What’s the best teriyaki sauce substitute? This substitute for teriyaki sauce recipe uses soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar and more for a sweet and sticky replacement. You’ll also learn what is teriyaki sauce made of, and get a list of teriyaki substitutes such as hoisin sauce, tamari, BBQ sauce, and more. Don’t run to the store to get an alternative to teriyaki sauce; you may have what you need at home!
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➕ What is teriyaki sauce?
Teriyaki sauce is a popular ingredient in American Japanese cuisine, known for its unique combination of sweet and savory flavors. It's a versatile sauce that can be used in various recipes, from marinating meats and vegetables to simply drizzling over rice.
The main components of teriyaki sauce include soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and often sake or mirin. Each ingredient contributes to its signature taste: soy sauce provides a savory, umami base, while mirin adds sweetness and a distinct aroma. Sugar further enhances the sweetness, and rice vinegar lends a slight tanginess to balance the flavors.
⭐ Teriyaki Sauce Substitute
What can I use if I don’t have teriyaki sauce? If you don't have teriyaki sauce on hand, there are several substitutes you can use instead. Here are some of the best teriyaki sauce substitutes to help you create an easy and delicious meal:
- Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
- Soy Sauce
- Hoisin Sauce
- Oyster Sauce
- Korean BBQ Sauce
- Ponzu
- Tamari
- Mirin
- Coconut Aminos
- Bulgogi Sauce
- Worcestershire Sauce
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
You can easily make your own DIY teriyaki sauce by combining soy sauce, sugar, honey, ginger, and garlic. To thicken the sauce, you can add a cornstarch slurry (a mixture of cornstarch and water). Optional additions include mirin for a touch of sweetness and a more authentic flavor.
Here are the ingredients for my homemade teriyaki sauce recipe:
- 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar (packed)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch whisked with 2 tablespoons cold water (cornstarch slurry)
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Here are the step-by-step instructions to make this easy teriyaki sauce alternative:
- Whisk together all of the ingredients except the corn starch slurry in a saucepan over medium heat.
- When the sauce starts to simmer, whisk in the slurry and continue heating and whisking until thickened. (It won’t take long!) It’s ok to add a little more water if it gets too thick. Enjoy!
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce can serve as a base for a simple teriyaki sauce substitute. You can mix it with a sweetener, such as sugar or honey, and add ginger or garlic for extra depth of flavor. Adding cornstarch will also provide thickness to the sauce.
Another option is kecap manis, a type of soy sauce that already has sweetener added.
Hoisin Sauce
Hoisin sauce is a thick, fragrant Chinese sauce that shares similarities with teriyaki sauce. It contains soy sauce, sugar, and spices, offering a comparable flavor profile. You can use hoisin sauce as a direct substitute for teriyaki sauce or mix it with soy sauce to achieve a closer taste.
Oyster Sauce
Oyster sauce is a thick, rich sauce made from oyster extracts and soy sauce. It has a sweet and savory flavor, making it a suitable teriyaki sauce substitute. Using oyster sauce as a base, you can add sugar or honey to adjust the sweetness.
Korean BBQ Sauce
Korean barbecue sauce is similar to teriyaki sauce with its sweet and savory profile but has a distinct taste due to the addition of gochujang (Korean chili paste). You can use it as a substitute for teriyaki sauce in dishes where the unique flavor will complement the other ingredients.
Ponzu
Ponzu is a citrus-based sauce often used in Japanese cuisine. Combining it with soy sauce and a sweetener like sugar or honey creates a teriyaki sauce substitute with a refreshing twist.
Tamari
Tamari is a gluten-free soy sauce option, making it a suitable alternative for those with gluten sensitivities. Mix it with a sweetener like sugar or honey to create a teriyaki sauce substitute.
Mirin
Mirin is a sweet Japanese rice wine often used in teriyaki sauce recipes. You can combine it with soy sauce, ginger, and garlic to create a teriyaki sauce substitute that will be slightly sweeter than the original.
Coconut Aminos
Coconut aminos is a gluten-free and soy-free alternative to soy sauce, made from the sap of coconut trees. It has a sweet and salty flavor profile, allowing it to work well as a teriyaki sauce substitute, especially for those with dietary restrictions.
Bulgogi Sauce
Bulgogi sauce and Kalbi sauce are Korean marinades made from soy sauce, sugar, garlic, and sesame oil. While they have a slightly different flavor profile than teriyaki sauce, they can still be used as a substitute in many recipes.
Worcestershire Sauce
Worcestershire sauce is a flavorful, tangy sauce that can be used as a teriyaki substitute in a pinch. Mixing it with soy sauce, sugar, or honey and adding garlic and ginger can help it closely resemble teriyaki sauce.
By exploring these various teriyaki sauce substitutes, you can still create delicious dishes without compromising on flavor, even when teriyaki sauce isn't available.
FAQs
Teriyaki sauce is used in traditional dishes like grilled chicken skewers, fish, and seafood. It's even made its way to non-Japanese dishes such as burgers and stir-fries. Simply add the sauce to your dish while cooking or use it as a dipping sauce. (Try: Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon) 
What flavors are like teriyaki? A similar-tasting sauce to teriyaki would be my homemade teriyaki replacement made from a combination of soy sauce, sweetener, and an acid (vinegar). Other alternatives include kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), Korean BBQ sauce, hoisin sauce, and oyster sauce.
While teriyaki sauce and soy sauce share a common ingredient - soy sauce - their flavor profiles are different. Teriyaki sauce is sweeter and thicker due to the addition of sugar and mirin.
Yes, though it's not a direct substitute. You can use teriyaki in place of soy sauce if you adjust the dish's sweetness and thickness accordingly.
To make a simple 3 ingredient teriyaki sauce, combine equal parts of soy sauce, sugar, and mirin (or a suitable substitute like white cooking wine or Shaoxing rice wine). Mix the ingredients together and heat them in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Adjust the ratio of ingredients based on your taste preferences.
If you want to make teriyaki sauce without cornstarch, use a natural thickener like arrowroot powder or a small amount of xanthan gum. Mix the arrowroot with a little water before adding it to the sauce to avoid clumping. Add the thickener slowly while heating the sauce, adjusting the thickness as needed.
What is the best teriyaki sauce for stir fry?
The best teriyaki sauce for stir fry is one with a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors without being too thick or too thin. Opt for a high-quality store-bought sauce (I like Kikkoman Teriyaki Glaze) or make your own at home. To enhance the flavor of your stir fry, feel free to experiment with ingredients like ginger, garlic, pineapple juice, or chili flakes.
👩🏻🍳 More Recipe Substitutes
Here are some other ingredient substitutes to check out:
- Applesauce Substitute
- Popcorn Alternatives
- Garlic Salt Substitute
- Vegan Substitute for Mascarpone
- Corn Flour Substitute
- Coconut Sugar Substitute
- Best Salsa Substitutes
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📖 Recipe
Teriyaki Sauce Substitute (Best Substitute for Teriyaki Sauce)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar (packed)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ginger powder
- cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch whisked with 2 tablespoons cold water)
Instructions
- Whisk together all of the ingredients except the corn starch slurry in a saucepan over medium heat.
- When the sauce starts to simmer, whisk in the slurry and continue heating and whisking until thickened. (It won’t take long!) It’s ok to add a little more water if it gets too thick. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Is teriyaki sauce healthy? Teriyaki sauce, as well as most teriyaki alternatives, tend to be high in sodium and added sugar. In short, they’re not the most nutritious condiment options.To make a healthy substitute for teriyaki sauce, try my sugar free teriyaki sauce recipe. It’s also vegan, low carb, and keto (if you need one of those options). To make a healthier teriyaki sauce, I replaced the sugar with a sugar free sweetener (Swerve). To cut back on the salt, I used reduced sodium soy sauce. You can also make those swaps in the recipe above if you’d prefer.
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