this ingredient for the recipe since it will give it that characteristic Asian flavor. You can use olive oil as a substitute.
  • sesame seeds: not necessary but we enjoy them.

Substitutions:

  • Instead of soy sauce, use coconut aminos. The sauce will be gluten-free and less salty.
  • Skip the sugar and use honey.
  • If you don't have fresh garlic and ginger, use the powdered spices.
  • While I keep white vinegar for cleaning and use apple cider vinegar in cooking, white vinegar will work here too.

Recipe FAQs:

What can I use instead of cornstarch?

Flour can be substituted for cornstarch. We had readers use tapioca or potato starch as well.

Can I use this sauce as a marinade?

Yes! Simply place cubed raw chicken or salmon fillet into a Ziploc bag, add sauce, seal tightly, and freeze OR place in the fridge for 30 minutes to overnight. When you are ready, thaw out and bake or cook in a skillet. So easy and saves time! Just remember to use all of the marinade and cook it with the meat.

How to thicken teriyaki sauce?

My go-to mixture to thicken any sauce, but especially this teriyaki sauce, is a cornstarch slurry. I mix water with cornstarch and add it to the sauce while cooking it over low heat and stirring constantly.

How to store it?

If you keep the sauce in a jar with a lid and store it in the fridge, it will last for up to 2 weeks.

How to use teriyaki sauce?

This sauce is perfect in many Asian dishes. Here are my favorites:

  • Quick and Easy Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl
  • Baked Teriyaki Salmon
  • 10-Minute Teriyaki Shrimp
  • Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
Teriyaki Sauce in a jar with sesame seeds on top, set on a white board with kitchen towel next to it.

More homemade Asian sauce recipes:

  • Sauce in a jar.
    Homemade Hoisin Sauce
  • Sweet and sour sauce in a glass jar.
    Sweet and Sour Sauce
  • Sauce in a small jar.
    Homemade Stir Fry Sauce
  • Creamy sauce in a bowl.
    Yum Yum Sauce

If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce in a jar.

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Author: Anna
This Homemade Teriyaki Sauce is the best and easiest sauce for Asian dishes! It's thick, sweet and savory, and delicious used as a marinade, glaze, or as main sauce. Great with chicken, shrimp, salmon, and vegetarian stir fry!
4.82 from 32 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Asian
Servings 8 servings
Calories 97 kcal
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Ingredients
 
 

  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger optional
  • 4 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 3 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 3 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 4 tablespoons water

Instructions
 

  • In a medium saucepan, whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, garlic and oil. Heat up until it starts to simmer.
    ½ cup packed brown sugar, 1 cup low-sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar, ½ teaspoon ground ginger optional, 4 teaspoons minced garlic, 3 teaspoon sesame oil
  • Reduce heat to low.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together water and cornstarch. Add to soy sauce mixture and whisk constantly until the sauce thickens.
    3 tablespoon cornstarch, 4 tablespoons water
  • Remove from heat and let cool. Use right away or store for later.

Notes

  1. Keep in glass jar with lid in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
  2. This recipe can be halved to make a smaller amount, good for one meal for 4 people.
  3. Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate.

Nutrition

Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1067mg | Potassium: 81mg | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.8mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

This recipe was originally published on April 25th, 2018 and updated on October 28th, 2019.

More Asian Recipes

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    Ginger Soy Chicken
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Comments

    4.82 from 32 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Jennifer Barry says

    August 10, 2019 at 7:50 pm

    4 stars
    Made it. It tastes good, but I feel like it's way too thick. I made it exactly as posted. I think next time I will use a little less cornstarch. But overall, it tastes just fine.

    Reply
  2. Michelle says

    August 06, 2019 at 9:33 pm

    Can this marinade be used for grilling chicken?

    Reply
  3. Prakash Nadkarni says

    February 20, 2019 at 11:32 am

    5 stars
    Really good recipe, thanks for making it publicly available. (It shows up #1 on Gooogle.).
    You might want to invest in a used copy of Harold McGee's "On Food and Cooking"(2004 edition) - this is the Bible that most serious chefs use: while not containing a single recipe, it talks about food ingredients, food science and how different things are made (including chocolate and soy sauce). This is a book that you can open anywhere and read for pleasure. (It's highly likely that your public library may have a copy.)
    Japanese-style soy sauce uses equal parts of soy beans and wheat as the raw materials. (If it uses only soybeans, it's called Tamari - this is the gluten-free stuff.)
    The wheat serves a useful purpose - its starches are broken down by fermentation into sugars and trace amounts of alcohol, and the sugars combine with the proteins from soybeans to form savory brown compounds (similar to what you get when you brown meat). As a result, soy sauce made with wheat has a more complex and richer flavor than that made with soybeans alone (provided you're not gluten-sensitive).

    Reply
  4. Ed Matthews says

    January 24, 2019 at 11:16 pm

    I see the picture of this sauce has sesame seeds in it. Is this for looks or was it omitted from the recipe by mistake?

    Reply
    • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

      January 25, 2019 at 6:04 pm

      Hi Ed! I used the seeds to have a point for my camera to focus. It's hard to do that on a dark liquid surface. Sorry if it was confusing. Sesame seeds are often used as a garnish and you can sprinkle them over the finished dish. I hope you will give this teriyaki sauce a try!

      Reply
      • Ed Matthews says

        February 07, 2019 at 10:37 pm

        OK !! I have seen so many recipes for this sauce but it's the only one I see that uses Sesame Seed Oil and instead of Mirin, uses apple cider vinegar and no honey. Try omitting the oil,use Mirin,and a bit of honey and let me know how you like it. I'm still looking for that Genuine recipe.

      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        February 07, 2019 at 10:59 pm

        Hi Ed! You are welcome to use whatever you like. My recipe is easy and uses easy to find ingredients. Give it a try. You might like it! 😀

  5. Aspen Dean says

    November 27, 2018 at 8:45 am

    Hey! I was wanting to make this for dinner tonight and was wondering if the ground ginger needed to be fresh or a powder spice. Also, is Braggas Liquid Aminos a good substitute for the soy sauce?

    I’m excited to try!

    Reply
  6. Stephanie says

    July 07, 2018 at 6:14 pm

    I forgot sesame oil, is there anything I can use instead?

    Reply
    • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

      July 09, 2018 at 11:36 pm

      Hi Stephanie! Olive oil will work just fine. Let me know if you make this sauce. Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Nicole says

    June 28, 2018 at 7:34 pm

    5 stars
    I've made several stir fry or peanut sauces but this by far trumps them all. Definitely going to save this for a go-to sauce. So good!

    Reply
    • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

      July 01, 2018 at 5:46 pm

      Thank you, Nicole! I am so glad you love it!

      Reply
  8. Marc says

    June 27, 2018 at 7:28 pm

    4 stars
    The recipe looks awesome, but-
    BE WARNED:
    This sauce will NOT be gluten free just because you use corn starch instead of flour. If you are using genuine brewed soy sauce, the making of that sauce uses wheat in the fermentation process. You MUST use gluten free soy sauce along with the corn starch to make the recipe gluten free.

    Reply
    • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

      June 28, 2018 at 2:23 pm

      Thank you, Marc! I believe Kikkoman makes a gluten free version of their soy sauce.

      Reply
  9. Patricia says

    May 06, 2018 at 11:44 pm

    What to cook with teriyak sauce? Oh, man...I could eat it with a spoon 🙂 I love it and use it on a lot of things, so I look forward to trying your recipe!

    Reply
  10. Amanda Livesay says

    May 04, 2018 at 6:55 am

    I had no idea teriyaki sauce as so easy! I can't wait to make it!

    Reply
    • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

      May 04, 2018 at 11:06 am

      You have to try it, Amanda!

      Reply
  11. Des says

    May 04, 2018 at 3:08 am

    5 stars
    This teriyaki sauce sounds delicious! It is one of my favorite sauces to use while cooking.

    Reply
    • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

      May 04, 2018 at 11:05 am

      Same here! Thanks, Des!

      Reply
  12. Jacque Hastert says

    May 04, 2018 at 2:54 am

    5 stars
    Nothing beats homemade. Know I have NO excuse to buy the jar stuff.

    Reply
    • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

      May 04, 2018 at 11:05 am

      Yay! I hope you love this homemade version!

      Reply
  13. Cathy says

    April 26, 2018 at 2:26 pm

    Yesssss! Love teriyaki and I bet homemade is amazing!

    Reply
  14. Abeer says

    April 26, 2018 at 3:47 am

    Looks perfectly delicious!I am going to save this recipe!

    Reply
  15. Amanda says

    April 25, 2018 at 4:14 pm

    5 stars
    This will be tasty on so many things, great job!!

    Reply
    • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

      April 25, 2018 at 5:35 pm

      Thank you, Amanda!

      Reply
  16. Kalyn says

    April 25, 2018 at 3:57 pm

    I love Teriyaki and your homemade version sounds delish! Thanks for a shout-out for my Sugar-FreeTeriyaki Sauce!

    Reply
    • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

      April 25, 2018 at 5:35 pm

      Thank you, Kalyn!

      Reply
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