Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce is an easy 10-minute sauce made from scratch with soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, fresh ginger, garlic, and a simple cornstarch thickener. This sweet and savory teriyaki sauce is perfect for chicken, beef, steak, pork, burgers, stir-fries, rice, grilled meats, vegetables, and more!

If you’ve been buying bottles of teriyaki sauce at the grocery store, you may be surprised at just how easy it is to make Homemade Teriyaki Sauce from scratch. We’re talking about 10 minutes and a handful of simple ingredients!

This easy teriyaki sauce recipe starts with soy sauce, pineapple juice, and brown sugar, then gets plenty of extra flavor from Worcestershire sauce, fresh ginger, garlic powder, and onion powder. A quick cornstarch slurry thickens everything into a versatile sauce that’s ready for all sorts of meals.

It’s similar to my homemade Teriyaki Marinade, but the ingredients are slightly different, and this sauce is thicker. That makes it particularly good for brushing onto grilled chicken, pork, or steak, spooning over burgers, or tossing with meat and vegetables for a quick teriyaki stir-fry.

My kids also love using it to make their own fried rice with whatever leftover meat, rice, and vegetables we happen to have around.

I love keeping homemade sauces like this one in the refrigerator because you can turn basic leftovers and simple ingredients into something completely different without much work.

What I Love About This Recipe

• This Homemade Teriyaki Sauce is ridiculously easy to make. Everything comes together in one saucepan in about 10 minutes, and there isn’t much prep involved. If you’ve never tried making teriyaki sauce from scratch, this is an easy place to start. You may already have quite a few of the ingredients sitting in your pantry.
• It’s sweet, savory, and full of flavor. Soy sauce creates the salty, savory base, while brown sugar and pineapple juice add sweetness. Fresh ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce add even more flavor without making the ingredient list complicated. The result works with everything from grilled chicken to stir-fried vegetables.
• The consistency is really easy to adjust. Cornstarch and cold water thicken the sauce enough that it can coat meat and vegetables rather than running right off. The teriyaki sauce also thickens a little more as it cools. If you want an even thicker teriyaki glaze, you can add additional water and cornstarch.
• There are SO many ways to use this sauce. Brush it onto chicken, pork, beef, steak, or kabobs, toss it into a stir-fry, mix it with rice, or spoon it over a burger. You can even drizzle a little over fresh or grilled pineapple. It’s one of those handy homemade sauces that can make an ordinary dinner a lot more interesting.

What Is Teriyaki Sauce?

Teriyaki sauce is generally a sweet and savory soy sauce-based sauce. Recipes can vary quite a bit, which is one reason homemade teriyaki sauce is so easy to customize.

Most versions start with soy sauce and some type of sugar or sweetener. From there, you can find recipes with ginger, garlic, fruit juice, sesame oil, vinegar, green onion, and all sorts of other additions.

This version combines soy sauce with pineapple juice and brown sugar, plus Worcestershire sauce, fresh ginger, garlic powder, and onion powder.

A mixture of cornstarch and cold water thickens the sauce so it can coat chicken, beef, pork, vegetables, and other foods.

Equipment You May Need

• Medium Saucepan – Everything cooks together in one saucepan, so cleanup is pretty easy.
• Whisk – Helpful for combining the sauce ingredients and slowly incorporating the cornstarch slurry without lumps.
• Small Bowl or Measuring Cup – Use this to whisk the cold water and cornstarch together before adding them to the hot sauce.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons – You’ll need these for measuring the soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, seasonings, water, and cornstarch.
• Covered Storage Container – A mason jar or another covered container is handy if you’re making the sauce ahead and keeping it in the refrigerator.

(Full printable recipe card is at bottom of post.)

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Ingredients

• Soy Sauce – The savory base of this homemade teriyaki sauce. I like to use low-sodium soy sauce.
• Pineapple Juice – Adds fruity sweetness and flavor. Water or orange juice can be substituted.
• Brown Sugar – Sweetens the sauce and balances the salty soy sauce.
• Worcestershire Sauce – Adds another savory layer of flavor to the homemade sauce.
• Fresh Ginger – Minced fresh ginger gives the teriyaki plenty of flavor. Refrigerated ginger paste is an easy alternative and is generally available in the produce section.
• Garlic Powder – An easy way to add garlic flavor without additional chopping.
• Onion Powder – Adds savory onion flavor and blends smoothly into the sauce.
• Cold Water – Combined with cornstarch to create the thickening mixture.
• Cornstarch – Thickens the teriyaki sauce so it works well as a stir-fry sauce, finishing sauce, or glaze.

How to Make Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Step One: Combine the Sauce Ingredients
Place a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, ginger, garlic powder, and onion powder, then whisk to combine.

Step Two: Bring the Sauce to a Boil
Bring the mixture to a boil, whisking occasionally. Keep an eye on the saucepan so the sauce doesn’t burn.

Step Three: Make the Cornstarch Slurry
Meanwhile, whisk the cold water and cornstarch together in a small bowl or measuring cup until completely smooth.

Step Four: Thicken the Teriyaki Sauce
Slowly whisk the cornstarch and water mixture into the teriyaki sauce until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat and use as needed.

(Full printable recipe card with full details is at bottom of post.)

How to Thicken Teriyaki Sauce

Cornstarch is the secret to turning this from a thinner teriyaki marinade-style mixture into a thicker sauce.

But don’t dump the cornstarch directly into the hot saucepan!

Instead, whisk the cornstarch with cold water until smooth. This mixture is generally referred to as a cornstarch slurry.

Slowly whisk the slurry into the hot teriyaki sauce. As the sauce cooks, it will begin to thicken.

This recipe doesn’t make a SUPER thick teriyaki sauce, and keep in mind that it will thicken a little more as it cools.

Want a really thick teriyaki glaze? You can add a little more cornstarch and water until you get the consistency you want.

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Variations

One of the best things about homemade sauces is how easy they are to change.

Instead of pineapple juice, try water or orange juice. Orange juice gives you another fruity variation that should work well with the ginger and soy sauce.

You can also experiment with honey, green onion, cilantro, sesame oil, or rice vinegar.

Fresh ginger gives the sauce great flavor, but refrigerated ginger paste is an easy shortcut when you don’t have fresh ginger or don’t feel like peeling and mincing it.

Uses for Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

• Teriyaki Chicken – Brush the sauce onto grilled chicken or spoon it over cooked chicken. Grilled teriyaki chicken is definitely one of my favorite ways to use it.
• Teriyaki Beef or Steak – Brush the sauce over grilled beef or steak for an easy dinner.
• Teriyaki Pork – Use the sauce with grilled pork or pork cutlets.
• Teriyaki Burgers – Mix a little sauce into raw ground beef, chicken, or pork before forming burger patties, or drizzle it over a cooked burger.
• Teriyaki Stir-Fry – Toss the sauce with precooked meat and vegetables for a quick homemade stir-fry.
• Fried Rice – Mix a little into precooked rice with leftover chicken, pork, vegetables, or whatever else you have in the refrigerator.
• Kabobs – Brush the thick teriyaki sauce onto grilled meat and vegetable kabobs.
• Pineapple – Drizzle a little over fresh-cut pineapple or brush it onto grilled pineapple.
• Sandwich Spread – Mix a little teriyaki sauce with mayonnaise for a quick sweet and savory sandwich spread.

Serving Suggestions

• Brush Homemade Teriyaki Sauce over grilled chicken, pork, beef, steak, or kabobs.
• Toss the sauce with cooked chicken and vegetables for a quick chicken teriyaki stir-fry.
• Serve teriyaki meat and vegetables over rice for an easy dinner.
• Mix it into fried rice with leftover meat, vegetables, and chopped pineapple.
• Drizzle over a cooked burger for a quick teriyaki burger.
• Brush it onto grilled pineapple for an easy sweet and savory side or snack.
• Use it with Teriyaki Pork Cutlets or Easy Chicken Lettuce Wraps.

Quick Tips for Best Results

• Use low-sodium soy sauce if you prefer. Soy sauce brings plenty of salty flavor to teriyaki, and I generally like the low-sodium version for this recipe.
• Keep an eye on the saucepan. The sauce comes to a boil fairly quickly, so don’t wander too far away while it’s heating.
• Whisk the cornstarch with cold water first. Make sure the slurry is smooth before adding it to the hot teriyaki sauce.
• Add the slurry slowly. Whisk it gradually into the sauce so you can evenly thicken the mixture.
• Remember that the sauce thickens as it cools. Don’t judge the final consistency only by how it looks while it’s piping hot.
• Adjust the thickness if needed. If you want a thicker sauce or teriyaki glaze, you can add a little more cornstarch and water.
• Make a batch for the refrigerator. Having homemade teriyaki sauce ready to go makes quick stir-fries, rice bowls, and grilled dinners even easier.

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce FAQ

How should I store Homemade Teriyaki Sauce?
Store the teriyaki sauce in a covered container in the refrigerator. A mason jar or another tightly covered container works well.

Can you freeze Homemade Teriyaki Sauce?
I haven’t tried it, but I’m sure it would freeze well for a few months.

How long will the Homemade Teriyaki Sauce last?
The sauce should last a few weeks in the fridge, but if you have fresh ingredients in the sauce such as ginger or green onion, it may last about a week.

Substitutions?
Instead of pineapple juice, you can use water or orange juice. Refrigerated ginger paste can replace the minced fresh ginger. Honey, green onion, cilantro, sesame oil, and rice vinegar are some other ideas you can experiment with.

Can I use low-fat ingredients?
There really aren’t many high-fat ingredients in this sauce to begin with. If you’re looking to adjust the recipe for a particular dietary need, check the labels and nutrition information on the individual ingredients you’re using.

What else can I add to this recipe?
Try honey, green onion, cilantro, sesame oil, rice vinegar, or orange juice. You can also experiment with the balance of flavors depending on how you’re planning to use the sauce.

Can I make this vegan/vegetarian/low carb/gluten-free?
Here are some ideas, but I can’t guarantee results. Always check specific brands and ingredient labels if you’re following a particular diet or have food restrictions or allergies.

Vegan – Check the Worcestershire sauce and other packaged ingredients carefully since products can vary.

Vegetarian – Check the Worcestershire sauce and specific brands you’re using to make sure they fit your dietary needs.

Low-Carb – The brown sugar and pineapple juice contribute carbohydrates, so this recipe would require substitutions to significantly reduce the carbs.

Gluten-Free – Check your soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and all other packaged ingredients carefully and choose gluten-free versions when necessary.

Other Sauce Recipes You May Enjoy

• Boom Sauce – A delicious burger and fry sauce.
• Buffalo Sauce – An easy homemade sauce with a secret ingredient.
• Korean BBQ Sauce – A simple homemade sticky sauce, dipping sauce, or marinade for a wide range of things like beef, chicken, pork, or vegetables.
• Sweet & Spicy Root Beer BBQ Sauce – The name says it all; this sauce is both sweet and spicy and packed with flavor.

Let me know how you change it up or how you used the sauce!

Quick video my son made show how to make this Homemade Teriyaki Sauce…

Hope you enjoy this easy Homemade Teriyaki Sauce! See my 31+ Homemade Sauces for even more sauces you can make at home.