The Ultimate 10-Minute Homemade Teriyaki Sauce: Thick, Glossy, and Better Than Store-Bought
Make this easy homemade teriyaki sauce in under 10 minutes using simple pantry staples. This recipe yields a thick, glossy sauce that is perfect as a marinade, glaze, or stir-fry sauce, offering superior sweet and savory flavor compared to bottled versions.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 15 min
- Yield: About 1 cup 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop Cooking
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (slurry)
Instructions
- Combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, water, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil in a small saucepan.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat. Whisk the ingredients together until the brown sugar dissolves completely. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Once simmering, whisk the cornstarch and cold water together in a small bowl to create a slurry.
- Slowly pour the slurry into the simmering sauce while whisking constantly.
- Continue to cook, stirring often, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the teriyaki sauce thickens and becomes glossy. It should coat the back of a spoon.
- Remove the sauce from the heat. Let it cool slightly; it will thicken more as it cools.
- Use immediately as a glaze or marinade, or store it for later use.
Notes
- For a vegan teriyaki sauce, ensure your soy sauce does not contain animal products, though most standard soy sauces are vegan.
- If you want a thicker teriyaki glaze without cornstarch, reduce the liquid slightly more on the stove until it reaches your desired consistency.
- This homemade teriyaki sauce works perfectly as a teriyaki marinade recipe for chicken or tofu.
- Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 65
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 480
- Fat: 0.5
- Saturated Fat: 0.1
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 0.1
- Protein: 1
- Cholesterol: 0