Go Back
+ servings
dipping a spoon into a jar of gluten-free teriyaki sauce

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce (Gluten-Free or Paleo!)

5 from 12 votes
Emily Dixon, One Lovely Life
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce - This gluten-free teriyaki sauce comes together in a snap and tastes great on stir-fry, salmon, chicken, noodle bowls & more. (Gluten-Free, Paleo-friendly! 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 13 minutes
Print Pin
Servings: 10 Servings (About 1 1/4 cups sauce)
Calories: 31kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup low-sodium gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos (or soy sauce if not GF)
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 3 Tablespoons maple syrup (can substitute brown sugar)
  • 1 Tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons cornstarch (or arrowroot, for paleo)
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons water
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

To Make Teriyaki Sauce:

  • Combine. In a small saucepan, combine tamari, water, syrup, vinegar, ginger, garlic, 1/4 tsp. pepper and sesame oil. Whisk to combine.
  • Make Slurry. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 1 1/2 Tbsp. water. Pour this slurry into the pan with the teriyaki sauce ingredients.
  • Simmer To Thicken. Stir, cooking over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Stir 1-2 minutes, or until stir-fry sauce has thickened. Stir in sesame seeds, if using.
  • Serve & Store! Remove sauce from heat and enjoy! Pour over stir-fried veggies, brush onto chicken or salmon, or stir into rice. Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 1 week. Note that the sauce will thicken significantly in the refrigerator, so you'll want to reheat it on the stove or in the microwave to loosen it up before using any leftovers. 

If you're going to use this sauce in a stir-fry: 

  • Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl (including cornstarch/water slurry).
  • Stir-fry your meat/veggies as you usually would. During the last 2-3 minutes of cooking, pour teriyaki sauce over stir-fried veggies/meat and cook over medium-high heat 2-3 minutes or until the stir fry sauce has slightly thickened.

Or, try it as a teriyaki marinade:

  • Pour teriyaki sauce into a bag or airtight container with chicken, beef, or tofu. Chill in the refrigerator and marinate 2-3 hours at least to infuse with teriyaki flavor. Drain & discard excess marinade and cook as desired! 

Notes

  • LOW Sodium! Whenever possible, we highly recommend using low-sodium gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos for teriyaki sauce. It'll keep the sodium down and have a better balance of flavors. If you're not gluten-free, you can also make this sauce with low sodium soy sauce. 

Video

Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: gluten-free teriyaki sauce, healthy teriyaki sauce, Homemade teriyaki sauce, paleo teriyaki sauce, Teriyaki Sauce

Nutrition

Serving: 2Tablespoons | Calories: 31kcal | Carbohydrates: 5.9g | Protein: 1.1g | Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 380.4mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 3.6g

Nutrition facts are an estimate only and will vary based on brands and amounts used.