The Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Subway serves is addictively delicious. But the only way to get it is at Subway, until now! This copycat Subway Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce recipe allows you to recreate the taste you love right in your kitchen. It is bursting with umami flavors and is perfect for drizzling over grilled chicken, drizzling over protein bowls, or even using it as a dipping sauce. The ingredients list may look long, but you probably have most of them already, and the sauce comes together quickly in just 15 minutes.
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Table of Contents
Why this recipe works
The Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Subway serves is addictively delicious. But the only way to get it is at Subway – until now! This copycat Subway Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce recipe allows you to recreate the taste you love right in your kitchen.
It is bursting with umami flavors and is perfect for drizzling over grilled chicken, drizzling over protein bowls, or even using it as a dipping sauce. The ingredients list may look long, but you probably have most of them already, and the sauce comes together quickly.
Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce Subway ingredients and their roles
For this subway sweet onion teriyaki sauce recipe, you’ll need:
- White granulated sugar – sweetens the sauce and promotes caramelization.
- Water – dissolves the sugar and thins out the sauce.
- Apple cider vinegar – adds a fruity tang to the sauce.
- Rice vinegar – provides a touch of sweetness and a mild tang, and it has a distinctive Asian flavor component.
- Soy sauce – is essential for teriyaki. It gives the sauce its color and gives it an umami boost.
- Tomato paste – brings a deep richness and a touch of brightness to the sauce. It also helps to thicken it slightly.
- Dijon mustard – gives the Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce a sharp complexity. It helps to bring the rest of the ingredients together.
- Dried minced onion – imbues the sauce with a subtle onion flavor.
- Garlic powder – adds a savory aromatic element to the sauce.
- Ground ginger – creates the authentic teriyaki sauce profile with its mild warmth and subtle zing.
- Poppy seeds – echos the visual appearance of the original Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce Subway serves.
- Sesame seeds – contribute a mild nuttiness and give the sauce more of an Asian flair.
- Green onion flakes – up the total onion flavor with a slightly different taste.
- Salt – enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Cornstarch – is the main thickener of the sauce.
- Sesame oil – supplies a toasted quintessential Asian flavor.
How to make Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce
To prepare the sauce:
- In a saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the sugar, water, apple cider vinegar, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, and tomato paste. Continue whisking until the sugar and tomato paste dissolve.
- Add the remaining ingredients except for the sesame oil. While whisking continuously, bring the sauce to a boil and then reduce it to a simmer.
- Lower the heat to low and allow the sauce to thicken for about four to five minutes.
- Turn off the heat and whisk in the sesame oil.
- Take the saucepan off the burner and let the sauce cool to room temperature.
- Transfer the sauce to an airtight container.
Other ways to use this sauce
You can use this Subway Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce for more than just topping chicken. Here are three cool ideas to get more Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce into your life:
Tofu marinade. Cut the tofu into one-inch slices and place them between two cutting boards. Add a few tin cans on the top cutting board to weigh it down. Wait about 15 minutes. Pat the pressed tofu dry and cut it into cubes. Marinate them in the sauce for several hours. Pat the marinated tofu dry and then pan-fry with a bit of oil on the stovetop or air-fry them at 375°F for 10 to 12 minutes. Serve the fried tofu in a protein bowl or over rice.
As a coleslaw dressing. Make a lighter, Asian-inspired coleslaw by tossing four cups of shredded cabbage, one cup of shredded carrots, and a half cup of sliced green onions with a quarter cup of the Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce and a tablespoon of avocado oil. Cover and chill for 30 minutes. Add sesame seeds and chopped cilantro, toss, and serve.
Use a salad dressing. You can dress a simple green salad with the sauce to give it an incredible depth of flavor. Try adding shredded cabbage and carrots, edamame, and thinly sliced cucumbers for more of an Asian flair. Top with a sprinkling of chopped peanuts or fried wanton strips to add a bit of crunch and give your salad a restaurant-quality finish.
Storing sweet onion teriyaki sauce, and how long will it last
Keep any extra Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay good for about ten days. Since the sauce will settle in the fridge, stir the sauce before using. Believe it or not, you can also freeze the sauce in small portions and then thaw as needed. Frozen sauce should last two to three months.
More Subway copycat recipes
- Apple Orchard Chicken Salad Sub
- Baja Chipotle Sauce
- Doritos Chicken Nachos
- Footlong Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Tuna Salad Sub
Favorite sandwich sauces
Check out my easy sauce recipes and the best copycat fast food recipes on CopyKat!
Subway Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- 3 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 3/4 teaspoon poppy seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon green onion flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
Instructions
- Place the sugar, water, apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and tomato paste in a saucepan and whisk to combine.
- Add the remaining ingredients except for the sesame oil and bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until thickened, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Once the sauce has thickened, add the sesame oil and remove from the heat. Let cool completely before refrigerating in a sealed jar or bottle.
I used this as a salad dressing, so tasty!