Keto Teriyaki Sauce- Just 2 grams carbs!

This keto teriyaki sauce is a simple and delicious condiment that takes seconds to make! No sugar needed, it’s low carb and extremely versatile! 2 grams net carbs per serving.

Keto Teriyaki Sauce

When it comes to keto condiments and sauces, my favorite recipes to make are cheese sauce, ranch dressing, and this keto teriyaki sauce.

Growing up, Japanese food was a cuisine my mom would often make for us. Having spent some time in Japan, she learned a few key dishes that became household staples for us. Every month or so, she’d make several popular sauces and marinades, and use them in her stir-fries or to flavor her proteins. While I loved all her cooking, my favorites were dishes that used teriyaki sauce.

Is Teriyaki sauce keto?

If you’ve ever enjoyed a teriyaki chicken or teriyaki salmon dish, you’ll love the flavors that hit you- Sweet, salty, and full of umami. Unfortunately, teriyaki sauce is far from keto. It contains several kinds of sugar, both granulated and liquid (in the form of rice wine syrup).

Luckily, I recently attended a Japanese cooking class and learned ways to adapt traditional recipes to give them a low carb makeover! After my first class, teriyaki sauce was the first to receive a keto makeover!

I’ve been meaning to share a keto teriyaki sauce recipe for quite some time. It’s such a versatile and delicious sauce, that works well with all kinds of protein or vegetables. It can also easily be adapted to be used as a marinade. Now, this sauce may look incredibly fancy but I promise you, it is one of the easiest condiments you’ll ever make.

No sugar and no grains are needed, but you’d never tell. The texture is thin and slightly sticky, but can be easily adapted to be thick! It’s slightly sweet, salty, and with hints of garlic and ginger throughout!

I had some friends over for a Japanese grill night (with an actual mini grill!) and doused this sauce on everything and NO ONE believed me when I told them it was low carb- They thought it was from a bottle!

How do you make a keto teriyaki sauce?

The Ingredients

Soy sauce– Avoid using dark or flavored soy sauces, as they often contain added sugar. If you’d like this recipe to be gluten free, use gluten free soy sauce.
Sugar free brown sugar– A keto brown sugar substitute, that is often referred to as golden monk fruit sweetener.
Garlic– Freshly minced garlic.
Ginger– Grated and finely chopped.
Xanthan gum– Thickens the sauce.
Water– Enough to make it pourable. For a thicker sauce, you use less water.

The Instructions

In a small saucepan, add all the ingredients, whisk together, and place them over medium heat. Bring it to a simmer then reduce the heat to low, while regularly stirring. Continue simmering for 10 minutes, until it begins to thicken. Remove it from the heat and use it as you would with traditional teriyaki sauce.

Tips to make the best low carb teriyaki sauce

If you’d prefer the sauce to be a marinade (for poultry or beef), you can omit the xanthan gum and only use one tablespoon of water. Do not simmer and simply whisk together and use immediately.
Xanthan gum is used to thicken to a sauce, and a little goes a long way. If you don’t follow a strict keto diet, you can use two tablespoons of cornstarch.
The teriyaki sauce is best enjoyed fresh, so have your main dish ready to be coated in it and serve immediately!

What to serve the sauce with

Use this keto sauce in any way you’d use traditional teriyaki sauce. Alternatively, you can add it to just about anything. Here are some simple suggestions-

Protein– Chicken, pork, beef, and seafood are all fantastic options.
Plant based protein– Tempeh, tofu, and seitan.
Vegetables– Steamed, stir fried, and blanched vegetables of choice.
Salad dressing– Whisk some of the sauce with olive oil and a dash of lemon juice for a fabulous salad dressing.
Rice– Drizzle over steamed or fried rice, or even some cauliflower rice.

Storing and freezing sugar free teriyaki sauce

To store: Teriyaki sauce should always be stored in the refrigerator, covered. It will keep well for up to two weeks. Be sure to whisk it thoroughly before adding it to your favorite dishes.
To freeze: Place leftover sauce in a shallow container or freezer friendly jar and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months.

More keto condiment and sauce recipes to try

Add all the ingredients into a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Once it begins to simmer, reduce to low and start stirring regularly. After 5 minutes, check the thickness and if it has reached the desired consistency, remove from the heat.
Pour or brush over your protein, vegetables, or dish of choice.

For a keto teriyaki marinade, only add 2 tablespoons of water and omit the xanthan gum. Do not simmer and simply soak your protein in it for 30 minutes.
TO STORE: Teriyaki sauce should always be stored in the refrigerator, covered. It will keep well for up to two weeks. Be sure to whisk it thoroughly before adding it to your favorite dishes.
TO FREEZE: Place leftover sauce in a shallow container or freezer friendly jar and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months.