Skip the takeout line and bring a taste of Panda Express right to the kitchen with this copycat Mandarin Teriyaki Sauce. Inspired by the restaurant’s famous glaze but given a homemade upgrade, this sauce combines the tang of citrus with deep soy, garlic, and ginger notes for a glossy finish that clings beautifully to whatever it touches. It’s the kind of sauce that transforms even the simplest grilled chicken or bowl of rice into something crave-worthy, capturing all the comfort and flavor of the original while tasting even fresher.

Copycat Panda Express Mandarin Teriyaki Sauce Recipe

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

1 ½

cups

Prep time

minutes

Total time

minutes

A sweet-savory Mandarin Teriyaki Sauce made with soy, mandarin juice, ginger, and garlic, simmered into a glossy glaze. Yields about 1 ½ cups. Store in the fridge for up to 10 days.

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Ingredients

1 tbsp Cornstarch
2 tbsp Cold Water
1/2 cup Low-sodium Soy Sauce
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
2 tbsp White Sugar
2 tbsp Mirin
2 tbsp Fresh Mandarin Juice
1 tsp Fresh Mandarin Zest
1 tbsp Rice Vinegar
1 tsp Fresh Ginger (grated)
1 tsp Fresh Garlic (minced)
1/2 tsp Toasted Sesame Oil
1/2 cup Water
1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
1/8 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

Directions

Add soy sauce, dark brown sugar, white sugar, mirin, mandarin juice, mandarin zest, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, water, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to a saucepan.
Stir everything well and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
Let it simmer for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugars and blend the flavors.
In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and cold water to make a slurry.
Slowly pour the slurry into the simmering sauce while stirring constantly.
Continue to simmer the sauce for another 2–3 minutes until it thickens to a glossy glaze.
Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Remove from the heat and let the sauce cool slightly. Store in a clean jar or bottle in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Notes

Made with real mandarin juice and zest, soy sauce, mirin, garlic, and ginger, it’s perfect for grilled chicken, stir-fries, rice bowls, or veggies.
Adjust the flavor by adding more sugar for sweetness, extra vinegar for tang, or red pepper flakes for heat.
Store in a clean jar in the fridge for up to 10 days and reheat gently before serving.