Teriyaki Burger Recipe

The Teriyaki Burger is a popular Japanese twist on the classic American hamburger. Most, if not all, fast food hamburger restaurants in Japan have Teriyaki Burgers on their menus alongside more typical American-style options such as cheeseburgers. The key difference is the thick, gooey teriyaki sauce poured over the patties. Sweet and savory, the sauce pairs perfectly with the burgers. Teriyaki Burgers are also quick and easy to make at home.

Teriyaki Burger Ingredients

• Patty: Although you may associate the teriyaki flavor with chicken, the most common meat used in teriyaki burgers is beef. Typically, 100% ground beef is lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, then either grilled or pan fried.
• Teriyaki Sauce: The gooey sauce used for Teriyaki Burgers, often thickened with cornstarch, is more of an American-style take on teriyaki than traditional Japanese sauce. Authentic Japanese teriyaki sauce is usually a simple mixture of seasonings—such as soy sauce, sugar, and mirin—and tends to be thinner. The thicker American-style version, however, works well for burgers, as it stays inside the sandwich more easily.
• Bun: Standard hamburger buns work just fine. You can use them as is or lightly toast them if you like. 
• Toppings: Here are some common toppings for Teriyaki Burgers. As with any burger, all toppings are optional, and you can customize them however you like.
  • Lettuce
  • Tomato
  • Row or grilled onions
  • Cheese
  • Pickles 
  • Japanese mayonnaise

What to serve with Teriyaki Burgers?

You can serve Teriyaki Burgers with potato chips or a simple green salad. Or, if you’re up for deep frying at home, try our Fried Potato recipe!

Short Video

More Teriyaki Recipes

• Teriyaki Burger Salad Recipe
• Chicken Teriyaki Recipe
• Teriyaki Turkey Meatball Recipe
• Teriyaki Salmon Recipe

This recipe was originally published in September 2013. The post was updated on June 24, 2025 with more useful content, new photos and a short video.

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5 from 1 vote

Teriyaki Burger Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Grilled beef patties with sweet and salty Teriyaki sauce on buns

Video

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup Soy Sauce
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup Mirin
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 tsp salt
• pepper
• oil
• 4 hamburger buns
• 1/2 cup lettuce (shredded)
• 1 tomato (sliced)
• 1/2 onion (thinly sliced)
• Japanese mayonnaise (optional)

US Customary – Metric

Instructions 

• Mix soy sauce, sugar, Mirin, water and cornstarch well in a pot. Cook at medium heat until boiling, and then let it boil for 1 minute. It becomes a very thick Teriyaki sauce.
• Mix ground beef, salt and pepper. Divide into 4 parts and make into 4″ round patties.
• Heat a skillet at medium high heat, add oil, and place the patties in the skillet when it gets hot. Cook the patties for 2-3 minutes on each side (or until cooked to your taste).
• On the bottom half of the hamburger buns put the cooked meat. Then pour Teriyaki sauce over the meat. Add the sliced tomato and onions and the shredded lettuce. Drizzle mayo on the lettuce and top it with the top half of the buns.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: burger, teriyaki