Honey Teriyaki Sauce

Why you’ll love this honey teriyaki sauce

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This honey teriyaki sauce goes on just about everything. Try it on some chicken wings, as a sauce for your favorite teriyaki noodles or serve it with sesame crusted teriyaki salmon.

Try using this sauce to make your own chicken teriyaki bowls. They will taste even better than take out, in the comfort of your own home.

→ If you like this recipe, you should try these: mint chimichurri / romesco sauce / balsamic glaze

Close up of a honey dipper coated in a honey soy sauce.

Ingredient notes:

Honey – Used to sweeten the sauce, but this also helps give it a nice, thick consistency. If you want to swap it for something vegan, agave nectar should work.
Soy sauce – Reduced sodium soy sauce is best for this, as you can always add additional salt if needed. If you want to make this gluten free, substitute tamari or gluten free soy sauce.
Ginger – I like to buy pre-minced ginger in a jar because it’s so much easier, but you can also grate fresh ginger.
Sesame seeds – Toasted sesame seeds bring a subtle nuttiness to this teriyaki sauce. I don’t recommend skipping them.
Cornstarch – This is used to thicken the sauce.

Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.

A soy garlic ginger sauce in a mason jar.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to sweeten teriyaki sauce?

Honey is what I find works best. You can substitute brown sugar if you don’t have honey. You can also use agave nectar to make this vegan.

Will honey thicken a sauce?

Honey does help thicken a sauce, but it won’t quite cut it on its own, which is why we have incorporated cornstarch into the sauce.

→ More teriyaki recipes: chicken teriyaki bowls / baked pineapple chicken / grilled salmon kabobs / maple glazed salmon

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5 from 1 vote

Honey Teriyaki Sauce

By: Melissa Belanger

Made with basic pantry staples, this honey teriyaki sauce is the perfect balance of sweet and savory. This naturally-sweetened recipe is great for stir-fry, but you can also use it as a marinade for chicken or salmon, or even as a dipping sauce for your favorite appetizers.

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 5

Total Time: 10

Servings: servings

Ingredients

▢ 1/2 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce, or tamari for gluten free
▢ 1/4 cup honey
▢ 1/2 cup water
▢ 1 tablespoon minced ginger
▢ 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 4 cloves
▢ 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
▢ ¼ cup cold water + 1 tablespoon cornstarch, slurry

Instructions

Mix the sauce. Combine soy sauce, honey, water, ginger, garlic and sesame seeds in a large saucepan. Whisk together and heat until honey has full incorporated into the sauce.
Let it thicken. In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch with some cold water until it dissolves. Stir the slurry into the saucepan and let the sauce cook for about 5 minutes to allow the cornstarch to thicken the sauce.
It won't be completely thickened while it's hot, but it should coat the back of a spoon.
Store the sauce. Remove from heat and transfer the sauce to a mason jar or other air-tight container. Use the sauce immediately or place it in the fridge until it cools. Store it in the fridge until for up to a week.