Sweet and Spicy Teriyaki Sauce
Sweet and tangy teriyaki sauce is a kitchen staple for us and a love having my own homemade teriyaki sauce in the fridge to use for grilled chicken, teriyaki chicken wings, fish, and stir fry!
Teriyaki sauce is the perfect go-to Asian condiment for veggies, chicken, pork, and even salads. It’s tangy and sweet and sticky, too. Everyone loves this combination of flavors that include ginger, garlic, and sesame.
This easy sauce is perfect for dipping, making wings, or adding some flavor to your favorite rice bowl. You’ll love how easy it is to make, too.
🧂 Ingredients
If you love making Asian recipes, chances are you have these pantry staples on hand already.
Note: some recipes call for thickening teriyaki sauce with xanthan gum. I find that a cornstarch slurry works just as well. Since I always have cornstarch in my pantry, I prefer using that.
This is meant to be a brief overview of this great recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients and how to make teriyaki sauce, please scroll down to the teal box below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions (and answers!) readers often ask about making teriyaki sauce at home.
Yes!
Apple cider vinegar is often used as a substitute for rice wine vinegar because it’s readily available at the grocery store. White wine vinegar would also work in this recipe.
This homemade teriyaki sauce recipe uses both honey and brown sugar. You can play with the amounts and add a little bit more of one or the other to add sweetness.
Since I don’t love really spicy teriyaki sauce, this recipe leans a little more to the sweet side.
If want more heat in your homemade spicy teriyaki sauce, try some Japanese seven-spice mix, additional red pepper flakes, or sweet chili garlic sauce.
🍲 Storage
To Store: Store leftover teriyaki sauce in the fridge in a mason jar or airtight container for up to 2-3 weeks. (These are my favorite airtight containers.)
📖 Variations
The first time you try any new recipe we recommend that you make it just as it is written on the recipe card since that is how the recipe has been tested. However, the next time you make our recipe, you might want to try one of these ideas:
- Hot teriyaki sauce: add 1-2 teaspoons of chili garlic paste.
- Orange teriyaki sauce: add the juice of one orange.
- Siracha teriyaki sauce: add siracha to the mixture, to taste.
- Honey teriyaki sauce: substitute additional honey for the brown sugar.
- Maple teriyaki sauce: substitute maple syrup for brown sugar.
- Ginger teriyaki sauce: add additional ginger to the sauce, to taste.
To make a sweet and spicy teriyaki marinade, add 1 cup of teriyaki sauce to a large freezer bag. Add any protein you like such as beef, chicken, pork chops, shrimp, etc. Marinate for 1 hour, up to overnight, and cook as desired. (You could also add extra garlic, sliced green onion, or even pineapple juice for more flavor).
You can also use unthickened teriyaki sauce as a teriyaki glaze for salmon, chicken, or pork. Brush the thin sauce on using a pastry brush.
🍴 Serving Suggestions
There are so many great ways to use this tasty all purpose sauce!
- Use it as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders, beef and veggie potstickers, or pork egg rolls.
- Use the marinade to make baked teriyaki chicken wings.
- Brush it onto veggie kabobs for tons of flavor!
This recipe can be used with our crockpot chicken teriyaki recipe, teriyaki beef skewers, teriyaki chicken kabobs and any of your favorite recipes that call for teriyaki sauce.
😋 Similar Recipes
I really love making my own homemade sauces, seasonings, and salad dressings. Next time, try one of these delicious recipes:
Sweet and Spicy Teriyaki Sauce
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Ingredients
Teriyaki Sauce
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons fresh ginger minced
- 2 cloves fresh garlic minced
- 3/4 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2½ tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Slurry (to thicken sauce)
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- sesame seeds optional
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine all the ingredients for the teriyaki sauce over medium high heat.1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, 2 cloves fresh garlic, 3/4 teaspoon sesame oil, 2½ tablespoons rice wine vinegar, pinch red pepper flakes
- Simmer 2 minutes, whisking to dissolve the brown sugar.
- In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch with cold water to create a slurry.1 tablespoon cornstarch, 2 tablespoons cold water
- Drizzle the slurry a little at a time into the boiling sauce until the sauce reaches your desired thickness.
- Stir in sesame seeds, if desired.sesame seeds
Equipment
- Sauce Pan
