Teriyaki sauce is a popular Japanese condiment that has a savory and sweet flavor. It’s commonly used as a marinade, glaze, or stir-fry sauce, adding depth and sweetness to a variety of dishes. If you’re out of teriyaki sauce, these substitutes can closely replicate its flavor and texture while keeping your recipes delicious.
What Is Teriyaki Sauce?
Teriyaki sauce combines soy sauce, sugar, and mirin or sake to create a sweet and savory glaze with a glossy finish. Its flavor pairs well with meats, vegetables, and noodles, and its slightly sticky consistency makes it a popular choice for grilling and stir-frying.
4 Substitutes for Teriyaki Sauce
1. Soy Sauce, Sake, and Sugar (3-Ingredient Teriyaki Sauce)
You can very easily make a simple teriyaki sauce by reducing equal parts soy sauce, sake, and sugar in a pan. Heat the mixture until it thickens into a glossy, flavorful glaze. To create a naturally sweetened version, replace the sugar with honey for a healthier version. This blend perfectly replicates the sweet and savory notes of traditional teriyaki sauce.
Recipes: Ideal for marinades, glazes, and stir-fries. Use it to coat chicken, salmon, or vegetables before grilling or baking.
2. Hoisin Sauce
Hoisin sauce is a thick, umami-packed Chinese condiment with sweet and savory notes and a thick texture, which makes it a good substitute for teriyaki sauce. However, it does have a slightly more complex flavor profile as it contains fermented soybeans, garlic, and subtle spices.
Recipes: Perfect for glazing meats, dipping sauces, and stir-fries. Works especially well with beef, duck, and pork.
3. Soy Sauce and Honey
Mixing soy sauce and honey provides a simple and quick alternative to teriyaki sauce. The saltiness of soy sauce complements the natural sweetness of honey, creating a balanced flavor profile that works well in marinades, stir-fries, or dipping sauces. Adjust the ratio based on your taste, starting with 2 parts soy sauce to 1 part honey.
Recipes: Great for coating chicken, glazing salmon, or tossing with noodles.
4. Korean BBQ Sauce
Korean BBQ sauce is a good replacement for teriyaki sauce as it shares a similar sweet and savory flavor profile. It often includes garlic, sesame, and subtle spice, giving it a more robust flavor. It is also thick, which makes it ideal for grilling and glazing meats like chicken, pork, or beef.
Recipes: Best for grilled meats, stir-fries, and noodle dishes.
Tips for Using Substitutes
- Closest Match: Soy sauce, sake, and sugar create a substitute almost identical to traditional teriyaki sauce, making it the best choice when you want an authentic flavor.
- Quick Fixes: Soy sauce and honey offer an easy and effective substitute when you’re short on time or ingredients.
- Flavor Boosts: Hoisin and Korean BBQ sauces bring extra complexity and depth, ideal for bold-flavored dishes.
- Healthier Options: For a lower-sugar alternative, use honey or maple syrup in place of sugar in homemade substitutes.