Low Calorie Teriyaki Sauce (Low Sugar Teriyaki Sauce Recipe) (2024)

Is teriyaki sauce keto? Teriyaki sauce is not normally keto friendly because of all of the sugar it contains. In addition, ingredients normally used to thicken teriyaki sauce (such as cornstarch) tend to be high carb. Try my low sugar teriyaki sauce recipe for a keto spin on traditional teriyaki. It only takes a few minutes to make a low calorie teriyaki sauce and marinade with no sugar!

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Teriyaki sauce is a sauce used in Japanese cuisine. It is typically made of soy sauce, sugar, and mirin (a type of rice wine).

Westernized versions of teriyaki sauce may contain brown sugar, honey, and even pineapple juice. Other ingredients, such as garlic and ginger, are often added as well.

The idea that you could make your own teriyaki sauce came my way from the book Mostly Plants. Their version uses added sugar for sweetness and corn starch as a thickener.

Luckily, it is extremely easy to make teriyaki sauce that is sugar free, and also low carb and vegan. Best of all, it is delicious!

Make the Best Low Sugar Teriyaki Sauce

Why is this the best teriyaki sauce? If you’ve been reading here a while, you know I believe that nothing beats homemade! More specifically though, here are some reasons that this sugar free keto sauce is truly awesome sauce:

• Easy to customize to your special diet: This is already a low carb, keto, and vegan teriyaki sauce. You can also make it gluten free and soy free (don’t miss my tips in the FAQs below).
• Low carb and low calorie: If you have a weight loss goal, no sugar teriyaki sauce is a great way to add flavor to meals for very few calories. This teriyaki sauce has 45 calories and 2.5 grams of net carbs per (2-3 tablespoon) serving.
• Healthy teriyaki sauce: When it comes to food, the word “healthy” tends to mean something a little different to each of us. One of the benefits of making your own sauces is that you can tailor the recipe to be healthy for you.

Low Calorie Teriyaki Sauce Ingredients

Here is the round-up of ingredients for sugar free teriyaki sauce:

• Low sodium or reduced sodium soy sauce
• Unsweetened rice vinegar
• Granular Swerve (white or brown “sugar” variety)
• Garlic clove, minced or crushed
• Toasted sesame oil
• Fresh ginger, grated
• Xanthan gum
• Water

I used xanthan gum as a thickener to make this teriyaki sauce without cornstarch. Guar gum and glucomannan are some other low carb sauce thickeners.

I’m giving a range of Swerve to use depending on how sweet you want your teriyaki sauce. I used ½ tablespoon of Swerve to make it less sweet. Use 1 tablespoon of Swerve for a more classic teriyaki flavor.

You can also swap out the Swerve I used for your favorite sugar substitute. Splenda, stevia, and monk fruit are some popular zero calorie sweeteners that can be used here.

For the soy sauce, make sure to use a low sodium or reduced sodium variety. Otherwise, your teriyaki sauce is going to be way too salty.

Low sodium soy sauce has 140 mg or less of sodium per serving (if you can find it). Reduced sodium soy sauce has at least 25% less sodium than typical soy sauce. Since soy sauce is so high in sodium, low sodium soy sauce will usually be lower in sodium than reduced sodium soy sauce.

How to Make Low Calorie Teriyaki Sauce

It’s time to make low calorie teriyaki sauce! Keep in mind throughout this recipe that we want a smooth and shiny sauce, not a gel. Teriyaki sauce is delicious, teriyaki Jell-O, maybe not so much. Haha

The first thing you should do is whisk the xanthan gum and water together. It will form a gel very quickly. Make sure there are no lumps.

Add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, Swerve, garlic, sesame oil, ginger, and xanthan gum mixture to a small saucepan. Whisk it well to thoroughly combine.

Put the pan over medium heat and whisk frequently until it thickens. This took approximately 10-12 minutes. It’s ready to use immediately!

I had some chicken breasts in the freezer, so I grilled them and flavored them with this sauce. This super quick teriyaki chicken made for an easy low carb lunch after stirring in some broccoli slaw.

How to Store Low Sugar Teriyaki Sauce

Keep your leftover teriyaki sauce in the fridge and aim to use it within 3-4 days. You may need to whisk in additional water and reheat if it gels. This homemade teriyaki sauce does not have preservatives like many store-bought sauces do, so it won’t keep as long.

How to Use Low Calorie Teriyaki Sauce

You can use low sugar teriyaki sauce as a marinade, a glaze, or in stir fries. It is especially delicious with salmon, chicken, beef, or tofu. It’s also great in Asian dishes with noodles (or try it on shirataki for a keto diet option).

Here are some easy ways to use teriyaki sauce in recipes:

• Use it in this Easy Stir Fry Vegetables Recipe with Chicken (instead of the pineapple juice-based sauce provided in the recipe)
• Marinate the tofu in these Air Fryer Tofu Bowls in a little teriyaki sauce (rather than the marinade given in that recipe)
• Try some sugar free teriyaki sauce with Air Fryer Tilapia (as an alternative to the garlic chive miso butter)

I served this batch of teriyaki sauce over grilled chicken and raw shredded vegetables. If you serve it this way, I recommend shredding the chicken and stirring the sauce in. I only photographed the sauce drizzled on the chicken so you could get a better look at it.

Like soy sauce, teriyaki sauce is fairly salty. I like to use it in the same sort of ways I’d use soy sauce. A little really goes a long way!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good substitute for teriyaki sauce?

In a pinch, I’ve substituted sweetened soy sauce with a touch of rice vinegar for teriyaki sauce. It's basically a simplified version of this recipe.

Is there a difference between teriyaki marinade and teriyaki sauce?

Teriyaki marinade is simply a thinner version of the sauce. Skip the xanthan gum and heating step in this recipe to use this sauce as a marinade.

How to make teriyaki sauce gluten free?

To make a gluten free teriyaki sauce, use coconut aminos or gluten free tamari in place of the soy sauce. Using coconut aminos also makes the teriyaki sauce soy free.

Why is sugar important to teriyaki sauce?

The sugar provides sweetness and makes a glossy sauce, two things that are expected in a good teriyaki. The Japanese word “teri” means “shine,” a reference to the luster of the sauce due to the sugar. (FYI, the “yaki” part of teriyaki means “grilled” in Japanese, a cooking method often used in teriyaki dishes.)

Where to buy sugar free teriyaki sauce?

You can find sugar free teriyaki sauces and marinades at most major grocery stores, including Walmart and Trader Joe’s. G Hughes Sugar Free Teriyaki Sauce is a popular brand that is available on Amazon. Seal Sama Sugar Free Teriyaki Sauce is another option.

Other Sugar Free Recipes

If you’re looking for recipes with no sugar, you’re in luck! I have lots of recipes with no added sugar for you to enjoy. After you make this low carb teriyaki sauce, here are some other no sugar recipes to check out:

• Sugar Free Apple Crisp
• Keto Lemonade
• Low Carb Trail Mix
• Fat Flush Soup
• Oyster Mushroom Jerky
• Low Calorie Baked Oats

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