BEST Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
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For an absolutely phenomenal homemade Teriyaki Sauce recipe, look no further! Ready in 10 minutes, no junk ingredients, and crazy delicious, you’ll never use store-bought again! Just read the hundreds of rave reviews below. This recipe has consistently enjoyed top ranking across the web for over 10 years for one reason: it’s simply the BEST!
It happened one too many times. I needed teriyaki sauce for a recipe and thought I had some on hand only to find – after all the other ingredients had already been prepped – that there wasn’t any. No doubt you can relate to this scenario, whether it’s teriyaki sauce or some other condiment like tahini paste, black bean sauce, or hoisin sauce. So I whipped up my own homemade teriyaki sauce…and have never touched store-bought since! And trust me, after making this teriyaki sauce recipe, you won’t either.
What is Teriyaki Sauce?
This thick and sticky Japanese sauce is popular all around the world with its dark, bold, savory-salty-sweet flavor with lots of umami undertones. Its primary ingredients include soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, honey and mirin. The word teriyaki refers to both a Japanese cooking technique as well as to the sauce. It was developed in the 17th century and has become synonymous with Japanese cuisine, being served all over the world. The term teri in teriyaki refers to the aesthetic shine on the food created by the sugar content in the sauce, while yaki refers to the method of grilling. With its shiny luster and robust flavor, teriyaki sauce is a natural pairing for grilled foods.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This recipe calls for 8 ingredients, all of which are pantry staples with maybe the exception of mirin which you can substitute or omit. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Tamari: you can substitute low sodium soy sauce but tamari has much more flavor while also have less sodium.
- Brown sugar: adds flavor and sweetness. For sugar free teriyaki sauce you can substitute a brown sugar alternative.
- Fresh ginger: adds flavor and zing
- Fresh garlic: adds flavor and depth
- Honey: adds flavor complexity and sweetness
- Sesame oil: adds depth of flavor
- Mirin: adds flavor complexity and a hint of sweetness. You can substitute sherry and a pinch of sugar or omit it altogether.
- Cornstarch: to thicken the sauce.
Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
This is a super quick and easy sauce to make, all you have to do is:
- Combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, honey, sesame oil, mirin and water mixed with cornstarch together in a bowl
- Transfer the mixture to a small saucepan and simmer for about 4 minutes until thickened.
- Your sauce is ready!
You can use it right away or store it in the fridge for up to a couple of weeks. And the flavors will get even better over time. Enjoy this homemade teriyaki sauce in the dish of your choice (see below for ideas).
Ready in less than 10 minutes, thoroughly delicious and free of fillers or junk ingredients, there simply is no good reason to EVER use store-bought again!
Enjoy!
How To Use Teriyaki Sauce
Teriyaki sauce is a versatile and flavorful Japanese sauce that can be used in various ways to add a sweet and savory taste to your dishes. Here are some common ways to use teriyaki sauce:
- Marinating Meat, Poultry, Seafood or Tofu: To use this sauce as a marinade simply omit the cornstarch. Place the protein in a ziplock bag, pour in the sauce, and allow it marinate for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
- Grilling: Brush this sauce onto your proteins or veggies to create a delicious caramelized glaze.
- Stir-Fries: This makes an excellent base sauce for stir-fries of all kinds.
- Chicken Teriyaki, Teriyaki Salmon, Teriyaki Tofu, and Teriyaki Pork: Slather this on and bake to create a delicious sticky glaze.
- Dipping Sauce: This makes a great dipping sauce for sushi, spring rolls, dumplings, tempura, or other appetizers.
- Bowl or Rice Topping: Drizzle it over your rice bowls with your grilled teriyaki chicken, pork, beef, salmon or tofu and some steamed or stir-fried veggies.
- Glaze for Roasted Vegetables: Brush some of this sauce onto roasted vegetables for a sweet and savory glaze.
- Sandwiches, Wraps or Burgers: This adds a burst of flavor to your favorite sandwiches and burgers.
- Noodles: Add a drizzle of teriyaki sauce to noodle dishes, such as udon or soba, and toss to coat.
- Salad Dressing: Combine the teriyaki sauce with some oil, vinegar or lemon juice, and a little sesame oil for a unique and flavorful salad dressing.
For more homemade Asian sauces try my:
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Yum Yum Sauce
- Plum Sauce
- Hoisin Sauce
- Eel Sauce
- Black Bean Sauce
- Kecap Manis
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Char Siu Sauce
- Ponzu Sauce
- Ginger Sauce
- Big Mac Sauce
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BEST Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- Small saucepan I use and recommend All-Clad stainless steel cookware!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup tamari , can substitute low sodium soy sauce. Note: tamari has more flavor than soy sauce and significantly less sodium.
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- see brown sugar alternative (for low sugar option)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh ginger ,minced
- 1 teaspoon garlic ,minced
- 1 tablespoon honey (Vegans: use agave nectar or sweetener of choice)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons mirin (see note)
- 1/4 cup water mixed with 3 teaspoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Store in the fridge for up to a week. Makes about 1 1/4 cups teriyaki sauce.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet May 27, 2013
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
very yummy
I wanted to make a chicken stir fry tonight. When I was at the grocery I looked at the numerous bottles of teriyaki sauce. While trying to choose one I remembered that I had your recipe and made it a long time ago. The bottles of sauce remained on the shelf and I made my own when I got home. It was absolutely delicious and dinner was a hit! Never going to by pre maid teriyaki sauce again! Thanks for the great recipe.
Yay!! Fantastic, Marcy, I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thank you for the feedback!
Loved it!
Never made teriyaki sauce before so had to add a couple of things to make up measurements. I had chicken tenderloins which I cooked in the sauce. Added dark mushroom soy to light. Only had Mirin seasoning so not knowing if correct I used it anyway. Very happy with your recipe thank you so much.
So awesome, Karen, thank you!
Truly the best Teriyaki sauce ever. Made it today and marinated salmon cubes for poke bowl. As there were guests that did not like raw fish, I marinated Salmon for 4 hours then baked it for 15 mins. It was amazing. Rest of sauce was poured over the salmon by guests as needed. Thanks for a great recipe
So awesome, Carmel, thanks so much for the feedback! :)
Too Salty! I tried it twice and don’t care for it!
Made this for the first time evening and couldn’t be happier! I had to made a few substitutions due to what I had on hand. I used demara sugar and used Jack Daniels as the alcohol. Came out delicious! Next time I’ll make it as written to try it as intended!
Awesome, BiggScott, I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
I made this to marinate beef for jerky. It was delicious. Second batch I added a habanero pepper from my garden. Nice sweet heat. My wife said this was the best.
Fantastic, Brian, thanks so much for the feedback!
I’m using as a marinade but put in the cornstarch and water … what do you suggest just add water to thin it or another suggestion??
Hi Karen, no you’re good, just use as is. Happy cooking!
Good sauce, add extra ginger, chilli, simmer and reduce it without corn flour and strain it while hot. 👍👍
Great recipe. The oven & stove are broken, so I were able to pull off the sauce & the chicken tenders on the flat top grill.
Fantastic, C, I’m glad you were able to make it work and that you enjoyed it, thank you!
This was sooo good!! I used it as a marinade (no extra water with cornstarch). And right off the bat, it was so yummy. Let it marinate my chicken overnight, and it was phenomenal!
I used low sodium soy sauce, and I’m not even sure I used the right “mirin”…I happened to have some rice wine (it didn’t say mirin at all, so maybe not the perfect one for the recipe), and I used that. Threw a pinch of sugar in, in case the rice wine was wrong. Honestly, the best teriyaki chicken thighs I’ve ever made.
Thanks for sharing!!
Fantastic, Erika, thank you so much for the feedback!
This sauce tasted really well with noodles and chicken. I’m not sure how teriyaki sauce is supposed to taste but I look forward to being to follow the recipe exactly. I only had soy sauce and no mirin/Sherry so had to leave that out.
Absolutely love this and use it all the time. I split honey half in half with Frank’s Red Hot “Sweet Chili” to kick it up a bit.
So awesome, John, thank you!
I wish it stored for longer than a week.
I tried shop bought teriyaki for the first time this week, not impressed tbh,
I have just made your recipe and it is FANTASTIC, really rich and full of flavour, thank you!!!!!
Thank you, Duncan, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!