Easy Homemade Teriyaki Sauce | The Recipe Critic

July 23, 2026 Shehroz Malik No Comment 4 Views

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Homemade teriyaki sauce is sweet, savory, and ready in just 10 minutes! It has the perfect thick, glossy texture and tastes incredible on chicken teriyaki, salmon, vegetables, rice bowls, stir-fries, and more.

Your New Go-To Teriyaki Sauce

Easy to Customize: Make it sweeter with honey, add red pepper flakes for heat, or adjust the thickness to fit your recipe.
Simple Pantry Staples: Everything is easy to find, and you may already have most of it on hand. It’s so much better than store-bought!
Great for Meal Prep: Make a jar ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for quick dinners throughout the week.

A Reader’s Review

Delicious and so easy to make, no “fillers”. This will practically be a staple in our refrigerator.
Thank you

– Brenda

Ingredients Needed

Brown Sugar: Use light or dark brown sugar, depending on how deep you want the flavor. Honey also works as a substitute.
Garlic and Ginger: Fresh garlic and fresh ginger give the sauce the best flavor, but dried versions work too. Use ½ teaspoon each of garlic powder and ground ginger.
Soy Sauce: Stick with low sodium soy sauce so the finished sauce isn’t too salty.
Gluten Free or Soy Free Teriyaki Sauce: Use tamari for a gluten free option or coconut aminos for a soy free alternative.
Add Some Heat: Stir in a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little kick.

How to Make Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

This homemade teriyaki sauce recipe comes together in just 10 minutes. Simply simmer the ingredients, whisk, and cook until the sauce is thick, glossy, and ready to use.

Simmer the Sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium high heat, whisk together the low-sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, and ginger, then bring the mixture to a simmer.
Thicken: In a small bowl, whisk together the water and cornstarch. Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the pan while whisking constantly. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens.
Cool and Use: Remove the teriyaki sauce from the heat and let it cool slightly before using.

Must Have Tools For This Recipe

Whisk: Helps combine the ingredients and keeps the sauce smooth as it thickens.
Saucepan: Gives the sauce enough room to simmer without spilling.
Glass Jar: Perfect for storing the cooled sauce in the fridge.

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In a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk together 1 cup low-sodium soy sauce, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 3 minced garlic cloves, minced, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, and 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger. Heat over medium-high heat and bring it to a simmer.
In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup water and 3 tablespoons cornstarch, then add it to the saucepan. Whisk the sauce constantly until it starts to thicken.
Remove from heat and cool. Use the homemade sauce immediately or store it in a tightly sealed jar for up to two weeks.

Storage Instructions
Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Calories: 735kcalCarbohydrates: 155gProtein: 14gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 8538mgPotassium: 664mgFiber: 2gSugar: 111gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 155mgIron: 6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Small bowl of teriyaki sauce with gold spoon.

More Homemade Sauces to Try

Making your own sauces is way easier and cheaper than you think. Try these other homemade sauces that you are going to love, like this Fry Sauce, this classic Cheese Sauce, and this easy Yum Yum Sauce!