Teriyaki Steak Marinade Recipe

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This teriyaki steak marinade is the easiest way to turn an ordinary steak into something seriously crave-worthy. Made with soy sauce, brown sugar, fresh garlic, ginger, and sesame oil, it creates the perfect balance of sweet and savory while helping tenderize the meat.

Whether you're grilling ribeye, sirloin, flank steak, or filet mignon, this homemade teriyaki steak marinade comes together in about 5 minutes using pantry staples. It's so much better than bottled marinades.

Tenderloin steak on plate with potatoes and corn.

What makes this recipe irresistible

love recipes that do the heavy lifting for me, and this one definitely does. Stir together a few pantry staples, let the marinade work its magic, and by dinnertime you'll have juicy, flavorful steak that's ready for the grill. It's simple enough for a Tuesday night but tasty enough to serve when friends and family gather around the barbecue.

5 from 18 votes

Teriyaki Steak Marinade

You won't believe how good this tastes! Simple, super flavorful and so delicious, it's an easy way to bump up the flavor in steak, chops or chicken.

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Prep Time10

Cook Time2

Total Time2 10

Course: Lunch or Dinner

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 234kcal

Author: Deb Clark

Ingredients

▢ 2 cups low sodium soy sauce
▢ ¾ cup brown sugar
▢ 2 inch ginger root grated
▢ 2 cloves garlic grated or minced
▢ ¼ cup sesame seed oil
▢ 1 bunch sliced green onions chopped (green and white parts)

Instructions

Add the soy sauce and brown sugar to a plastic bag or bowl.
Grate the fresh ginger. Pour in the sesame oil and grated ginger.
Thinly slice the onions, add them next with the minced garlic.
Mix to combine and add your protein. Marinade 2-3 pounds of steak or chicken about 2 hours, turning occasionally. If using shrimp or tofu, reduce marinade time to 20-30 minutes. Grill & enjoy!

Notes

Customize this recipe by adding your own touch -

Spice it up by adding Sriracha, red chilis or crush red pepper flakes.
Lemon or lime adds a nice citrus flavor
Sesame seeds will add even more toasty goodness!
No soy sauce? Use mirin, it's a little sweeter but it's a great substitution.

If you're using a Ziploc bag, be sure to place it in a large bowl prior to refrigerating in case it springs a leak.

Nutrition

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Ingredients you'll need

Ingredients for Teriyaki Marinade Recipe

Teriyaki marinade recipe has only a handful of ingredients👇

low sodium soy sauce - I prefer low sodium, but you can certainly use regular.
brown sugar - you can use light or dark brown sugar, both are delicious!
fresh garlic and ginger - these add the bold flavor that makes homemade teriyaki steak marinade so good.
sesame seed oil - for its nutty toasted seasoning.
green onions - for light oniony flavor.

This is great on fillets, t-bones, ribeye, London broil, skirt steak, chicken breasts, chicken thighs, shrimp or pork!

You probably even have these marinade ingredients in your pantry!

How long should you marinate steak in teriyaki marinade?

For the best flavor, marinate steak in this teriyaki steak marinade for about 2 hours. That's enough time for the soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger to add plenty of sweet and savory flavor without changing the texture of the meat.

If you're using a thicker cut like ribeye or sirloin, you can let it marinate a little longer, but I wouldn't go much beyond 4 hours. Pat the steak dry before grilling for the best sear and be sure to discard any marinade that's been in contact with raw meat.

Creative variations to try

Spice it up by adding Sriracha.
Lemon or lime adds a nice citrus flavor
Sesame seeds with drive that toasted sesame oil flavor home!
No soy sauce? Use mirin, it's a little sweeter but it's a great substitution.
Delicious with boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or pork tenderloin.

Step-by-step instructions

The teriyaki sauce has amazing flavor and only needs a few pantry ingredients! It is so simple to make. It's hard to believe it could be so delicious!

Add the soy sauce to a large ziplock bag or mixing bowl.
Add the brown sugar, ginger, sesame oil and sliced green onion.
Whisk soy sauce mixture to combine.
Place steak in the sauce and teriyaki glaze marinade. Remove the steak from the marinade, pat dry with a paper towel. Discard the remaining marinade.
Grill steak and enjoy!

Five minutes of prep is all it takes to make a flavorful homemade teriyaki steak marinade that works beautifully on steaks and other grilled meats.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)

Is Teriyaki Marinade Recipe the same as Teriyaki Sauce Recipe?

The difference is the thickness of the sauce. A marinade is meant to slowly absorb into the protein and a sauce is used on the finished meal.

How do you thicken a classic teriyaki sauce with brown sugar?

If you want a thick sauce, make a slurry with cornstarch - about 1 tablespoon cold water with 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Stir until smooth add to the sauce and bring to a boil. It thickens quickly!

What's the difference between hibachi and teriyaki?

Teriyaki is full of ingredients and flavor, the result is a saucy sheen - hibachi is a Japanese cuisine. It uses just soy sauce for flavoring.

The best steaks for teriyaki steak marinade are:

Sirloin
Flank steak
Skirt steak
Ribeye
New York strip
Beef tenderloin

Leaner cuts benefit the most from marinating, while naturally tender cuts like filet mignon mainly absorb the delicious teriyaki flavor.

Top Tip

For the best teriyaki steak marinade, let the steak rest in the marinade for at least 2 hours before grilling. If you're planning to use some as a dipping sauce, set a portion aside before adding the raw meat. Never reuse marinade that has been in contact with raw meat.

Teriyaki Steak on charcoal grill. — Best Teriyaki Marinade Recipe

We usually have an audience when we grill and last night was no different!

Max carefully supervised to make sure Dan got it just right! All joking aside, my hubby is summer grill master - he prefers old fashioned charcoal grill for that smokey flavor!

Teriyaki Noodle Recipe - these are super tasty! Easy to make and great as a meal or perfect for a side salad. YUMMY! If you haven't tried this recipe yet, today's the day!
Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs - MAN these are good! Easy and delicious - another favorite I think you're going to love!
or be sure to try this Teriyaki Chicken Bowl - the teriyaki chicken marinade is AMAZING! It's one of my most popular recipes!
This recipe for stir fry teriyaki ramen noodles is always a crowd-pleaser!

Serving suggestions

This homemade teriyaki marinade is terrific on beef - steak, flank steak and pork chops. It is a great chicken marinade! I've yet to try it on scallops, but I bet it would be fantastic!

When I use marinade this on steak, I always serve a loaded baked potato, I just love that combination! A macaroni pasta salad would be super amazing as well!

Up your steak game by serving Cowboy Butter Dipping Sauce alongside. SO good! Pan roasted vegetables or roasted carrots are great options for tasty side dishes!

Fire up the grill

If you're looking for an easy way to add big flavor to your next cookout, this teriyaki steak marinade is one recipe you'll come back to again and again. It comes together in just minutes with simple pantry ingredients, creates juicy, flavorful steaks every time, and works just as well on chicken, pork, or shrimp.

Give it a try the next time you're firing up the grill. I think it's going to earn a permanent spot in your recipe collection!

Comments

5 from 18 votes (6 ratings without comment)

Teriyaki Steak Marinade Recipe

What makes this recipe irresistible