Sticky, umami, and jam-packed with flavors, this vegan teriyaki sauce goes well with almost anything! All you need are 10 minutes and 4 ingredients to make this recipe.
This highly versatile sauce is a staple condiment in our kitchen. Besides using it in stir-fries, we also love using it to dip our vegan rice paper rolls or tofu dumplings, dressing for rice bowls, or to glaze baked tofu or seitan chicken breast.

We love making sauces and condiments at home, such as vegan spaghetti sauce, vegan stir-fry sauce, Thai basil pesto, and this homemade teriyaki sauce. They are not only more budget-friendly, but you get to customize them to suit your taste preferences!
💚Why you will love vegan teriyaki sauce
- A quick 10-minute recipe that calls for four simple ingredients
- Packed with umami flavors and will enhance the flavor of any dish
- Great for meal prep - store well and is freezer-friendly!
🧂What you will need
- Soy sauce – Can be substituted with tamari or shoyu. To reduce the salt content of this recipe, opt for a low-sodium soy sauce.
- Mirin – A Japanese cooking wine that is subtly sweet. It can be substituted with sake, but you will need to increase the amount of sweetener used to compensate for the sake’s sweetness.
- Maple syrup – My choice of sweetener. You can also go with regular table sugar.
- Garlic powder (optional) – Boost the savoriness of this recipe. You can also go with 2 garlic cloves, minced.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
✨Substitutions and variations
- Gluten-free version - Opt for a gluten-free soy sauce. You could also use coconut aminos instead for a sweeter sauce.
- Make it thinner - for a more authentic version with a thinner consistency, skip the garlic powder and cornstarch. This runnier version is perfect as a marinade for protein like tofu or seitan.
- Customize this recipe – Aromatics such as minced ginger are a great addition. You can also add sesame oil for a nutty flavor, and substitute water with pineapple juice for a burst of brightness and sweetness.
- Make it spicy – Add a heaping teaspoon of red chili flakes or sriracha. You can also check out my spicy teriyaki sauce instead.
🔪How to make vegan teriyaki sauce
Step 1: Prepare the cornstarch slurry by combining 2 tablespoons of water with cornstarch.
Step 2: Add all ingredients (except slurry) into a pan and bring the mixture to a low boil.
Step 3: Pour in the cornstarch slurry and simmer for 1 minute, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has thickened.
Step 4: Remove from the heat and adjust the taste as needed. Use immediately or store for later use.
✔Helpful tips
Teriyaki sauce will be slightly runny at first, but it will thicken as it sits.
If it does not thicken up to the desired consistency after 5-10 minutes, make another portion of cornstarch slurry (½ tablespoon cornstarch + ½ tablespoon water). Heat the sauce, then add the slurry and simmer until thickened.
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🥢How to use
As a marinade – This condiment works great as a marinade for plant protein like tofu, tempeh, or homemade instant pot seitan.
Make stir-fries – You can use it to make stir-fry noodles, like my teriyaki soba noodles, or a simple teriyaki tofu stir-fry. It is also great added to any stir-fry vegetable recipe.
To glaze proteins – I especially love using it to make my baked teriyaki tofu or seitan teriyaki chicken.
As a sauce – Drizzle it over your salad bowls or sushi bowls!
Use it for dipping – You can use it as a dip for sushi, such as my avocado maki or cucumber maki, vegan kimbap, or homemade vegan onigiri.
❄Storing suggestions
Fridge - Vegan teriyaki sauce can be refrigerated in a sealed glass jar for up to a week. If the sauce thickens too much, remove the desired portion and add a splash of water to thin it out.
Freezer - Sauce can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can either use ice cube trays or small souper cubes.
Reheating - Allow frozen teriyaki sauce to thaw overnight in the fridge. You can then use it in cooking or gently reheat it on the stove over low heat before serving.
❔Commonly asked questions
Most store-bought teriyaki sauce is naturally vegan. However, some brands of teriyaki sauce might contain honey. Therefore, it is essential to read the ingredient list before purchasing.
If your teriyaki sauce is too thin, you can easily thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. Just mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water until smooth.
Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then stir in half the slurry. Let it cook for a few seconds to thicken. If it’s still too runny, add the rest and simmer again until it reaches your desired consistency.
Before you get started, it is highly recommended to use low-sodium soy sauce if you prefer a milder teriyaki sauce.
However, if you have accidentally made your teriyaki sauce too salty, add more sweetener, like maple syrup or sugar, to counteract the saltiness. Adding a splash of rice vinegar can also distract your taste buds, reducing the perception of saltiness.
📖 Recipe
Vegan Teriyaki Sauce
Ingredients
Instructions
- Start by preparing cornstarch slurry by combining cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water. Set aside.
- In a non-stick pan, place in water, soy sauce, mirin, maple syrup and garlic powder. Bring mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Keep a close eye to prevent it from overflowing.
- Once the mixture starts to simmer, pour in slurry and mix well. Cook until sauce has thicken, for 30 seconds to a minute.
- Turn off heat and give it a taste, adding more maple syrup if needed. It is ready to be used !
Video
Notes
- Make it thinner - for a more authentic version with a thinner consistency, skip the garlic powder and cornstarch. This runnier version is perfect as a marinade for protein like tofu or seitan.
- Customize this recipe – Aromatics such as minced ginger are a great addition. You can also add sesame oil for a nutty flavor, and substitute water with pineapple juice for a burst of brightness and sweetness.
- Texture of teriyaki sauce - Teriyaki sauce will be slightly runny at first, but it will thicken as it sits.
Save this recipe!
Also get a FREE high-protein vegan recipe eBook + weekly new recipes! Unsubscribe anytime.
Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
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