Keeping a jar of homemade Japanese-style teriyaki sauce on hand is always a great idea!
This 3 ingredient recipe can be made 3 ways - with cane sugar, brown sugar, or honey, so you can pick the version you like best and go from there.
Quick look at the recipe
Ready In: 22 minutes
Servings: 16
Nutrition: 80 Calories
Main Ingredients: Tamari/soy sauce, mirin, sugar
Dietary Notes: Gluten free, Dairy free
Why You'll Love It: Prep this sauce for easy weeknight meals! Keeps for months in the fridge.
WANT A SUMMARY?
Ask AI to summarize or ask a question about this specific recipe!
Disclosure: these buttons are meant to be helpful but I am not responsible for how AI answers.
We always keep a jar of homemade gluten free teriyaki sauce in the fridge to add quick flavor to meals like Gluten Free Chicken Teriyaki Bowls or Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowls.
Even if we aren't following a recipe, this simple sauce adds quick flavor to simply-prepared meats like Crispy Skillet Chicken Thighs, pork tenderloin, or leftover roasted chicken!
Many recipes add garlic and/or ginger to teriyaki sauce, but a true Japanese-style teriyaki typically doesn't. You only need 3 ingredients to make the simplest, tastiest teriyaki!
You can keep a jar of this teriyaki sauce recipe in the fridge for weeks at a time, so it's always on hand in a pinch!
Jump to:
Ingredients needed
This is a 3-ingredient recipe, but with a few substitutions available - most notably the sweetener you choose to use.
MIRIN: This is the one ingredient I wouldn't substitute for teriyaki! While you can find some substitution suggestions online, I sincerely don't think they do justice. Try to find imported true mirin for the best results.
Many stores local to me sell aji-mirin, which isn't quite the same as true mirin. If you can get your hands on true mirin, you'll get the best flavor, but aji-mirin (which translates as "tastes like mirin") does make a decent substitute.
TAMARI or SOY SAUCE: Since I primarily write gluten free recipes, I reached for tamari when testing out this teriyaki! However, soy sauce is the most traditional way to go.
SUGAR or HONEY: You can use cane sugar, brown sugar, or honey for this recipe. Cane sugar would be the most traditional, but personally I enjoy the warmer caramel flavor of brown sugar.
Honey imparts a different flavor to the teriyaki overall, but of course - honey teriyaki makes an excellent sauce for chicken, salmon, or pork!
How to make homemade teriyaki
Making your own teriyaki couldn't be easier.
- Combine all ingredients in a jar or bowl.
- Cap and shake the jar or whisk the ingredients in the bowl until the sugar has dissolved.
And that's it! You can store the sauce in the fridge for weeks at a time.
The sauce is obviously very watery, but when cooking you'll reduce it down to a syrupy consistency.
If you're using this teriyaki sauce in a baked or grilled recipe, I'd suggest reducing it down in advance, as it will not reduce down in the oven and won't cling to foods as-is.
FAQs
Many recipes call for adding garlic and ginger to teriyaki sauce as you make it. To keep things as simple as possible, I skipped that.
You can add 1-2 teaspoons each of minced garlic and ginger, if you'd like - But trust me, this teriyaki sauce is great just as it is, and I encourage you to try it as-is first before getting creative!
Yes. You can make a slurry of ¼ cup water mixed with 3 teaspoons cornstarch. Whisk that into the sauce. Simmer the sauce over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes, until thickened.
While using cornstarch to thicken the sauce isn't traditional, it'll help if you plan to use the teriyaki for an oven-based recipe or simply want to slather it over cooked meat or veggies!
How to use homemade teriyaki
Once you've got your jar of teriyaki sauce made, you can use it with so many different meats and veggies!
Without pre-reducing the sauce, it's best used for sautéed or pan-fried recipes, like Teriyaki Salmon Bowls with Rice.
You can also use it for our family favorite Crispy Skillet Chicken Thighs - simply add the teriyaki when you flip the chicken thighs and keep cooking while the thighs reduce down!
Grab teriyaki as a quick go-to for stir-fries like Simple Pork Stir Fry with Snap Peas!
Or, you can reduce the sauce down and brush it on roasted salmon or grilled chicken.
More dressing and sauce recipes
Sauces are the perfect way to add more flavor to basic meals! Keeping a couple jars of different sauces help Tjay and I keep our meals flavorful and exciting.
Another favorite of ours is Ginger Scallion Sauce, which goes well with just about everything, especially chicken and pork!
Check out Hot Honey Mustard Sauce for a little kick with classic sweet honey mustard.
Or grab our favorite chimichurri recipe found in my Oven Baked Walleye with Chimichurri Sauce!
Did you try this recipe? I'd love to hear what you think! Please leave a comment and rating or tag me on Instagram - I love your feedback.
Print📖 Recipe
3 Ingredient Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Boiling, stovetop
- Cuisine: Japanese
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Description
Making your own teriyaki sauce is simpler than you might think! You just need 3 ingredients for teriyaki that'll last for months in the fridge.
Feel free to add grated ginger or minced garlic - although I typically wait until I'm using the teriyaki to add those ingredients in!
Ingredients
- 1 cup tamari or soy sauce
- 1 cup mirin
- ⅔ cup dark brown sugar, cane sugar, or honey
Instructions
- Option 1: Combine tamari, mirin, and brown sugar in a jar. Seal the jar and shake until the sugar has completely dissolved. Store in the fridge for up to 2 months.
- Option 2: In a small saucepan, whisk together tamari, mirin, and brown sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes, until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and let cool. Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 months.
Notes
For gluten free teriyaki, make sure the tamari you're using is gluten free!
Can't find true mirin? Aji-mirin makes a decent substitute, but is often sweeter with added corn syrup/sugar. You may want to adjust down the amount of sugar/honey/brown sugar you add.
Leave a Reply