Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Recipe

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce, learn how to make teriyaki sauce from scratch. Teriyaki sauce is easy to make and the best for chicken, steak and beef, stir-fry, pork, and more! Simple ingredients, a few minutes, and you’ll have homemade teriyaki Sauce!

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If you’ve been buying teriyaki sauce at the store, you’re going to love this Homemade Teriyaki Sauce recipe! It’s similar to my recent Homemade Teriyaki Marinade, but slightly different ingredients and a little thicker. Since it’s thicker it’s great to brush onto grilled chicken, grilled beef (such as steaks or on top of burgers), mixed into a stir-fry, as well as anything else you can think of.

You can also use this sauce for my Teriyaki Pork Cutlets or Easy Chicken Lettuce Wraps.

Before we talk about how to make teriyaki sauce, let’s talk about teriyaki sauce ingredients…

Teriyaki Sauce Ingredients

The great thing about making this Homemade Teriyaki Sauce or any other, is that you can change-up the ingredients. Most teriyaki sauces start with soy sauce and sugar, but then other ingredients can vary.

This Teriyaki Sauce contains:

• soy sauce
• pineapple juice
• brown sugar
• worcestshire sauce
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• ginger
• water and cornstarch (for thickening)

However, you can substitute a lot of these ingredients. Honey, green onion, orange juice (instead of pineapple), cilantro, sesame oil, and rice vinegar are also great substitutions or additions.

How to Make Teriyaki Sauce

You’re not going to believe how easy this Teriyaki Sauce comes together!

Start with a small to medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and ginger and whisk to combine.

Whisk the mixture occasionally, and bring to a boil. Be sure to keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t burn, but it should come to a boil fairly quickly.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the water and cornstarch until smooth. Slowly whisk into Teriyaki Sauce until sauce thickens.

This Teriyaki Sauce is not SUPER thick but does thicken a bit when it cools. You can add a bit more cornstarch and water if you want it REALLY thick.

I love making a big batch of this teriyaki sauce and putting in mason jars in the fridge to use throughout the week. My kids love making their own fried rice with whatever we have around.

Uses for Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

This sauce is so versatile! Here are some quick ideas of what to use it for…

• Add a little to raw ground beef, chicken, or pork for a Teriyaki Burger. Or drizzle on top of a cooked patty.
• Mix in with some precooked rice as well as some precooked meat and/or vegetables for an easy fried rice.
• Brush onto grilled chicken, pork, or beef or kabobs. Grilled teriyaki chicken is the best!
• Drizzle a little on cut fresh pineapple for a quick snack. It’s also great on grilled pineapple.
• Mix with a little mayonnaise and use a fun sandwich spread.

As I mentioned my kids love making their own stir fries with what we have in the house such as leftover chicken or pork, rice, vegetables such as mushrooms and onions, and chopped pineapple. I love that they can make it all by themselves!

Now that you know how to make teriyaki sauce a home, I hope you give it a try!

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

Hope you enjoy this easy Homemade Teriyaki Sauce!

5 from 4 votes

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Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Learn how to make teriyaki sauce at home in minutes!

Course Sauce

Cuisine Asian

Keyword Homemade Asian sauce, How to make teriyaki sauce

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Yield 2 cups

Ingredients

• 1 cup soy sauce (I like the low sodium)
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice (water or orange juice)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 Tablespoon worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger (or refrigerated ginger paste)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1 Tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

1. Place a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, worcestershire sauce, ginger, garlic powder, and onion powder; whisk to combine.

2. Bring the mixture to a boil, whisking occasionally. Be sure to keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t burn.

3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the water and cornstarch until smooth. 

4. Slowly whisk the cornstarch and water into Teriyaki Sauce until sauce thickens. Remove from heat and use as needed.

Recipe Notes

SNAPPY TIPS: If you'd like your sauce thicker, you can add more water and cornstarch. Store the sauce in a covered container in the fridge.

SNAPPY SUBSTITUTIONS: Instead of pineapple juice you could use water or orange juice. For the fresh ginger, I like to use the refrigerated ginger paste usually found in the produce section.