This Homemade Teriyaki Sauce is quick, affordable, and made with simple pantry ingredients. It tastes so much better than store-bought versions—richer, fresher, and perfectly balanced.
It’s perfect for busy nights when you need a flavorful sauce for Chicken Teriyaki, Ground Beef Teriyaki, or Teriyaki Vegetables without grabbing a bottle from the store.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe!
I love having a simple sauce like this on hand because it turns basic, budget-friendly ingredients into something my whole family gets excited about.
Instead of buying store-bought bottles, I can make this in minutes with pantry staples and adjust the flavor exactly how we like it. It’s one of those simple swaps that helps stretch the grocery budget while still putting a flavorful, reliable meal on the table!
Homemade Seasoning and Sauce Blends taste so much better when made at home. If you love this Homemade Teriyaki Sauce, then you must try Homemade BBQ Sauce, Arby’s Sauce Recipe and Red Wine Steak Sauce!
Recipe Snapshot
- Budget-Friendly: Uses pantry staples like soy sauce, brown sugar, and garlic
- Family-Tested: Sweet and savory balance that works for picky eaters
- Real-Life Prep Time: 10 minutes total
- Method: Stovetop
- Freezer-Friendly: Yes (for later use in meals)
- Best For: Stir fry, chicken, meal prep, marinades
Ingredients
- Brown Sugar – Adds the classic sweetness and helps create that rich, glossy texture. Light or dark brown sugar both work, use what you have. You can even make Homemade Brown Sugar
- Low-Sodium Soy Sauce – Keeps the sauce from getting too salty while still giving that deep, savory flavor. Regular soy sauce works, but you may want to reduce it slightly. See Best Soy Sauce Substitute if you are out
- Mirin – A slightly sweet rice wine that gives authentic teriyaki flavor. If you don’t have it, rice vinegar is a great, more budget-friendly substitute.
- Water – Helps balance the strong flavors and gives the sauce the right consistency.
- Honey – Adds a smooth sweetness and helps the sauce cling to meat and veggies. You can adjust the amount based on your family’s preference.
- Cloves Garlic, minced – Fresh minced garlic gives the best flavor, but jarred garlic works great for saving time on busy nights.
- Grated Fresh Ginger – Fresh ginger adds the most flavor, but ground ginger is an easy pantry swap and works well in a pinch.
- Cornstarch – Thickens the sauce quickly so it coats your food perfectly. Make sure it’s fully whisked in to avoid lumps.
- Black Pepper – Adds a little extra depth if you like a slightly bolder flavor but it is optional.
How to Make Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
Step 1 – Whisk all ingredients together in a saucepan.
Step 2 – Heat over medium-high, bring to a boil, then reduce to low and simmer for 3–5 minutes, stirring, until thickened.
Step 3 – Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Tips for Success
- Whisk well before heating to prevent cornstarch clumps.
- Stir constantly while simmering so the sauce thickens evenly.
- Adjust sweetness easily by increasing or reducing honey based on your family’s taste.
- Double the batch and store extras in the fridge. My kids use this sauce on everything!
Variations & Substitutions
- No mirin? Use rice vinegar instead for a similar tang.
- Sweeter sauce – Add an extra tablespoon of honey or brown sugar.
- Garlic shortcut – Use jarred minced garlic to save prep time.
- Milder flavor – Skip the black pepper
How to Use Teriyaki Sauce
This homemade teriyaki sauce is incredibly versatile and works with simple, budget-friendly meals you already make.
- Stir Fry: Toss with Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry, Easy Beef Stir Fry Recipe, Shrimp Stir Fry Recipe, or vegetables for an easy weeknight dinner.
- Glaze for Meat: Brush over Baked Teriyaki Chicken, Grilled Teriyaki Pork Chops, or Teriyaki Salmon Recipe during the last few minutes of cooking.
- Marinade: Use before cooking to add flavor—just reserve some sauce separately for serving. We love making this Grilled Teriyaki Steak by using the Teriyaki Sauce as a marinade.
- Rice Bowls: Drizzle over rice with leftover meat and veggies for a quick meal such as this Teriyaki Chicken & Rice dish.
- Slow Cooker Meals: Make 3 Ingredient Crockpot Beef Teriyaki Recipe or Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken for an easy, flavorful dinner.
- Dipping Sauce: Serve in a small bowl with Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets, Teriyaki Chicken Skewers, or even Roasted Zucchini for the best dipping sauce.
Storage & Freezing Instructions
- Refrigerator – Store in an airtight container for up to 1–2 weeks.
- Freezer – Freeze in small portions (like ice cube trays) for easy use later.
- Reheat – Warm gently on the stove or in the microwave, stirring well before using. You can also serve straight from the fridge.
FAQs
Yes! Use it as-is or before thickening for a thinner marinade.
Let it simmer longer, or add a small cornstarch slurry if needed.
It depends on use as this version is thick enough for glazing but can be thinned with water if needed.
Yes, but it will be thinner. Simmer longer to reduce and thicken slightly.
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
Ingredients
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup mirin
- ¼ cup water
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- ¼ tsp black pepper
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Add ¼ cup brown sugar, ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce, ¼ cup mirin or rice vinegar, ¼ cup water, 1 tablespoon honey, 2 cloves minced garlic (or 2 teaspoons minced garlic), 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (or ¼ teaspoon ground ginger), 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper, if using, to a saucepan. Whisk until well combined.
- Heat the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the sauce to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce has thickened.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Storage
- Serve immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1–2 weeks.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
More Easy Teriyaki Recipes
This Easy Teriyaki Sauce is one of those simple recipes that just makes life easier in the kitchen. With a few basic ingredients and just minutes on the stove, you can have a go-to sauce ready for quick dinners, leftovers, and meal prep.
Once you try it, it’s an easy way to keep meals affordable, flavorful, and stress-free during the week. Make sure to let us know how it turned out for you by leaving a comment or a star review.
The recipe says it makes 12 servings, what is the serving size?
Bobbi – 1 serving is approximately 2 Tablespoons.
I tried this recipe. I switched the ginger and used 2 tsp of ground ginger instead of fresh. I also used a tsp of cayen?ne pepper. I really enjoyed this sauce as a dip for fried chicken and for fried shrimp. I give it 5 stars.
Thank you so much Marilyn! I’m so glad you enjoyed it and thank you so much for the positive review!