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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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!!!