Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce Recipe with Simple Ingredients

A good Tonkatsu Sauce Recipe brings together sweet, tangy, and savory flavors in perfect balance. It’s a Japanese-style condiment often served with sushi, but it also works beautifully with chicken katsu, sandwiches, or even fries. The key is to blend the ingredients smoothly and let the sauce rest for a few minutes so the flavors can combine fully.

This recipe shows you how to make homemade Japanese tonkatsu sauce with simple pantry ingredients in just a few minutes.

Difficulty: Easy

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Total Time 10

Servings: 4 About 1 cup

Course: Dessert, Dinner, Lunch, Snack, Appetizer, Main Course, Sauce

Cuisine: Italian, Japanese

Calories: 25

Ingredients Method Video Notes

Ingredients

½ cup ketchup
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sugar adjust to taste
1 tbsp mirin optional, adds mild sweetness
1 tsp Dijon or yellow mustard optional, for depth

Method

Combine ingredients

In a small bowl, add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and mirin. Stir until everything is well blended.

Adjust the flavor

Taste the sauce and adjust it to your preference. Add a little more sugar for sweetness or soy sauce for saltiness.

Rest and serve

Let the sauce sit for 5–10 minutes at room temperature. This helps the flavors come together before serving.

Video

Notes

Taste balance: The sauce should taste sweet first, then tangy, with a savory finish.

Consistency: For a thicker sauce, use less Worcestershire or simmer gently for 1–2 minutes.

Storage: Keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Mirin: Adds smooth sweetness but can be skipped if unavailable.

Mustard: Optional, but adds a mild sharpness that balances fried foods.