Best Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Recipe

Published 6/1/2022 Need some inspiration for what to do with this better than store bought teriyaki sauce? Start with our crockpot teriyaki chicken!

Best Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Recipe

We’re so glad you landed on this homemade teriyaki sauce because it’s truly a fan favorite (and one of our favs, too!). This teriyaki sauce recipe whips together in less than 10 minutes and is the perfect addition to any stir fry, grilled or baked chicken, and more!

What does teriyaki sauce taste like?

Teriyaki sauce is a thick, sweet, soy sauce-based sauce.

Made with 5 ingredientsSweetened with all-natural sugarEasily gluten-freeReady in 10 minutes

What is teriyaki sauce made of?

Our homemade teriyaki sauce is made with a soy sauce base and garlic base and is sweetened with maple syrup (and honey). It has hints of freshly grated ginger and a zing from the sriracha.

How to Make Teriyaki Sauce

Are you wondering how do you make teriyaki sauce from scratch? Whether you’re looking for a homemade teriyaki sauce recipe that’s better for you or just an easy teriyaki sauce to make in your own kitchen, we’ve got the recipe for you! Teriyaki sauce is such a yummy sweet and savory sauce to add to stir-frys, grilled chicken, and pretty much any vegetable. Today, we’re taking the classic teriyaki sauce and using ingredients that are easy to find and that you probably have on hand in your own kitchen.

Teriyaki Sauce Ingredients

Classic, store-bought teriyaki sauce is made with soy sauce, sake, sugar, and ginger. While our recipe swaps out some of the classic ingredients, it’s still delicious and very much-so tastes like classic teriyaki sauce! This homemade teriyaki sauce recipe calls for 5 basic ingredients and a little bit of cornstarch to thicken things up, so let’s get started! soy sauce or tamari – we suggest using normal soy sauce, but you can also use low-sodium soy sauce if you’re hoping to lower the salt content. Additionally, you can use tamari as a gluten-free option. maple syrup – we love using maple syrup in homemade teriyaki sauce because the warm sweetness plays with soy sauce and it’s better for you. Feel free to swap for honey. minced garlic – you can never use too much garlic! We prefer mincing fresh garlic for the best flavor, but you can feel free to substitute garlic powder or jarred minced garlic. fresh ginger – fresh ginger is such a bright addition to this recipe because it adds depth and another flavor profile. You can always swap for ground ginger, but you need to use about 1/2 the amount. sriracha – while sriracha is optional, a little bit of heat rounds out this recipe! You’ll notice one outlier in this recipe compared to most and it’s maple syrup. Most teriyaki sauce recipes call for brown sugar, however, we’ve found that maple syrup is equally as delicious, if not better. Plus, it’s an all-natural sugar with an amazing caramel flavor.

Mix it all together!

Once you’ve got all of your ingredients measured out, all you have to do is stir the mixture together and you’ve got your sauce.

How to Thicken Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

If you’re hoping to thicken this sauce for a stir fry or any kind of serving sauce, all you have to do is:

Quick Q&A

How to Use Teriyaki Sauce

Stir Fry: our favorite thing to make with homemade teriyaki sauce is stir fry. Our chicken stir fry combines this sauce with chicken and veggies for an easy weeknight meal. Dip, Sauce, or Glaze: looking for something thick and sweet to use as a sauce or dip? This is your answer! Meat Marinade: Teriyaki is such a great meat marinade. Marinate 1 lb. of chicken breast, salmon, pork chops, shrimp, etc. in 1/2 cup of homemade teriyaki sauce for about 30 minutes. Try any of the following:

Baked Teriyaki ChickenGrilled Teriyaki ChickenTeriyaki Salmon

Storage

We like to store our teriyaki sauce in a Mason jar with a tight lid. This not only prevents it from spilling when it’s in the refrigerator but also allows you to give it a nice shake before you use it ensuring all the ingredients are mixed sufficiently when you’re ready to use it. Then, submerge your chicken breast in the marinade and let marinate for 30 minutes to 24-hours. This teriyaki sauce will last for up to a week in the fridge. To Freeze Teriyaki Sauce: PS: Learn how to make our favorite Grilled Teriyaki Chicken and Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken that use this amazing homemade sauce.