Teriyaki Sauce

Introducing my homemade Teriyaki Sauce, the key to unlocking the authentic flavors of Japanese cuisine right in your kitchen! Crafted with just four basic ingredients in under 5 minutes, this sauce boasts the savory, slightly sweet, and umami-rich profile that teriyaki is famous for. Get ready to elevate your dishes with this delightful sauce and savor the true flavors of Japanese teriyaki!

Teriyaki sauce in a cup with sesame seeds on top being picked up with a spoon.

Why I Love This Recipe

Now, let me tell you why I absolutely make this Teriyaki Sauce recipe all the time! It’s a versatile sauce that brings the essence of Japanese cuisine right to your table. With Japanese sake, sweetener, soy sauce, and a thickener, I crafted it to be a straight forward yet incredibly flavorful sauce that can transform your dishes!

What sets my homemade version apart is its purity, no additives or preservatives, just natural ingredients. You’ll love the control it gives you over your teriyaki creations. Whip up a batch and use it to make some Teriyaki Salmon, Teriyaki Chicken, or Teriyaki Beef Salad. You could even use the sauce for seared shellfish like in my Teriyaki Scallop recipe! Give it a try, and enjoy the goodness of my simple recipe!

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • Japanese Sake – typically will come in a large bottle labeled junmai sake. Can also substitute with dry sherry wine or Chinese cooking wine, found at local grocery stores or Asian markets. 
  • Sweetener – sugar substitute or preferred sweetener.
  • Soy Sauce – low-sodium Soy Sauce preferred.
  • Thickener – corn starch slurry or thickener of choice.
  • Toasted Sesame Seeds – optional garnish.

Additional Add Ins

Easily customize your teriyaki sauce with flavors like Liquid Smoke, Onion Powder, and Garlic Powder to suit your taste. Adjust the sauce to create your personalized teriyaki experience.

🍶 Mirin Note

While Mirin is a traditional ingredient in teriyaki sauce, this recipe accommodates for the potential unavailability of mirin in certain locations by adjusting the ratio of Japanese sake and sweetener.

Teriyaki sauce in a cup, side view.

Directions

Step 1 Whisk together Japanese sake, sweetener, soy sauce, and thickener in a small saucepan and bring to a boil under medium heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 2 minutes to thicken up.

Homemade teriyaki sauce in a sauce pan.

🥄 Corn Starch Pro Tip

If using Corn Starch Slurry as a thickener, prepare a mixture of 1 Tablespoon of Corn Starch and 2 Tablespoons of Water in a mixing bowl. Gradually add this mixture to your sauce until it reaches the desired thickness.

Step 2 Once the sauce is cooled, transfer it to a sauce vessel.

Teriyaki sauce in a dispenser.

Paring Recommendations

Teriyaki sauce is a versatile flavor booster for various dishes. It’s perfect for grilled chicken, beef, or salmon, adding a sweet-savory twist to your meats. You can also use it to enhance the taste of grilled or stir-fried veggies. Pair it with your choice of rice for a hearty meal or glaze your BBQ for a unique twist. Even simple boiled broccoli becomes more exciting with a drizzle of this sauce.

Teriyaki sauce in a cup with sesame seeds on top, top down view.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to cook the sauce for a specific amount of time to thicken it properly?

Cook the sauce until it thickens to your liking, there's no specific time requirement.

What kind of sweetener to use to make Teriyaki Sauce?

You can use regular sugar or your preferred sugar substitute.

Can I use this Teriyaki Sauce as a marinade?

Yes, this Teriyaki Sauce makes a fantastic marinade for chicken, beef, salmon, and other proteins.

Storage Tips

To store leftovers, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate. When stored this way, the sauce will remain good for approximately 14 to 21 days.

Other Recipes You Might Like

25 of our BEST ASIAN RECIPES Sent Directly to Your Inbox!

Plus Monthly NEW RECIPES Exclusively from LCA!

By subscribing you agree to receive our promotional marketing materials and agree with our Privacy Policy.

Watch How To Make It

Teriyaki sauce in a cup with sesame seeds on top, side view.

Teriyaki Sauce

Elevate your dishes with my homemade Teriyaki Sauce recipe. Crafted with care, this flavorful sauce adds an authentic touch to your Japanese-inspired dishes.
5 from 5 votes
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: Asian American, Japanese
Keyword: easy teriyaki sauce recipe, homemade teriyaki sauce
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Cooling Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 16 tbsp
Print Recipe
Calories: 13kcal

Ingredients

  • 2/3 Cup Japanese Sake can substitute with dry sherry wine or Chinese cooking wine
  • 1/3 Cup Sweetener your preferred sweetener
  • 1/3 Cup Soy Sauce
  • 3/8 tsp Xanthan Gum or thickener of choice

Instructions

  • Gather all the ingredients.
    Ingredients for teriyaki sauce.
  • In a saucepan, add Japanese sake, sweetener, soy Sauce, thickener and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to med-low heat and let it cook for 2 minutes while continuously mixing to ensure thickener dissolves. Once 2 minutes have passed, remove from heat and set aside to cool.
    Homemade teriyaki sauce in a sauce pan.
  • Once cooled, transfer to the sauce dispenser of choice. Note - the sauce will continue to thicken over time.
    Teriyaki sauce in a dispenser.

Nutrition

Calories: 13kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 272mg | Potassium: 13mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg
*Values Based Per Serving
Looking for Other Recipes?Sign Up to Get RECIPES Sent Directly to Your Inbox!
5 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




*