Easy Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce Recipe

Want the perfect condiment to serve with chicken katsu, tonkatsu (pork), or other Japanese dishes? This homemade katsu sauce recipe is so easy to make and only requires a few simple ingredients!

Better than anything you can buy in the store, this katsu sauce is thick, rich, and full of flavor. Sweet, savory, and a little bit tangy, it’s the perfect finishing touch to any katsu dish!

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What is Katsu Sauce?

Katsu sauce is a popular Japanese sauce and condiment that is typically served with chicken or pork katsu, on sandwiches, or as a dipping sauce. It is made from a base of Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and soy sauce, and often includes other seasonings like garlic and ginger.

Traditional katsu recipes often include oyster sauce as an ingredient. My recipe does not include oyster sauce because I don’t care for the flavor. If you’d like to add it, I would recommend starting with 1 tablespoon and adding more to taste.

What does Tonkatsu sauce taste like?

Tonkatsu sauce is fairly sweet and savory with a slight tang. It’s slightly salty from the soy sauce, with a hint of umami from the Worcestershire sauce. Many consider this to be a Japanese-style barbecue sauce.

How Do You Make Katsu Sauce Easy?

The great thing about this katsu sauce recipe is that it is so easy to make! You simply whisk all of the ingredients together in a bowl and you’re done. No cooking required!

I like to use store-bought ketchup to save time, but if you have homemade ketchup on hand, feel free to use those instead.

What is Tonkatsu Sauce Made Of?

This easy recipe includes the following ingredients:

• tomato ketchup
• shoyu or soy sauce
• Worcestershire sauce
• mirin (Japanese sweet wine) 
• white sugar
• garlic powder
• ground ginger

What Can I Serve Katsu Sauce With?

Katsu sauce is traditionally served with chicken katsu or tonkatsu or pork katsu. In these Japanese dishes, chicken cutlets or pork cutlets are breaded in panko bread crumbs, fried, and served over white rice. Then the sauce is drizzled over the top.

This tangy sauce also makes a delicious dipping sauce alongside deep-fried dishes like tempura and dumplings. It is also delicious with chicken strips or sliced chicken thighs.

Lastly, this sauce can be served as a spread on sandwiches or be drizzled over rice, noodles, or a savory Japanese pancake called Okonomiyaki.

Comfort Food

Pork and chicken katsu are comfort foods in our family. When we get Hawaiian take-out, a plate lunch is available with chicken or Kalua pork. Unfortunately, the restaurant sauce is always too sweet and I prefer this homemade recipe instead.

When I make katsu at home, I use a piece of chicken breast thinly slice it into cutlets or a pork loin chop pounded thin. Then I dredge it in all-purpose flour, dip it into a beaten egg to coat, and then lastly dredge in panko breadcrumbs. Instead of deep-frying or frying in a skillet, I use my air fryer and it comes out perfectly golden brown. I’ll have to share my chicken katsu recipe with you soon.

Want more comfort food recipes? Try these:

• Triple Cheese Baked Macaroni and Cheese
• Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
• How to Make Snickerdoodle Cookies Without Cream of Tartar (easy cookie recipe)
• How to Make Birria (beef stew) & Quesa Birria Tacos with Consommé

How Long Does Homemade Katsu Sauce Last?

This katsu sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. I like to make a big batch, store in a glass mason jar, and keep it on hand to use as needed.

Are tonkatsu sauce and katsu sauce the same thing?

Yes! Tonkatsu sauce is also known as katsu sauce. Most Western food grocery stores carry this sauce and will have it labeled as katsu sauce. However, we think making your own tonkatsu sauce is super easy and better than anything you can buy in the store. We use the names tonkatsu sauce and katsu sauce interchangeably as both terms refer to the same condiment.

What is a substitute for tonkatsu sauce?

If you don’t have all of the ingredients on hand to make this easy tonkatsu sauce, you can substitute tomato paste for the ketchup, honey for the sugar, and regular cooking wine for the mirin. These substitutions will change the flavor of the sauce slightly, but it will still be delicious!

If you’re looking for a quicker option, you can use a sweet BBQ sauce as a substitute for this with your chicken breasts or pork cutlets. While it’s not an exact flavor match, it will still taste great!

Making your own tonkatsu sauce is not only easy, but it’s also a lot better than anything you can buy in the store. Our simple recipe includes all of the essential ingredients, and with just a few whisking motions, you’ll have delicious katsu sauce to serve with your favorite fried foods, Japanese dishes, chicken tenders, and so much more.

If you give this recipe a try, let me know what you think in the comments below.