Order my new cookbook today! 
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy.
My 3 ingredient stir fry sauce without cornstarch will become your new favorite way to flavor meat and vegetables! This homemade three ingredient stir fry sauce is a super all-purpose sauce for your Asian-inspired dishes, and it works as a marinade too. Use it on chicken stir fry, beef stir fry, pork stir fry, and seafood stir fry. You can even make a vegan stir fry with tofu or chickpeas!
⭐ Stir Fry Sauce without Cornstarch Ingredients
Here are the ingredients for stir fry sauce with no cornstarch:
- 1 cup teriyaki sauce for a punch of umami
- ¼ cup pineapple juice for sweetness
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum, a thickener that helps make a glossy sauce with no corn starch
Get a printable recipe card at the end of the post!
Don’t use regular soy sauce as a substitute for teriyaki sauce in this recipe. Your stir fry will be too salty and not very sweet.
For additional sweetness, add a little brown sugar or honey to the sauce. For a richer flavor, drizzle with toasted sesame oil after cooking. Toasted sesame oil is a finishing oil and it’s best not to heat it.
How to Thicken Stir Fry Sauce without Cornstarch
Xanthan gum is a great alternative to cornstarch that’s low carb and keto friendly. It’s one of my favorite ways to make stir fry without cornstarch because it thickens at a relatively low heat.
What is the difference between stir fry sauce and teriyaki sauce?
Teriyaki sauce is a mixture of soy sauce, ginger, sake, and flavorings. Stir fry sauce refers to any type of sauce used in a stir fry. (By the way, have you tried my low sugar teriyaki sauce yet?)
🍲 How to Make Stir Fry Sauce without Cornstarch
How to thicken stir fry sauce without cornstarch:
Put the teriyaki sauce, pineapple juice, and xanthan gum in a small pan. Whisk it together over medium heat on the stovetop so there are no lumps.
Bring the ingredients to a simmer and heat until it has thickened to your liking. (It takes about 5-10 minutes.) Now it’s ready to use!
To make an easy stir fry, cook 2 bags of frozen stir fry vegetables with chopped leftover chicken over medium high heat. When making stir fry, it’s important not to overcrowd the pan or wok. You need enough room to toss the veggies around for even cooking.
Add in the stir fry sauce at the end of cooking.
Serve the stir fry over the cooked rice or noodles. Garnish with sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds. Even picky kids love this family-friendly meal!
Leftover stir fry sauce will last 1-2 days in the fridge in a closed jar. However, it’s best to use it the day you make it. The texture of homemade sauces with xanthan gum can get a bit gummy if left sitting too long.
This is different than bottled stir fry sauces, which can sometimes last for a year or more. This is because the bottled sauces don’t typically contain fresh pineapple juice and they may contain preservatives to prolong shelf life.
🥡 What can I add to stir fry for flavor?
What do you do when your stir fry doesn’t have enough flavor? You add one (or more!) of these ingredients, that’s what!
- Garlic
- Chives
- Scallions (green onions)
- Sriracha
- Rice vinegar
- Soy sauce
- Lemon zest
- Lime juice
- Red chili pepper flakes
- Cilantro
- Salt and pepper
How to make a stir fry sauce without soy sauce?
Coconut aminos is a good soy-free and lower sodium substitute for soy sauce in stir fry sauces. The ingredients in coconut aminos are aged coconut tree sap and sea salt.
Watch How to Make It!
3 Ingredient Stir Fry Sauce without Cornstarch Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup teriyaki sauce
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
Instructions
- Put the teriyaki, juice, and xanthan gum in a small sauce pan. Whisk it together over medium heat on the stovetop.
- Let the ingredients barely come to a simmer and thicken. It takes about 5-10 minutes. Enjoy in your favorite stir fry!
- Chef's tip: Drizzle in some toasted sesame oil after cooking for extra flavor.
Equipment
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss). This stir fry sauce packs a lot of flavor in for few calories. With some of this on hand, you’ll be ready to throw together easy meals that support a healthy weight. For a lower carb and low calorie stir fry, use a lot of non-starchy veggies (broccoli, snow peas, onions, etc.) and lean protein with the sauce. For a high calorie stir fry, add in lots of noodles, rice, or another grain (along with the protein and veg). You could also add some starchy veggies for more energy. If you switch out the veggies, meat, poultry, etc. you could use this sauce to create unique meals for weeks. (Not that I’d do that, but it’s possible!) The one downside to this sauce (and many stir fry sauces) is that it is rather high in sodium. If you’re on a low sodium diet, most stir fry sauces are not going to be a good fit. Remember that “healthy” always depends on what your individual needs are. Nutrition information is for one serving of the sauce.
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
👩🏻🍳 Stir Fry Recipes
Want more recipes for stir fry? Try these next:
Join our community! Subscribe for all of the latest and greatest recipes, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!
Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂