Pepper Bowl

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe
×
Home / Recipes / Sauces & Dressings Recipes

Spicy Teriyaki Sauce(Homemade)

Published: Feb 15, 2018 · Modified: Jun 5, 2025 by Sujatha Muralidhar · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
SPICY TERIYAKI SAUCE

Simply put, this homemade Spicy Teriyaki Sauce is bold, flavorful, and easy to make! It’s perfect for stir-frying, marinating, or drizzling over your favorite dishes. Made in just 10 minutes, it is the best sauce you will ever make—better than takeout!

I make this teriyaki sauce almost every other week. The simple reason is that my family loves it(also this spicy garlic edamame).

This delicious sauce is made with soy sauce, fresh ginger, garlic, and crushed red pepper. It's a fabulous sauce with fresh flavors that will keep you returning for more.

Just stir, simmer, and serve—follow these simple steps for a delicious homemade spicy teriyaki sauce in no time!

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • How To Make Spicy Teriyaki Sauce
  • ♨️How To Adjust The Heat Level
  • How To Use
  • The Leftovers
  • FAQ
  • More Asian Style Recipes To Try
  • 📖 Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

⭐️Ready in less than 10 minutes.

⭐️Budget-friendly and a customizable recipe!

⭐️Better than the takeout and store-bought sauce!

Ingredients

  • Soy sauce: For this recipe, choose low-sodium or light soy sauce. If using dark soy sauce, reduce the quantity and adjust to taste, as it is more concentrated and saltier.
  • Corn starch thickens the sauce. You can substitute it with arrowroot starch or tapioca starch.
  • Brown sugar: I prefer using brown sugar because of its mild flavor and color. However, you can substitute with brown sugar or honey.
  • Rice vinegar: Adds mild tanginess and authentic Asian flavor. However, if it's not available, you can skip using it.
  • Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is an essential ingredient for the rich flavors.
  • Ginger: Minced ginger gives a rich, earthy flavor, but it's optional in this recipe.
  • Crushed red pepper: Adjust the quantity according to your heat tolerance.

How To Make Spicy Teriyaki Sauce

  1. Combine soy sauce, water, rice vinegar, light brown sugar, minced garlic, ginger, crushed red pepper, and cornstarch in a mixing bowl.
  1. Stir well until the cornstarch dissolves completely.
  1. Place a pan over low heat and pour in the prepared mixture. Keep the heat on a low-medium to avoid burning the sugar.
  1. Stir continuously as the sauce begins to thicken. Cook for about 2-3 minutes or until it reaches a smooth, glossy consistency that coats the back of a spoon, and start using.

♨️How To Adjust The Heat Level

This spicy teriyaki sauce has a noticeable heat, mainly from crushed red pepper, while garlic and ginger add warmth and depth.

If you prefer a milder sauce with low or no heat, you can reduce or skip the crushed red pepper based on your spice tolerance.

For extra heat, you can add Sriracha sauce, Thai chili paste, or even use some Asian-style Sichuan chili flakes for an extra kick.

How To Use

This spicy teriyaki sauce is incredibly versatile! Here are some delicious ways to use it:

  • Marinade: Perfect for chicken, vegetables, or like this Tofu steak.
  • Stir-fry sauce: Great for cooking vegetables or proteins like chicken or shrimp.
  • Dipping sauce: Ideal for appetizers like dumplings and spring rolls.
  • Noodle sauce: Toss it with noodles for a flavorful dish.

The Leftovers

  • Store the sauce in the refrigerator for about a week or freeze it for up to three months.
  • To thaw frozen sauce, place it in the refrigerator overnight or for at least eight hours. You can also defrost it gently in the microwave.
  • When reheating, warm it over the stovetop or in the microwave. If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of water to loosen up the texture and stir well while reheating to prevent hot spots.

FAQ

How do you know when the sauce is perfectly cooked?

The sauce is ready when it evenly coats the back of a spoon and has a glossy, slightly thickened texture. It should become smooth and slightly transparent. This happens quickly, so always cook on low heat and keep an eye on it to avoid over-thickening.

Can you use this as a marinade?

Yes, you can use this same hot teriyaki sauce as a marinade for the meat and veggies. Allow chicken to marinate for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. For seafood, at least 15 minutes will work better.

Can you make the sauce ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare this sauce and store it in the refrigerator for about a week. When ready to use, add a little water and reheat it quickly.


What variations can I try to make it more special?

You can add sesame seeds, chopped pineapple for a hint of sweetness, or sliced jalapeños for a fusion of flavors and extra heat.

More Asian Style Recipes To Try

  • creamy, spicy chili peanut noodles served in a pan garnished with green onion and cilantro.
    Chili Peanut Noodles
  • pf chang inspired cirpsy shrimp coated with Asian sauce, the dynamite shrimp served in a plate
    Dynamite Shrimp
  • Crispy air-fried Soy Garlic Chicken Wings coated in a tangy, garlicky sauce.
    Soy Garlic Chicken Wings
  • Creamy Spicy Cashew Dressing in a bowl, garnished with fresh cashew nuts.
    Spicy Cashew Dressing

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know your thoughts in the 📝 comments section below the recipe.

📖 Recipe

spicy teriyaki sauce in a bottle

Spicy Teriyaki Sauce(Homemade)

This spicy Teriyaki Sauce is bold, flavorful, and ready in 10 minutes! Perfect for stir-frying, marinating, or dipping—better than takeout!
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 1 cup soy sauce
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger minced
  • ½ tablespoon crushed red pepper
  • 2 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, water, rice vinegar, light brown sugar, minced garlic, minced ginger, crushed red pepper, and cornstarch.
  2. Stir well until cornstarch dilutes.
  3. In low to medium heat, add this mixture to a pan.
  4. Stir continuously, and cook it until the sauce thickens to the desired consistency.

Notes

  • Adjust the heat level by reducing or skipping crushed red pepper for a milder version, or add Sriracha, Thai chili paste, or Sichuan chili flakes for extra spice.
  • Use it as a marinade for chicken, seafood, or tofu, as a stir-fry sauce for vegetables and proteins, or as a dipping sauce for dumplings and spring rolls.
  • Store in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze for three months. Reheat on the stovetop or microwave, adding a splash of water if it thickens too much.

Nutrition

Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 3272mg | Potassium: 213mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 297IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 2mg

Additional Info

Course Side Dish
Cuisine Chinese, Indian
Author Sujatha Muralidhar
Subscribe to Pepper BowlSign Up Today! Join By Clicking Here!

More Sauces & Dressings Recipes

  • creamy, flavorful chipotle lime sauce in a spoon
    Chipotle Lime Sauce
  • Spicy and sweet: Jalapeño Cranberry Sauce is a delicious, quick, for Thanksgiving!
    Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce
  • Roasted veggie sauce with tomato and garlic in a white bowl with a spoon.
    Roasted Veggie Sauce
  • red, spicy marinara sauce in the glass bottle with basil leaves.
    Spicy Marinara Sauce
  • Facebook

Comments

    5 from 6 votes (5 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Ruxana says

    February 22, 2018 at 10:22 am

    The sauce looks so easy to make and perfect.

    Reply
  2. robert harvison says

    October 18, 2019 at 4:59 am

    very easy to follow
    thank you very much

    Reply
    • Sujatha Muralidhar says

      October 18, 2019 at 7:30 am

      Thanks and glad it is helped you!

      Reply
  3. Ken W. says

    June 17, 2024 at 11:03 am

    This is excellent sauce! I even use it to make beef jerky!

    Reply
    • Sujatha Muralidhar says

      June 20, 2024 at 3:53 pm

      Thank You Ken, And I love the combo too!

      Reply
The author image of the food blog pepperbowl.com

Hi, I'm Suja! I'm the person behind PEPPER BOWL, based in Pennsylvania. I focus on easy, simple-to-make recipes inspired by rich flavors with a hint of heat. I enjoy simplifying recipes with minimal ingredients to suit today's busy lifestyle.

More about me →

Recent Recipes

  • Baked BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs are garnished and served in a plate.
    BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs
  • Delicious chimichurri rice served in a bowl with spoon, garnished with lemon slices and cucumber.
    Chimichurri Rice
  • 11 best delicious aioli recipes to spice up the dishes
    Spicy Aioli Recipes
  • spicy saltine crackers served with spicy dipping sauce for the party
    Spicy Saltine Crackers

Trending Recipes

  • jalapeno mustard in a dipping bowl.
    Jalapeno Mustard Recipe
  • This sauteed jalapeno is excellent as a side dish, in the salad, pizza, or the sandwich. Every bite is packed with flavors. with a mild heat.
    Sauteed Jalapeno
  • This delicious black pepper sauce is a Asian style sauce perfect to pair up with barbequed/grilled meat like steak or chicken or shrimp.
    Black Pepper Sauce
  • This stuffed cherry pepper, perfect to serve as an appetizer in the party or to serve the family. This cherry stuffed recipe is simple and ready in less than 30 minutes.
    Stuffed Cherry Peppers

Footer

About

  • Privacy policy and disclaimer
  • Work with Us
  • Contact Us
  • About Us

Fabulous spicy

  • Meat & Seafood Recipes
  • Meatless Main Dishes
  • Salad Recipes
  • Soup Recipes

Make it hot

  • Dips & Spreads Recipes
  • Sauces & Dressings
  • Appetizer Recipes
  • Side Dish Recipes
  • Curry Recipes

Copyright © 2025 - KODI Innovations LLC - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.