Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Our sweet and tangy teriyaki sauce is made with real ingredients and comes together in only 15 minutes. This is a recipe I feel good about making because I’m not left guessing what kind of preservatives and artificial flavoring are in there! Drizzle it over chicken and veggies, a stir fry, or a rice bowl.

Looking for more Teriyaki? Try our Easy Chicken Teriyaki or our Sheet Pan Hawaiian Chicken and Veggies.

Why My Recipe

Sweet and tangy with a little kick of heat.
Whip this up quickly in only 15 minutes!
Made without artificial coloring and corn syrup.

Closeup of spoon drizzling teriyaki sauce into glass.

This is a cooked sauce that develops deep flavor from the toasting of the garlic, caramelization from the brown sugar, and that kick of heat from the red pepper flakes. You’re going to want this sauce on everything, and kids love it too. If you or your kiddos are more sensitive to spicy foods, feel free to leave out the red pepper flakes.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients used to make teriyaki sauce.

Garlic: 2 cloves for the pan and 2 for the sauce. Use fresh, minced garlic or a teaspoon per clove if using jarred garlic.
Brown Sugar: Adds caramelization, increases the sweetness, and balances out the flavor of the sauce. Use light or dark brown sugar.
Rice Vinegar: Use seasoned rice wine vinegar for added flavor, or unseasoned for lower calories. You can substitute apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar.
Soy Sauce: You can use reduced-sodium or coconut aminos.
Red Pepper Flakes: These add just a hint of heat. Double it if you want to bring more heat, or leave it out entirely if you aren’t into spicy.
Ground Ginger: Use either a 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger or 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger.

Spice it Up or Down

If you’re looking for more heat, bump up the red pepper flakes to a 1/2 teaspoon or add a pinch of cayenne pepper. For a milder option, omit the red pepper flakes completely.

Serving Suggestions

Stir Fry: This sauce is the perfect addition to any stir fry. For a quick meal, load up your skillet with a bag of frozen veggies, add chicken, and then smother with this delicious sauce.

Rice Bowl: Don’t spend $15 or more for a Hawaiian rice bowl, and make one at home instead. Making rice on the stovetop is easier than you think, or you can simply use one of those pre-packaged steam bags.

Chicken and Veggies: Dress up your basic chicken and veggies with this tasty homemade sauce. Simply bake a few chicken breasts or use the air fryer, toss in those veggies, and you’re good to go!