Teppanyaki sauce, also known as Yakiniku sauce, is a sweet and savory Japanese barbecue sauce used to grill beef, pork, chicken, and seafood. It's also used for dipping grilled meats, vegetables, and noodles.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
This sweet and savory yakiniku sauce recipe is also used as a Japanese marinade, Teppanyaki grilling sauce, and used as a dipping sauce at the serving table. It's flexible, variable, and as universally useful as plain soy sauce.
- Noodles and Rice. You can prepare this yakiniku sauce recipe for dressing cooked udon noodles, steamed white rice, or hot sauteed vegetables.
- Japanese marinade. Marinating the meats in this sauce helps to tenderize the meat and infuse it with flavor. Marinate chicken, beef, pork, and seafood in this Japanese marinade before air frying, roasting, or grilling.
- Grilling and BBQ. Baste meats during grilling as a barbecue sauce for amazing flavor!
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Teppanyaki Sauce Recipe Ingredients
- How to Make Teppanyaki Sauce
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes
- Substitutions and Variations
- Equipment
- Storage and Reheating
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Food Safety
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- Connect with Smells Like Delish!
- 📖 Recipe
Teppanyaki Sauce Recipe Ingredients
This Teppanyaki recipe is easily made with easily available ingredients, including soy, Mirin (you can use Sake` as a substitute), sugar, ginger, garlic, and sesame seeds.
Adding a pinch of red pepper flakes is popular for a spicier teppanyaki sauce (yakiniku sauce).
- Soy sauce
- Water
- Light brown sugar
- Rice Wine (or Sake`)
- Honey
- Cornstarch
- Ginger - Fresh, grated.
- Sesame oil
- Garlic - Fresh, grated.
- Red Pepper Flakes - Optional, used for a spicier sauce.
- Sesame Seeds - Optional, used for flavor and texture.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Teppanyaki Sauce
This Japanese grilling sauce is a delicious and easy way to add flavor to grilled or barbecued meats. It is a popular sauce in Japanese cuisine, and it is also becoming increasingly popular in other parts of the world.
Mix Ingredients Together
- Combine the soy sauce to a microwave safe bowl with the brown sugar, grated garlic, and grated ginger.
- Stir in the honey and sesame oil and whisk.
- Pour the Mirin into the mixture and whisk to blend.
Add The Cornstarch Slurry
- Dissolve the cornstarch into the water to make a slurry. Whisk into the bowl of sauce.
Cook Teppanyaki Sauce (Yakiniku Sauce)
- Microwave for 3 minutes, stirring with the whisk halfway through.
PRO TIP: You can also prepare this sauce on the stove top. Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat the sauce over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved.
Refrigerate Until Ready To Use
- Use sauce right away in a Mason or Ball canning jar, and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Serving Suggestions
Teppanyaki sauce (Yakiniku sauce) is typically served in a small bowl beside each serving plate, where diners can dip their grilled meats and vegetables into it before eating. The sweet, savory, and slightly spicy flavors of this teppanyaki sauce (yakiniku sauce) complement the grilled meats perfectly.
Here are a few serving options:
- Marinate thinly sliced beef, chicken, or pork in the sauce for 30 minutes to 1 hour before grilling.
- Toss grilled vegetables, such as broccoli, zucchini, or onions, in the sauce.
- Serve the sauce as a dipping sauce for roasted vegetables, noodle or rice bowls, and steamed or fried dumplings.
Some additional recipes perfect to serve with or use with this sweet-savory sauce are:
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon - Use Teppanyaki sauce instead!
- Asian Edamame Salad
- Steamed Mantou Buns
- Kimbab - Korean "Sushi" rolls
- Air Fryer Chicken Katsu
- Air Fryer Frozen Potstickers
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Related Recipes
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few substitutions and variations using this Japanese marinade, grilling and dipping sauce:
- Mirin is a Japanese rice wine that gives the sauce a unique flavor. If you can't find Mirin, you can substitute Sake1, Sherry, or dry white wine.
- If you don't have sesame oil, you can substitute any vegetable oil.
- You can adjust the amount of sugar to taste. If you like a sweeter sauce, add more sugar. If you prefer a more savory sauce, add less sugar.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making this Japanese marinade and dipping sauce.
- Whisk
- Glass Measuring and Mixing Bowl Set (with pouring spouts and covers)
Storage and Reheating
- Teppanyaki sauce (Yakiniku sauce) can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- It can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Leave 1" headspace for liquid expansion in the freezer.
- To reheat the sauce, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and then warm it in a saucepan over low heat.
Tips for Success
- Freeze your fresh ginger, as it is much easier to grate the woody rhizome after it's frozen than when it's fresh. It glides like butter over a grater when frozen for a finely grated fresh ginger that quickly defrosts!
- For a richer flavor, use dark soy sauce instead of light soy sauce.
- For a more intense flavor, roast the sesame seeds before adding them to the sauce. Toss them for a minute in a hot dry skillet for a toasted flavor.
- Make a spicier version by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- For a more complex flavor, add a tablespoon of grated ginger or a teaspoon of sesame seeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yakiniku sauce and Teppanyaki sauce are essentially the same thing. The terms are often used interchangeably.
At least 30 minutes, but you can marinate in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours.
Yes, you can make this sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
When grilling meat with Teppanyaki/Yakiniku sauce, it is important to cook the meat over medium heat. This will help to prevent the sauce from burning. You should also brush the meat with the sauce frequently while it is grilling. This will help to keep the meat moist and flavorful.
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
Connect with Smells Like Delish!
📖 Recipe
Teppanyaki Sauce (Yakiniku Sauce)
Equipment
- Microwave Safe Measure and Mix Bowl Set w Pouring Spouts and Covers
Ingredients
- ½ cup soy sauce or tamari
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon ginger fresh, grated fine
- 1 teaspoon garlic fresh, grated fine
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoon sesame oil toasted
- 3 tablespoon rice wine mirin or sake
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ cup water
- red pepper flakes to taste
- 2 teaspoon sesame seeds toasted
Instructions
- Combine the soy sauce to a microwave safe bowl with the brown sugar, grated garlic, and grated ginger.½ cup soy sauce, 2 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon garlic, 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- Stir in the honey and sesame oil and whisk.1 tablespoon honey, 2 teaspoon sesame oil
- Pour the Mirin into the mixture and whisk to blend. Add the red pepper flakes or toasted sesame seeds if you are using them.3 tablespoon rice wine, red pepper flakes, 2 teaspoon sesame seeds
- Dissolve the cornstarch into the water to make a slurry. Whisk into the bowl of sauce.1 tablespoon cornstarch, ¼ cup water
- Microwave for 3 minutes, stirring with the whisk halfway through. PRO TIP: You can also prepare this Yakiniku sauce on the stove top. Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat the sauce over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved.
- Use this teppanyaki sauce right away as grilling sauce, marinade, or dipping sauce, or store in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Freeze your fresh ginger, as it is much easier to grate the woody rhizome after it's frozen than when it's fresh. It glides like butter over a grater when frozen for a finely grated fresh ginger that quickly defrosts!
- For a richer flavor, use dark soy sauce instead of light soy sauce.
- For a more intense flavor, roast the sesame seeds before adding them to the sauce. Toss them for a minute in a hot dry skillet for a toasted flavor.
- Make a spicier version by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- For a more complex flavor, add a tablespoon of grated ginger or a teaspoon of sesame seeds.
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