Once you make this easy homemade teriyaki sauce recipe you’ll never buy store bought again! It’s super easy to make with pantry staples and you can add in different ingredients to change the flavor profile! This teriyaki sauce is super versatile and an easy way to spice up any protein!
Abe and I have been eating a TON of Asian foods in the last few years.
We’ve always loved recipes hailing from the Eastern part of the world. Our newest obsession has been Korean food (thanks to my undying love of k-dramas and BTS), but he’s a Chinese food-a-holic, my go-to has long been Japanese hibachi-style restaurants (or a big bowl of steaming Ramen), and between us, we can devour a spread of Indian food (our favorite is Tikka Masala) in a single night.
When we don’t feel like going all out on prep (and when we’re not eating leftovers from a week of client shooting), we tend to fall back on easy, protein-based dinners. Nothing jazzes up a protein quite like a good, solid sauce that’s full of flavor!
You’ll love how easy it is to make this teriyaki sauce! It’s made with basic ingredients that you can get at your local grocery store, so if you keep them in your pantry, you’ll never have to worry about remembering to grab a bottle of the premade stuff.
Easy Teriyaki Sauce Recipe Ingredients
- water
- low sodium soy sauce (or tamari/coconut aminos if you’re gluten free)
- honey
- cornstarch
Making your own homemade teriyaki sauce is easier than you think, and it only requires four simple, cheap ingredients! Your family will rave about it’s great flavor.
Want to spice up this homemade sauce? Add in some of these optional ingredients to make the best teriyaki sauce! Even make a double batch and make a few different flavors.
I love how you can transform a simple sauce by adding in a few simple ingredients. Just choose any combination of the ingredients listed below and add them in to taste. My favorite additions are:
- sake (or soju!)
- rice vinegar
- pineapple juice
- sesame seeds
- green onions
- fresh garlic (minced) or garlic powder
- grated fresh ginger or ground ginger
These other great additions tweak the flavor profile in interesting ways – choose what suits your tastebuds and the recipe you’re using it in! Stir fry may demand a savory sauce, but a batch of crispy, juicy chicken wings will sing with a little extra sweetness added in.
- apple cider vinegar
- orange juice
- maple syrup
- white sugar
- light brown sugar
- sesame oil
How to make homemade teriyaki sauce
- Combine water, soy sauce, honey, cornstarch, and any optional additions in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and cook for 3-5 minutes, whisking constantly, until thickened.
- Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary, thinning with water if you want a thinner sauce.
Recipe Notes:
If you absolutely love teriyaki, try making a teriyaki glaze or dipping sauce! Just reduce the teriyaki sauce for a tad bit longer to your desired consistency!
And if you want to make a teriyaki marinade, simply omit adding the cornstarch since this is what thickens teriyaki recipe into a delicious sauce! You won’t even need to cook it! Just add all of the ingredients into a mason jar, shake it up, and toss it in a plastic zipper bag or large bowl with your protein.
How To Store
Store your delicious teriyaki sauce in an airtight container, like a mason jar or tupperware, in the fridge for up to a week.
Recipes to make using Teriyaki Sauce
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Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup water
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2-3 tablespoons honey or more to taste
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Optional Ingredients (choose your favorites!)
- ¼ cup sake (or soju)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons pineapple juice
- 1 clove minced garlic or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger or ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon chopped green onions
Instructions
- Combine water, soy sauce, honey, cornstarch, and any optional ingredients in a small to medium saucepan set over medium heat.
- Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce the heat to medium and cook for 3-5 minutes, whisking constantly, until thickened.
- Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary, thinning with water if you want a thinner sauce for marinating.
Notes
- brown sugar
- white sugar
- maple syrup
- orange juice
- apple cider vinegar
- sesame oil
Nutrition
PIN THIS DELICIOUS EASY TERIYAKI SAUCE RECIPE FOR LATER!
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