How to make teriyaki sauce at home in about 10 minutes

The short answer: Here is how to make teriyaki sauce at home: simmer ½ cup of soy sauce, ½ cup of water, ¼ cup of brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons of mirin, 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon of grated ginger for 3 minutes. Stir in a slurry of 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of cold water, then cook 1 to 2 minutes until glossy.

It makes about 1¼ cups in 10 minutes.

Plan teriyaki night into your week with the Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99), and save your version in the Family Recipe Binder ($6.99).

I love cooking, and a jar of homemade teriyaki sauce in the refrigerator turns plain chicken, salmon or vegetables into dinner fast. For a fresh, no-cook herb sauce, try our chimichurri recipe. For a thicker, sweeter soy glaze made for sushi, see our unagi eel sauce.

Teriyaki sauce ingredients

How to make teriyaki sauce, step by step

1. Combine. Add the soy sauce, water, brown sugar, honey, mirin, garlic and ginger to a small saucepan.
2. Simmer. Bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes.
3. Make the slurry. Stir the cornstarch into the cold water in a small cup until smooth.
4. Thicken. Whisk the slurry into the simmering sauce and cook 1 to 2 minutes, until it coats a spoon.
5. Finish. Take it off the heat and stir in ½ teaspoon of sesame oil if you like.
6. Cool and store. The sauce thickens more as it cools. Thin it with a spoonful of water if needed.

Teriyaki marinade vs teriyaki glaze

Always marinate in the refrigerator, not on the counter. USDA advises against reusing a marinade from raw poultry unless you bring it to a boil first, so set aside some clean sauce for serving. See the USDA guide to basting, brining and marinating.

12 easy ways to use teriyaki sauce

Weeknight dinners

• Teriyaki chicken thighs, baked or pan-seared
• Teriyaki salmon, glazed for the last 3 minutes
• Beef and broccoli style stir fry
• Teriyaki shrimp skewers
• Sheet pan teriyaki chicken and vegetables

Bowls and sides

• Rice bowls with chicken, cucumber and edamame
• Fried rice finished with a spoonful of sauce
• Glazed green beans or roasted broccoli
• Teriyaki tofu with sesame seeds

Party food

• Teriyaki meatballs in a slow cooker
• Teriyaki chicken wings
• Teriyaki burgers with grilled pineapple

For more ideas, see how to cook chicken, our chicken thigh recipes, shrimp recipes, shrimp fried rice and the meatball recipe. For a creamy nut-based dip rather than a soy glaze, make our peanut sauce. For a savory stir-fry with its own pan sauce rather than a sweet glaze, try easy chicken and broccoli.

Teriyaki sauce variations

Pineapple teriyaki. Replace the water with pineapple juice and cut the brown sugar to 2 tablespoons.

Spicy teriyaki. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of chili garlic sauce or ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes.

Lower-sodium teriyaki. Use low-sodium soy sauce and add a splash of extra water. The FDA explains how sodium adds up in its sodium in your diet guide.

Gluten-free teriyaki. Use tamari or coconut aminos labeled gluten-free. Soy and wheat are both major food allergens, so check labels as the FDA's food allergy guide recommends.

Orange teriyaki. Add 1 tablespoon of orange zest and ¼ cup of orange juice in place of half the water. Craving the takeout classic instead? Try our homemade orange chicken.

How to store homemade teriyaki sauce

• Refrigerator: keep it in a covered jar for about 1 week. It thickens when cold, so warm it or thin it with water.
• Freezer: freeze it in an ice cube tray, then move the cubes to a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
• Meal prep: make a double batch on Sunday for two dinners and a lunch bowl later in the week.

Make teriyaki part of your meal plan

Teriyaki sauce is one of the easiest ways to stretch a few basic proteins across the week. Make it once, then plan chicken one night, salmon or shrimp another, and rice bowls for lunch. Start chicken night with our teriyaki chicken recipe. Our easy dinner ideas and meal prep ideas have more ways to fill the week. It also shines on pressed cubes in our tofu recipes. For another cabbage-forward skillet dinner in this weeknight lane, see easy egg roll in a bowl. For a takeout-style stir-fry with its own savory brown sauce, try our beef and broccoli recipe.

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