An easy homemade teriyaki sauce that’s full of flavour and made without any nasty ingredients! Easily made gluten-free and vegan, it’s so good that you’ll never go back to store-bought.
I’ve got a quickie for you guys today!
Well, a quick recipe. And an easy one. And one I feel like should be a staple in everyone’s recipe books… at least if you like stir fries. Which I do.
Actually, stir fries were one of the only ways my mom could get me to eat vegetables as a child… and even then I’d do my best to pick out as many veggies as I could without it being too obvious. Except the carrots. Carrots were okay in my books.
Looking back at it, though, I’m pretty sure the only reason I tolerated veggies in stir fries were because they were covered in sauce. Homemade teriyaki sauce…
How To Make Healthy Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
It’s so quick and easy that I’m betting you never go back to the store-bought kind! So let’s start by talking about what goes into the sauce:
- I like to used a reduced-sodium soy sauce because I find the regular kind a little too overpoweringly salty for my tastes, and even so, the sauce is still pretty salty. And because most soy sauces contain wheat, be sure to use a certified gluten-free tamari if you need this sauce to be gluten-free.
- Most teriyaki sauce recipes call for water to dilute the soy sauce, but I like to use orange juice instead. I find it adds some extra sweetness, tanginess, and depth to the flavour.
- For sweetness, I use a combination of honey and coconut sugar because I find it gives the best taste and texture. If you need this sauce to be vegan, you can just use coconut sugar, but you need to increase the amount to 1/2 cup (100 g).
- Rice vinegar. Used mostly to balance out the sweetness. If you don’t have rice vinegar, you can substitute with apple cider.
- I know it’s a little bit of extra work, but fresh ginger and garlic really do make a difference. If you don’t have them on hand, you can use 1/2 tsp of each, ground.
- Cornstarch is used to thicken the sauce, otherwise it would be super runny instead of nice and saucy. Combine it with a tablespoon of water before adding it to the sauce just to get any clumps out and make sure it’s nice and smooth. And if you’re avoiding corn, arrowroot works fine as well.
See? All good stuff and none of the nasties that you often find in store-bought sauces.
Okay, But What’s It Like?
Salty. Sweet. Tangy… Saucy? There’s really not much else to say about a sauce.
I made a few different versions of this sauce and these quantities ended up being my favourite, but your tastebuds probably differ from mine so don’t be afraid to do some experimenting! Want a sweeter sauce? Add more sugar. Saltier? Add a few more splashes of soy sauce. Thicker? More cornstarch. That’s one of the best things about making things at home! Well, that and it lets you avoid a lot of the preservatives that end up in store-bought sauces.
As for how to use this sauce, my favourite is obviously in a stir fries (I’ve got a recipe coming up for you guys soon!), but it also works great as a marinate. I hope you love it!
Happy eating!
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easy homemade teriyaki sauce
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) reduced-sodium soy sauce or tamari*
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) orange juice
- 1/4 cup (80 g) honey**
- 2 Tbsp (24 g) coconut sugar**
- 1 Tbsp (15 ml) rice vinegar
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp (7 g) cornstarch***
- 1 Tbsp (15 ml) water
Instructions
- In a small saucepan set over medium heat, combine the soy sauce, orange juice, honey, sugar, vinegar, ginger, and garlic. Bring it to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally.
- In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water, mixing until smooth. Add this mixture to the sauce, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to thicken, about 1 minute.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and let it cool completely before transferring it to a sealed container and storing in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Use as desired.
Notes
* Use a certified gluten-free tamari if you need this to be gluten-free. I also recommend using a reduced-sodium version so that you have more control over how salty it is.
** Omit the honey and increase the sugar to 1/2 cup (100 g) if you need this sauce to be vegan.
*** You can use arrowroot powder instead.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
Looking for more tasty vegan recipes? Try one of these!
Healthy Vegan Mac & Cheese
Loaded Sweet Potato Nachos
Instant Pot Black Bean Burrito Bowls
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This homemade teriyaki sauce recipe is so simple—love that it uses pantry staples! I might try doubling the ginger next time for extra kick. Speaking of creative projects, I’ve been experimenting with low-poly 3D models for game assets lately. There’s a neat tool that turns a prompt or reference image into clean, game-ready models you can preview right in the browser. Makes the whole process way smoother if you’re building for Unity or Godot. Have you ever tried making your own 3D assets for fun, or do you stick to 2D recipes like this?
Made a big batch for meal prep and it lasts weeks in the fridge—brush it on chicken or tofu last minute and dinner’s done.
Using orange juice instead of water for the teriyaki sauce sounds like a great twist. I usually just stick to water and soy sauce, but adding that citrus flavor might really brighten it up. Has anyone tried swapping the honey for maple syrup for a vegan-friendly option?
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Using orange juice instead of water for the teriyaki sauce sounds interesting. I usually use pineapple juice for a bit more sweetness and tang; wonder how much the orange juice changes the overall flavor profile compared to other fruit juices?
I’ve been looking for a simple homemade teriyaki sauce recipe, and this one is exactly what I needed—love how it uses pantry staples without any fuss. The step-by-step breakdown makes it feel achievable even on a busy weeknight.
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Have you tried any other sauce variations that work well with this base?
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This teriyaki sauce looks so simple and pantry-friendly! I love that the orange juice adds a fresh twist of sweetness, and using coconut sugar keeps it refined sugar free. I bet it would be perfect for quick weeknight stir-fries or as a marinade. Thanks for sharing such a flexible base recipe!
That story about your mom using stir-fry sauce to sneak in vegetables really resonates with me. I always preferred the store-bought versions before realizing how simple it is to whip up a batch of teriyaki myself. Now that I can make it gluten-free and vegan, I do not feel like I am missing out on anything. I am definitely adding this to my weekly meal prep rotation.
When I saw Amanda use orange juice instead of water in her teriyaki sauce, I thought that was pretty clever! As someone who always struggles with store-bought sauce being too salty, the reduced-sodium soy sauce tip and the 15-minute total time definitely caught my attention-might actually try making this on a lazy Sunday.
This teriyaki sauce looks so simple to whip up — I love how the orange juice gives it that natural, citrusy sweetness without being too sugary. Perfect for a quick weeknight stir-fry when there is no time to fuss, and the cornstarch slurry trick is a great way to control thickness. Thanks for sharing the gluten-free version!
I found this useful, especially the part about EASY HOMEMADE TERIYAKI SAUCE. The article explains the topic clearly and makes the main points easy to follow.
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This teriyaki sauce looks so doable — love that the orange juice gives it a different kind of sweetness than the usual recipes. I’ll be trying this for sure on some quick weeknight stir-fries. I also film little cooking videos for fun and have been playing around with an ai body swap tool to drop myself into different kitchen scenes, which works perfectly for recipes this easy to demo.
This teriyaki sauce is such a gem – so quick to whisk together and the orange juice gives it the loveliest brightness that bottled versions never have. I made a double batch last week for stir-fries and used the leftovers as a glaze on salmon, both were fantastic. Thanks for sharing such a flexible pantry staple, Amanda!
The tip about adjusting sweetness to taste is solid, but I’d add one caveat — it really depends on what you’re using the sauce for. When I’m marinating chicken overnight, I actually cut the sweetener back quite a bit, otherwise it caramelizes too aggressively in the pan and burns before the meat is cooked through. Adapting recipes based on context, like following situation-specific guides, makes a big difference in the final result.
Last week I made a batch using coconut aminos instead of soy sauce and honestly couldn’t tell the difference — my partner, who usually picks apart every substitution I make, didn’t notice at all. The ratio of sweetener to soy you have here is spot on; I’d tried a different breakdown I found through a community-sourced reference guide and it came out way too cloying. This one’s going in my permanent rotation.
This teriyaki sauce recipe is absolutely fantastic! I made it last night for a stir-fry and the whole family loved it. I appreciate that it’s gluten-free — I used tamari instead of soy sauce and it worked perfectly. The balance of sweet and savory is spot on. I also love that it comes together in minutes with pantry staples. Definitely adding this to my weekly rotation!
This teriyaki sauce looks so easy to throw together – I love that the orange juice gives it a unique sweetness compared to store-bought versions. I have been trying to cut down on processed ingredients lately, and this feels like a perfect weeknight stir-fry base. Thanks for sharing such a flexible recipe, Amanda!
This teriyaki sauce looks so easy and the orange juice twist is such a clever touch – I love that it brightens everything up without being complicated. Perfect for quick weeknight stir-fries when I don’t want to open a bottle. Thanks for sharing the gluten-free swap too!
This teriyaki sauce sounds amazing—especially the tip about using orange juice for extra depth! I love how you’ve made it adaptable for different diets.
The ratio of soy sauce to mirin here is pretty much what I use too — honestly reminds me of how small tweaks in balance can totally change the outcome, whether you’re cooking or just riding out any kind of volatile trend. Simple recipes like this are underrated.
Thanks for sharing this post about Easy Homemade Teriyaki Sauce (gluten-free, vegan). I enjoyed the ideas here.
Thanks for sharing this easy teriyaki sauce recipe! I love that it’s gluten-free and vegan. Can’t wait to try making it at home.
Thanks for sharing this post about Easy Homemade Teriyaki Sauce (gluten-free, vegan). I enjoyed the ideas here.
Homemade teriyaki sauce is the best! So much better than store-bought. I’ve also been using a free HEIC to PDF converter to organize my recipe cards into digital format – game changer for meal planning!
That story about your mom using stir fry sauce to hide vegetables is so familiar. I used to be that kid picking out carrots and broccoli until I realized the sauce was the real star. Since I try to avoid processed ingredients, being able to make a gluten-free version at home is a huge plus for me. I am definitely going to give this a try on my weekend dinner.
Homemade teriyaki sauce is so much better than store-bought! I love how simple this recipe is – just a few pantry staples. Can’t wait to try this with some stir-fried veggies and rice.
this looks so good
This easy homemade teriyaki sauce looks simple, flavorful, and much better than store-bought versions. It’s great for quick meals and adds a perfect sweet and savory touch to any dish. Thanks for sharing such a useful recipe idea!
Thanks for sharing this post about Easy Homemade Teriyaki Sauce. I enjoyed the ideas here.
gluten-free and vegan too awesome
This homemade teriyaki sauce sounds like a perfect staple! I love that it’s free of nasty additives and easily adaptable for dietary needs. Can’t wait to try it with some stir-fried veggies.
This teriyaki sauce recipe is absolutely delicious! I made it last night and the balance of soy sauce, garlic, and ginger was spot on. It came together in minutes and tasted so much better than any store-bought version I’ve tried. Definitely adding this to my weekly rotation!
I love how Amanda highlights the versatility of homemade teriyaki sauce—it’s perfect for transforming simple stir-fries into a flavorful meal. Personally, I find that making it at home allows you to adjust the sweetness and umami to your taste, making each dish uniquely satisfying. It’s a great way to embrace healthier eating without sacrificing taste!
Thanks for sharing this post about Easy Homemade Teriyaki Sauce. I enjoyed the ideas here and will definitely try making it at home soon!
It’s great!!!
I love that it uses fresh ginger and pantry staples to create such a rich, gluten-free flavor.Great!!!