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Home » Recipes » Dressing, Sauces, and Seasonings

Sugar Free Teriyaki Sauce Recipe

Modified: Dec 22, 2021 by Kori Butler · Published: Dec 1, 2021

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This sugar free teriyaki sauce is healthy, simple, and inexpensive to make! Less than 10 minutes and a few simple ingredients - you'll have this healthy dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, keto teriyaki sauce ready for serving. Use as a marinade or condiment with chicken, pork, seafood, beef, vegetables, and more.

Sugar free teriyaki sauce in a clear glass bowl with a spoon.

Why You'll Love It

Simple

Making teriyaki sauce sugar free is easy - only a few ingredients, a couple of steps, and less than 10 minutes! Basically, you just add the ingredients to a saucepan and bring it to a simmer and let it thicken slightly, then let it cool.

Inexpensive

I have tried several store-bought teriyaki sauces and not only were they expensive, but they didn't taste all that great. Enter this recipe! 🙂 I got frustrated one day and made my own. Anyone following a sugar-free, gluten free and keto diet will probably have most of the ingredients.

Healthy

This is a healthy homemade gluten free, low carb, and keto teriyaki sauce recipe that's so much healthier than the store-bought versions. You can feel good about serving your family.

  • This sauce is also vegan, vegetarian, and dairy free.
  • Control the sodium by using a lower sodium coconut aminos or tamari sauce.
  • The recipe uses xanthan gum as the thickening agent in the sauce.
  • Use coconut aminos in place of soy sauce or gluten free tamari if you are looking for a wheat free gluten free alternative.

Ingredients

Ingredients needed to make teriyaki sauce laid out on a tray

Here are the ingredients you will need to make this recipe:

See the recipe card for exact quantities.

  • Coconut Aminos or Reduced Sodium Tamari Sauce - Both coconut aminos and tamari sauce are gluten free substitutes for regular soy sauce. You can use either one. Coconut aminos is made from fermeneted coconut palm sap and is a popular soy sauce substitute. It is sweeter that soy sauce or tamari sauce so if you use it you may need to reduce your brown sugar substitute slightly until you get the desired sweetness.
  • Rice Vinegar - you can also use apple cider vinegar
  • Water
  • Ginger Paste - I use ginger paste for the convenience, but you could certainly use fresh ginger peeled and finely minced or grated.
  • Garlic - use minced garlic, garlic paste, or fresh finely minced garlic clove.
  • Brown Sugar Substitute - I used a brown monk fruit sweetener (you can also use Lakanto Golden or Swerve Brown) in place of regular brown sugar. If you're not following a sugar free diet you can use regular brown sugar
  • Xanthan Gum - a little goes a long way! The recipe calls for 1/4 teaspoon which will make a slightly thicken sauce. If you like it thicker add up to 1/2 teaspoon if desired. Dissolve the xanthan gum in the sesame oil before adding to the sauce to keep it from clumping.
  • Sesame Oil - not all recipes call for sesame oil and you don't have to use it if you don't like it. I think it elevates the sauce and gives it amazing flavor.
  • Sesame Seeds

Substitutions and Variations

  • Don't want sugar free? You can certainly use regular brown sugar if you don't want to make this sugar free teriyaki sauce.
  • If you don't like sesame flavor - eliminate the sesame oil and sesame seeds.
  • Saute finely diced scallions in a little olive oil before adding the rest of the ingredients if desired.
  • Make it spicy by adding red pepper flakes or a few drops of siriacha sauce.
  • Feel free to toast the sesame seeds if desired.

How To Make Sugar Free Teriyaki Sauce

For complete instructions, please see the printable recipe card below.

Add Ingredients to Saucepan

Add sesame oil and xanthan gum in a small bowl, stir until dissolved, then add to a medium-sized saucepan. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.

Adding all the sauce ingredients to the saucepan

Simmer

Bring sauce to a boil, then immediately reduce heat to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes or just until the sauce begins to thicken.

Cool

Remove from heat and add sesame seeds.

Adding sesame seeds to the cooled teriyaki sauce

Serve or Store

Let cool, then transfer to an air-tight container and refrigerate.

Serving sugar free teriyaki sauce over salmon, rice, and edamame

How To Serve It

This sugar free keto teriyaki sauce recipe can be used in so many ways! Here are a few ideas:

  • Makes a great marinade for chicken, fish, beef, and pork
  • Use it as a condiment on rice.
  • Use it as a salad dresssing
  • Serve it over your favorite Asian dishes. Try our Salmon Teriyaki Bowl - it's delish. 🙂
  • Drizzle it over steamed or roasted, or japanese style hibachi vegetables

Kori's Tips

  • Reduce heat to a simmer as soon as the sauce starts to boil.
  • Start with ¼ teaspoon of xanthan gum to thicken, then increase to ½ teaspoon if you like it slightly thicker. A little goes a long way. Do not use more than ½ teaspoon, or you will quite literally end up with a very gummy sauce.
  • Dissolve the xanthan gum in the sesame oil to keep it from clumping.

FAQs

Is teriyaki sauce keto?

This sugar-free teriyaki sauce recipe is keto, but not all are. To be keto-friendly, it would need to have no sugar added, be gluten-free, and have low net carbs. Most bottled teriyaki sauces are not keto-friendly unless specified.

Is teriyaki sauce gluten free?

This recipe is gluten-free because we use coconut aminos or tamari sauce instead of soy sauce, and no other ingredients contain gluten. Bottled sauces will contain gluten unless they specify otherwise.

What ingredients are in teriyaki sauce?

The ingredients in teriyaki sauce will vary, whether a recipe or a store bottle brand.

Typically most store-bought teriyaki sauces contain soy sauce, high fructose corn syrup, vinegar, spices, a thickener, and preservatives. Most recipes contain soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, spices, thickener, and no preservatives.

This recipe uses a natural sugar-free brown sugar substitute and all-natural, gluten-free ingredients, low carb, and keto-friendly.

What are the best sugar free teriyaki sauce brands to buy?

There aren't a lot of sugar-free teriyaki sauces on the market, and those that are can be expensive. G Hughes Teriyaki Sauce and Kevin's Natural Foods Teriyaki Sauce are two popular brands to try.

What ingredients are used to thicken teriyaki sauce?

Typically teriyaki sauce is thickened with xanthan gum, corn starch, or a rice-based thickener.

How do I store it?

Store the sauce in an air-tight container or bottle in the refrigerator.

How long will it keep?

This homemade sauce will last 2 to 3 weeks.

Can I ask you a favor?

If you tried this recipe, let me know! I'd love for you to come back and give the recipe a 5 star rating and leave a review in the comments! 🙂 Let's stay connected, so please follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! Subscribe to my newsletter to get healthy fresh recipe ideas every week!

📖 The recipe.

Serving a spoonful of sugar free teriyaki sauce out of a white triangular bowl.

Sugar Free Teriyaki Sauce Recipe

Delicious, easy to make, and a healthier alternative to store-bought teriyaki sauces.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Save Saved!
Author Kori Butler
Prep Time 3 minutes mins
Cook Time 6 minutes mins
Total Time 9 minutes mins
Course Dressing, Sauces, and Seasoning
Cuisine Asian
Servings 20 servings
Calories 14 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup coconut aminos or reduced sodium tamari sauce
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons ginger paste
  • 4 teaspoons minced garlic
  • ½ cup brown sugar substitute
  • ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
  • ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Instructions
 

  • Add sesame oil and xanthan gum in a small bowl, stir until dissolved, then add to a medium-sized saucepan.
  • Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
  • Bring sauce to a boil, then immediately reduce heat to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes or just until the sauce begins to thicken.
  • Remove from heat and add sesame seeds.
  • Let cool, then transfer to an air-tight container and refrigerate.

Video

Kori's Tips

  • Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes that can be found in our post. Check it out!
  • SUBSTITUTIONS: Use coconut aminos soy alternative or low sodium tamari sauce. Use any brown sugar substitute with a 1:1 sugar ratio. Make it spicy with red pepper flakes or sriracha sauce. Use apple cider vinegar instead of rice vinegar if you prefer.
  • TOP TIPS: Dissolve the xanthan gum by mixing it with the sesame oil before adding to the sauce. Coconut aminos is slightly sweeter than tamari sauce so you may need to add a little extra (1 to 2 tablespoons) brown sugar if you use tamari. Add it according to taste.
  • SERVING SUGGESTION: Makes a great marinade or condiment for beef, chicken, pork, seafood, and vegetables. Tastes amazing drizzled over rice and many Asian dishes.
  • Nutrition

    Serving: 1tablespoonCalories: 14kcalCarbohydrates: 4.9gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.1gSodium: 184.8mgFiber: 1.7gSugar: 0.1g
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Mention @seekinggoodeatsofficial or tag #seekinggoodeats! Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.

    © 2025 Seeking Good Eats™

    More Asian Recipes

    If you are looking for more healthy low carb, gluten-free, and keto Asian inspired recipes, check these out:

    • Healthy Stir Fry Sauce (Keto Stir Fry Sauce)
    • Yum Yum Sauce
    • Teriyaki Salmon Bowl
    • Keto Stir Fry with Shrimp (Low Carb Keto Chinese)
    • Mongolian Beef and Broccoli (Low Carb Keto)
    • Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice
    • Fusion Philly Cheesesteak Casserole Recipe - Asian fusion 🙂 Really good!
    • Simple Fried Rice
    • Easy Shrimp Fried Rice
    • Teriyaki Veggie Stir Fry

    Sugar free teriyaki sauce is much healthier and tastier than store-bought sauce - AND it's super easy to make at home in less than 10 minutes! This is a gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, low carb, and keto teriyaki sauce recipe. This healthy teriyaki sauce makes a perfect marinade for beef, chicken, pork, seafood, and vegetables. It also makes a delicious condiment to drizzle over your favorite Asian recipe, rice, and hibachi vegetables! Enjoy! #sugarfreeteriyakisauce #lowcarb #keto #glutenfree #condiment #sauce #teriyaki #hibachi #asianrecipe

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    Hey there, I'm Kori.

    I’m a culinary school trained chef specializing in holistic nutrition and wellness. I’ve always been a major foodie, and as I’ve aged, the full impact of my love of food—and not-necessarily-healthy eating habits—caught up to me. In an effort to make positive changes in my life (and hopefully yours, too), I created this website where I could share great-tasting, craveable, healthy recipes.

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