This teriyaki sauce recipe is sweet, savory, tangy, and full of umami flavor and is perfect for marinades, sauces, stir-fries, and more.
I’m always a big proponent of making things from scratch as often as possible (within reason). If something requires a slew of ingredients and time and necessitates dirtying lots of dishes, I won’t bother. But when it comes to a homemade sauce that features just 5 ingredients, takes no time to make, and tastes way better than the storebought variety (and is also free of artificial ingredients and preservatives), I am all in. Just like my homemade enchilada sauce, pesto, and cocktail sauce, this teriyaki sauce recipe is so much tastier when made from scratch. It couldn’t be simpler to make and comes together with pantry staples in minutes. It’s so good you’ll never want to buy the grocery store stuff again.
In This Post
Why You’ll Love It
- This homemade teriyaki sauce is SO delicious, fast and easy
- It’s a condiment you’ll want to use on a regular basis because it’s so versatile—use it as a marinade, sauce, dip, stir-fries, and more!
- It has just 5 ingredients and is made with pantry staples
What is Teriyaki Marinade Made of?
- Sugar—for a little sweetness and to help promote caramelization when cooking
- Soy sauce—the central ingredient of teriyaki sauce and what gives it most of its awesome salty umami flavor
- Rice vinegar—for some acidity (you could also use mirin)
- Cornstarch—for thickening the sauce
- Fresh garlic—be sure the garlic is extra finley pressed or smashed and avoid chunks
- Freshly ground black pepper—always, for flavor
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Make Teriyaki Sauce
- Mix, heat, and simmer until thick. Combine the sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, cornstarch, garlic, and pepper in a small saucepan over low heat. Let simmer, stirring frequently, whisking occasionally, for about 2-3 minutes, or until the sauce thickens and bubbles.
Note: Be careful not to cook the teriyaki sauce for too long, otherwise, the sugars will crystallize and the sauce will become grainy.
How to Use Teriyaki Sauce
- Use it as a marinade
- Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs
- Enjoy as a dipping sauce
- Mix with mayo and add to sandwiches and burgers
- Use as a dressing for grain bowls and salads
- Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken
- Teriyaki Tofu and Broccoli Stir Fry
- 7 Spice Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls
- Grilled Teriyaki Cauliflower Steaks with Asian Gremolata
- Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken and Vegetable Rice Bowls
FAQ and Recipe Tips
- How is teriyaki sauce different from soy sauce? Teriyaki sauce is a sweet and savory marinade/sauce that is made with soy sauce and other ingredients. Soy sauce is made from fermented soybeans.
- What does teriyaki taste like? Teriyaki sauce is sweet, salty, umami-rich, and tangy.
- Is teriyaki sauce Japanese or Chinese? Teriyaki sauce is Japanese and can be traced back to the 16th century. It consisted of a mixture of soy sauce, sake, and sugar, and was mainly used for marinating fish.
- To make an even thicker teriyaki sauce, you can simmer it for a bit longer to make it more of a glaze.
- If you wanted you could use brown sugar or honey instead of granulated sugar and some freshly grated ginger would be a yummy addition to the sauce
Storage Tips
This teriyaki sauce will keep stored in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk the sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, cornstarch, and pepper in a small saucepan over low heat. Bring to a rolling simmer, stirring frequently, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat then transfer to a small bowl and cool for 10-20 minutes.
Notes
- This makes ¾ cup of sauce
- Be careful not to cook the teriyaki sauce for too long, otherwise, the sugars will crystallize and the sauce will become grainy.
Nutrition
More Homemade Sauces to Try
- Easy 3-Minute Blender Hollandaise
- Simple Roasted Tomato Sauce
- How To Make Authentic Enchilada Sauce
- Asian Marinade Master Sauce
- Creamy Avocado Salsa Verde
- Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce Recipe
- Raspberry Chipotle Sauce
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