This homemade teriyaki sauce recipe is an authentic taste sensation! It adds so much flavor to your favorite meat, vegetables, and fish dishes, whether you use it as a marinade or a dip.
What's more, there are only three principal ingredients and it's so easy to make!
Why you'll love this teriyaki sauce recipe
- The flavors are sensational
- There are only three main ingredients
- Homemade teriyaki sauce can be used to add flavor to so many different dishes
- This teriyaki sauce recipe is quite adaptable
Equipment needed
There are a few essential items that you'll need to make this homemade teriyaki sauce:
- Saucepan – this is the main piece of kitchen equipment that you'll need to make this homemade teriyaki sauce recipe
- Sauce bottle – store and serve your yakitori sauce the right way
How to use teriyaki sauce
Marinade
- Chicken Teriyaki: Marinate chicken breasts, thighs, or wings in the teriyaki sauce for at least 30 minutes before grilling, baking, or pan-frying.
- Beef Teriyaki: Marinate thinly sliced beef or steak strips for stir-frying or grilling.
- Tofu Teriyaki: Marinate tofu cubes or slices before baking or pan-frying for a flavorful vegetarian option.
Glaze
- Salmon Teriyaki: Brush the sauce over salmon filets and bake or grill until the fish is cooked through and the glaze is caramelized.
- Pork Tenderloin: Use the sauce as a glaze for roasted or grilled pork tenderloin, brushing it on during the last few minutes of cooking.
Stir-Fry
- Vegetable Stir-Fry: Add the teriyaki sauce to a mix of stir-fried vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, snap peas, and carrots for a delicious and quick dish.
- Shrimp Stir-Fry: Stir-fry shrimp with garlic and ginger, then toss with vegetables and teriyaki sauce.
Dipping Sauce
- Potstickers or Dumplings: Serve the teriyaki sauce as a dipping sauce for potstickers, dumplings, or spring rolls.
- Tempura: Use as a dipping sauce for tempura vegetables or shrimp.
Rice Bowls
- Teriyaki Chicken Bowl: Top a bowl of steamed rice with teriyaki chicken, sautéed vegetables, and a drizzle of extra sauce.
- Teriyaki Beef Bowl: Serve sliced teriyaki beef over rice with vegetables and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
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Noodle Dishes
- Teriyaki Noodles: Toss cooked noodles with stir-fried vegetables and teriyaki sauce for a quick and tasty meal.
- Teriyaki Ramen: Use the sauce to flavor ramen noodles along with your choice of protein and vegetables.
Sandwiches and Wraps
- Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich: Use grilled teriyaki chicken in a sandwich or wrap with lettuce, tomato, and a drizzle of sauce.
- Teriyaki Beef Wrap: Fill a tortilla with teriyaki beef, sautéed veggies, and rice for a flavorful wrap.
Top Tip
You can store this homemade teriyaki sauce in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Variations to this recipe
- Spicy Teriyaki Sauce: Add 1-2 teaspoons of sriracha, chili flakes, or a dash of hot sauce to the sauce for a spicy kick.
- Garlic Teriyaki Sauce: Sauté 2-3 minced garlic cloves in a bit of oil before adding the other sauce ingredients for a garlicky flavor.
- Ginger Teriyaki Sauce: Add 1-2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger or ½ teaspoon of ground ginger for a zesty twist.
- Citrus Teriyaki Sauce: Add 1-2 tablespoons of orange or pineapple juice to the sauce for a fruity, tangy flavor.
- Sesame Teriyaki Sauce: Stir in 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving for a nutty aroma and texture.
- Honey Teriyaki Sauce: Replace the sugar with ¼ cup honey for a slightly different sweetness and additional depth of flavor.
Popular Substitutions:
- Tamari or Coconut Aminos: Use an equal amount for a gluten-free option or a slightly different flavor.
- Dry Sherry or White Wine (with added sugar): Use ¼ cup dry sherry or white wine plus 1 tablespoon sugar for each ½ cup of mirin.
- Brown Sugar: Substitute in equal amounts for a deeper, molasses-like flavor.
- Honey or Maple Syrup: Use an equal amount for a natural sweetener alternative.
- Rice Vinegar (with added sugar): Substitute with ¼ cup rice vinegar plus 1 tablespoon sugar for each ½ cup of sake.
- Apple Cider Vinegar (with added sugar): Substitute with ¼ cup cider vinegar plus 1 tablespoon sugar for each ½ cup of sake.
What is teriyaki sauce?
What does teriyaki sauce taste like?
This homemade teriyaki sauce tantalizes your taste buds with a beautiful blend of flavors, including salty, savory, sweet, and umami sensations.
How is teriyaki sauce traditionally made?
Homemade teriyaki sauce is typically made by mixing and heating three simple ingredients: soy sauce, mirin, and sake. Other ingredients can be added, including sugar, water, cornstarch, potato starch, fresh ginger, and fresh garlic or garlic powder.
What are the key ingredients of teriyaki sauce?
You can buy the main teriyaki sauce ingredients from your local Asian supermarket or any large supermarket. The main ingredients are:
Soy sauce
This adds that much-needed salty, umami flavor. Dark or light soy sauce will work just fine. Don't forget, you can make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free soy sauce.
Mirin
Also known as Japanese rice wine, this adds a tangy, subtly sweet flavor to homemade teriyaki sauce.
Sake
This popular refined Japanese rice wine packs and punch. It has a mild taste with a touch of bitterness and acidity and balances the flavor profile of homemade teriyaki sauce.
What's the difference between store bought teriyaki sauce and homemade teriyaki sauce?
Store-bought teriyaki can contain corn syrup and other ingredients such as unnatural preservatives, whereas homemade teriyaki sauce is made from only three ingredients and is cheaper.
Is teriyaki sauce gluten free?
Teriyaki sauce is usually not gluten-free. That's because it contains soy sauce, which typically contains wheat.
However, you can make a gluten-free version of this easy teriyaki sauce recipe by using a gluten-free soy sauce, such as tamari.
Is teriyaki sauce and yakitori sauce the same thing?
No, there are subtle differences.
While they both use soy sauce as a foundational ingredient, teriyaki sauce includes cornstarch or potato starch, which gives it a thicker texture.
Teriyaki sauce also sometimes contains fresh ginger and garlic, giving it an earthy depth to it.
What's the difference between Japanese and American Teriyaki Sauce?
Japanese Teriyaki Sauce is traditionally made with soy sauce, sake, mirin, and sugar, focusing on a simple and balanced blend of flavors. It is cooked down and reduced in a pan to achieve a medium thickness without using cornstarch or other thickening agents. The resulting sauce is subtly sweet, salty, and umami, allowing the natural taste of the ingredients to shine through.
American Teriyaki Sauce often includes soy sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger, cornstarch, or honey for thickening, resulting in a thicker, syrupy consistency. This version tends to be sweeter and more intensely flavored, with additional seasonings creating a robust and rich profile. It is commonly used as a marinade, glaze, or dipping sauce, especially in American-Asian fusion dishes.
More amazing sauces
If you enjoyed this delicious teriyaki sauce, why not make more sauces. Here are some of my favorite sauce recipes for a little inspiration:
- Adobo sauce – a deliciously hot Mexican sauce that will fire up your taste buds
- Sauce vierge – this famous French sauce is an absolute classic
- Romesco sauce – a smoky Spanish sensation, this nut, tomato and pepper sauce is amazing
- Pakora sauce – a hugely popular Indian sauce
Even more sauces
Print
📖 Recipe
Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings (2 tablespoon per person) 1x
- Diet: Low Lactose
Description
Learn to make authentic Teriyaki Sauce with this easy recipe, perfect for adding a sweet and savory touch to your favorite dishes.
Ingredients
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup sake
- ½ cup mirin
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 Tbsp water [optional]
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch or potato starch [optional]
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine ½ cup soy sauce, ½ cup sake, ½ cup mirin, and ¼ cup sugar.
- Dissolve Sugar: Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a simmer. Allow it to cook over low to medium heat for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has reduced and thickened to your desired consistency.
- Thicken (Optional): For a thicker, more syrupy sauce, mix 2 tablespoon water with 1 tablespoon cornstarch or potato starch in a small bowl to create a slurry. Gradually add the slurry to the simmering sauce, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens to your liking.
- Continue to cook for another 1-2 minutes to ensure the starch is fully incorporated and the sauce is smooth.
- Cool and Store: Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the sauce cool to room temperature. Transfer the sauce to a clean jar or airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 weeks. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Simmer
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 92
- Sugar: 13.6 g
- Sodium: 509.4 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16.1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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