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    Home » Recipes » Condiments and Spice Mixes

    Sweet and Spicy Teriyaki Sauce

    [published_or_updated] · by Angela Paris · Leave a Comment[affiliate_disclosure]

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    Spicy teriyaki sauce sweetened with brown sugar and honey is the perfect all purpose recipe to use for all sorts of delicious dishes!
    This recipe makes about 1.5 cups of sauce.
    Total Time 10 minutes minutes
    Jump to Recipe Add to Favorites Go to Collections

    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!

    Close up of chicken dipped into teriyaki sauce.
    You're going to love this simple sweet and spicy teriyaki sauce recipe!
    Jump to:
    • 🧂 Ingredients
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • 🍲 Storage
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🍴 Serving Suggestions
    • 😋 Similar Recipes
    • Sweet and Spicy Teriyaki Sauce
    • 💬 Comments

    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.

    • soy sauce
    • brown sugar
    • honey
    • fresh ginger
    • fresh garlic
    • sesame oil
    • rice wine vinegar
    • red pepper flakes
    • corn starch and water (to thicken the sauce)
    • sesame seeds (optional)

    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.

    Close up showing how to make Teriyaki sauce.
    Store-bought teriyaki sauce has got nothing on our easy homemade teriyaki recipe!
    Close up of a spoon with Teriyaki Sauce on it.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Here are some questions (and answers!) readers often ask about making teriyaki sauce at home.

    Is rice wine vinegar the same thing as rice vinegar?

    Yes!

    What is a substitution for rice wine vinegar?

    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.

    What can I add to teriyaki sauce to make it sweeter?

    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.

    What spice goes well with teriyaki?

    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.

    • Baked eggrolls on a white plate.
    • Grilled Teriyaki Beef Kabobs with peppers and onions on a white platter.
    • Top down view of teriyaki chicken wings.

    😋 Similar Recipes

    I really love making my own homemade sauces, seasonings, and salad dressings. Next time, try one of these delicious recipes:

    • honey mustard
    • cherry bbq sauce
    • lime mayo
    • spicy ketchup
    • Jar of Cherry BBQ Sauce surrounded by fresh cherries.
    • Close up of lime mayonnaise with chopped parsley, lime zest, and black pepper.
    • Spicy Ketchup Recipe -close up of an onion ring in a small bowl of ketchup.
    See more Condiments and Spice Mixes →
    Close up of a spoon with Teriyaki Sauce on it.

    Sweet and Spicy Teriyaki Sauce

    Spicy teriyaki sauce sweetened with brown sugar and honey is the perfect all purpose recipe to use for all sorts of delicious dishes!
    This recipe makes about 1.5 cups of sauce.
    Add to Your Recipe BoxGo to Collections
    No ratings yet
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    Course: Condiment
    Keyword: sweet and spicy teriyaki sauce
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Author: Ang Paris

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Ingredients

    Teriyaki Sauce

    • ½ cup soy sauce
    • ⅓ cup brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons honey
    • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger minced
    • 2 cloves fresh garlic minced
    • ¾ 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
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    Instructions

    • In a small saucepan, combine all the ingredients for the teriyaki sauce over medium high heat.
      ½ cup soy sauce, ⅓ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, 2 cloves fresh garlic, ¾ 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

    • Liquid Measuring Cup
    • Dry Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Whisk
    • Sauce Pan
    Please Note: I am not a registered dietician. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes.
    Tried this recipe? Pin It for Later!Mention @jugglingactmama or tag #jugglingactmama!

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    Welcome! I'm Ang'e - the Juggling Act Mama! I love sharing quick and easy recipes, creative DIY projects, and fun family travel with you. Like many of you, I am a multi-tasking mama juggling priorities which is why here I offer solutions to tame your hectic lifestyle.

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