This Homemade Teriyaki Sauce is so easy to make and is ready in just 10 minutes. Made with just a few simple ingredients, it is the BEST teriyaki sauce! 

The sauce is so versatile and may be used in many different ways.

Homemade teriyaki sauce in a white bowl topped with sesame seeds and red pepper flakes.

We love making sauces at home. They are so easy to make and taste even better than store-bought sauces. Try our other homemade sauces like our Spicy Mayo recipe or the copycat Chick-fil-a Sauce

HOMEMADE TERIYAKI SAUCE RECIPE- 

You won’t believe how easy it is to make this authentic Japanese sauce! The sweet and savory thick sauce is made with a little kick from the red pepper flakes. 

I often will double or triple the portion of the sauce and keep it refrigerated to use on different recipes throughout the week. Making the sauce yourself saves you so much money as it’s pretty expensive at the store.

A spoonful of teriyaki sauce in a white bowl topped with red pepper flakes and sesame seeds.

TERIYAKI SAUCE INGREDIENTS-

Simple ingredients you most likely already have in your kitchen.

  • Soy sauce– Soy sauce is the main ingredient so you want to use it as a good quality one. We use low-sodium soy sauce and our favorite brand is the Kikkoman brand. You can use regular soy or gluten-free soy sauce with great results.
  • Water– You can add less or more until desired consistency is reached.
  • Fresh Garlic– Minced garlic brings flavor to the sauce.
  • Fresh Ginger– Grated ginger also adds that sauce it’s a classic flavor, we use a Microplane to grate the ginger.
  • Corn starch– This is the agent that acts as a thickener that will give you that thick and hearty teriyaki sauce.
  • Brown sugar– Adds sweetness to the sauce. For a sweeter sauce, add more sugar or use honey.
  • Red pepper flakes– We love adding red pepper flakes to add a little bit of kick to our sauce. The pepper flakes are optional though. You can adjust the amount you add to control the heat of the sauce.

HOW TO MAKE TERIYAKI SAUCE-

With just 6 basic ingredients, have this authentic Japanese sauce ready in just 10 minutes.

  1. In a small bowl, add the soy sauce, water, ginger and garlic, cornstarch and red pepper flakes; whisk to combine.
  2. Add the sauce mixture into a small saucepan and bring to a soft boil, then simmer until the sauce thickens and remove from heat.
  3. Serve the sauce as desired.
  4. Enjoy.
A white bowl of thick and hearty teriyaki sauce topped with sesame seeds and red pepper flakes.

SERVING IDEAS-

Enjoy the sauce in so many different ways. You can use this recipe as a sauce or even as a marinade.

  • AS A MARINADE– We love marinating our chicken, steak, and salmon in the thick and hearty teriyaki sauce. Just add the desired meat along with some of the sauce in a ziploc bag and allow to marinate, then cook. 
  • AS A SAUCE OR GLAZE– There is nothing better than to use this sauce in the classic Teriyaki Chicken. You can also use this sauce to serve over steak and even make a vegetable teriyaki!
A bowl full of chicken in homemade teriyaki sauce topped with green onions and sesame seeds.

frequently asked questions-

Can I use tamari instead of soy sauce? 

Can I use tamari instead of soy sauce? 

Can I use mirin or sake for traditional flavoring?

You may definitely add one or both but more people do not have these on hand and the sauce tastes just as great without them. However, add them if desired.

Can I use powdered ginger and garlic?

We recommend fresh garlic and ginger for the best flavor but you may substitute for powdered garlic or ginger. 

STORING-

  • Refrigerator- Store the sauce in the fridge in a mason jar for up to two weeks.
  • Freeze- The sauce may be frozen in a freezer bag for up to 2-3 months.
  • Reheat- Reheat the sauce over low seat on the stovetop until reheated. 

More Asian-inspired recipes:

We have so many different Asian recipes on our blog as we love the cuisine!

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Author: Valentina
Print
5 from 7 votes
This homemade teriyaki sauce is so easy to make and is ready in just 10 minutes. Made with just a few simple ingredients, it is the BEST teriyaki sauce!
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes
Servings: 1 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tsp grated ginger
  • 2 Tbsp cornstarch
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

Instructions

  • In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, water, garlic, ginger, cornstarch, red pepper flakes, and brown sugar.
  • Add the mixture to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and cool.
  • Serve as desired.
  • Enjoy.

Notes

Makes 1.5 cups of sauce

Nutrition

563kcal Calories137g Carbs7g Protein1g Fat1g Saturated Fat1g Polyunsaturated Fat1g Monounsaturated Fat4301mg Sodium430mg Potassium2g Fiber109g Sugar149IU Vitamin A3mg Vitamin C137mg Calcium4mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 563 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Sodium 4301mg187%
Potassium 430mg12%
Carbohydrates 137g46%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 109g121%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 149IU3%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 137mg14%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
(The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)