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Why You’ll Love My Recipe

This Homemade Teriyaki Sauce is incredibly versatile and perfect as a sauce, marinade, or dip. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep, it’s a quick and convenient way to add fresh, vibrant flavor to your meals. Every aspiring home cook should have this easy, flavorful staple in their kitchen!

Why not use this recipe to make some tasty Grilled Teriyaki Chicken or Teriyaki Rice? Or, learn how to make an Easy Homemade Asian Salad Dressing instead!

Reader Review

Very easy and good, thank you!

– Wendy

Karlynn’s Recipe Notes

Skill Level: This teriyaki sauce is quick and easy for any home cook to make.
Total Time: Only 20 minutes from start to finish!
Variations: Try adding a bit of red pepper flakes or Sweet Chili Sauce to your teriyaki sauce for a spicy kick. You can also use this sauce on some Fast & Easy Teriyaki Mushrooms or another veggie for a tasty side dish.
Tools For This Recipe: You will need a medium saucepan, a small bowl, and a whisk to get everything perfectly combined.

A hand holds a spoon over a bowl filled with dark sauce topped with sesame seeds. In the background are garlic cloves, green onions, and glass jars on a white countertop.

What You’ll Need for Ingredients

Soy Sauce: This staple ingredient provides the salty, umami backbone of this sauce. Karlynn’s Tip: Use a good-quality soy sauce for the best depth of flavor, whether it’s light, dark, or low-sodium.

Sesame Oil: This oil adds a nutty aroma that elevates the sauce’s overall taste and gives your teriyaki a restaurant-quality finish.

Brown Sugar: Sugar adds sweetness and helps the sauce develop that classic sticky, glossy finish. Karlynn’s Tip: For a deeper flavor, try using dark brown sugar or a touch of maple syrup.

Ingredients for a recipe arranged on a marble surface: garlic bulb, ginger, small bowls of soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, water, vinegar, and a red-and-white towel in the corner.

Ground Ginger: Brings a zesty, aromatic spice that complements the sweet and salty flavors of your sauce. Karlynn’s Tip: Fresh ginger is an excellent alternative if you want a brighter, sharper zing to make the sauce pop.

Cornstarch: This thickens your teriyaki sauce to a silky, pourable consistency that clings perfectly to meat or veggies. Karlynn’s Tip: Always mix cornstarch with a little cold water first to prevent clumps, and stir constantly while adding to the sauce.

How To Make Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

This is a quick overview of the recipe. The full list of ingredients & complete step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.

A saucepan filled with dark liquid on a white marble countertop, surrounded by a whisk, a cutting board with garlic and ginger, a towel with red stripes, and a glass bowl of water.

A glass bowl with white powder and liquid sits on a marble countertop near a whisk, garlic cloves, a piece of ginger on a cutting board, a metal pot, and a red-and-white kitchen towel.

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine water, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, ground ginger, onion powder, and garlic. Heat for about 1-2 minutes.
In a small bowl, dissolve cornstarch in ¼ cup of water.
Whisk the cornstarch mixture into the saucepan.
Cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring until the sauce thickens.
If it’s too thick, add a little water to reach your desired consistency. Then serve and enjoy!

A bowl of dark sauce topped with sesame seeds sits on a wooden board with a spoon. Surrounding it are garlic cloves, green onions, sesame seeds, fresh parsley, and a red-and-white cloth on a marble surface.

Karlynn’s Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Add Depth with Mirin or Sake: For a richer, more complex sweetness, try swapping some of the brown sugar for mirin or sake. Mirin is a sweet rice wine that enhances the flavor of many Asian sauces and pairs beautifully with homemade teriyaki.
Experiment with Soy Sauce: While light or dark soy sauce works perfectly, different types of soy sauce can add unique notes. Some are saltier, some sweeter, and some have a more fermented profile – try a few to find your favorite twist on the sauce!
Adjust the Consistency: The amount of cornstarch you use controls the thickness of your sauce. Add a bit more for a thicker glaze, or use less for a thinner, pourable sauce.

A hand holds a spoonful of thick, dark sauce above a white bowl filled with the same sauce. The bowl sits on a wooden surface; garlic, sesame seeds, and glass jars are in the background.

Storage Instructions

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce is simple to make and incredibly versatile, so having some on hand is always useful. If you have any leftover, here’s how to store it safely.

Refrigerator: Store your teriyaki sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. This keeps it fresh and ensures the flavors stay vibrant.

Freezer: You can also freeze teriyaki sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, according to USDA food storage guidelines. Thaw in the fridge and give it a quick whisk before using!

More Delicious Sauce Recipes

Craving more tasty Sauce recipes? Check out these favorites:

• Garlic Butter Sauce is rich, flavorful, and perfect for drizzling over pasta, veggies, or seafood.

• Garlic Alfredo brings creamy, cheesy goodness to any pasta night in minutes.

• This Tartar Sauce Recipe is tangy, zesty, and the perfect companion for fish, fries, or sandwiches.

There you have it, folks! There’s something so satisfying about making your own teriyaki sauce from scratch. It’s quick, easy, and way more flavorful than store-bought versions.

Give this recipe a try and let me know in the comments if you marinated meats, glazed veggies, or tried it as a dip. You know that I love hearing about your kitchen adventures!

Happy Cooking!

Karlynn