Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce (only 4 ingredients!)

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By Chris Joe

5 from 26 votes

May 13, 2023, Updated Apr 01, 2024

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Homemade Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce only requires 4 ingredients and is so easy to make at home, you won’t need to ever buy it again! It only takes 5 minutes to create a sauce that rivals the famous BullDog Sauce – and all of the ingredients are ones you probably have in your pantry right now! Next time you make my juiciest, crispiest Chicken Katsu (or my Air Fryer Chicken Katsu, if you don’t feel like deep frying) or Pork Katsu (Tonkatsu), make sure to also make my Homemade Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce and see how perfectly it goes!

Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce (only 4 ingredients!) - CJ Eats Recipes (2)

Watch the Tonkatsu Sauce Video Below!

Watch the Tonkatsu Sauce Video Below!
Ingredients for Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce
What is Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce?
Expert Tips for Homemade Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce
How to Store Your Homemade Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce
Why I love Making Homemade Sauces
Tonkatsu Sauce Recipe

Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce (only 4 ingredients!) - CJ Eats Recipes (3)

Ingredients for Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce

Homemade Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce only requires 4 ingredients – and they are all pantry staples you probably already have at home! Most people may think that it’s complicated to make homemade Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce at home, or that you would need a lot of ingredients, so they buy the store-bought version. But after trying this recipe, you’ll see that is not the case!

1/2cupketchup – Some brands of ketchup may be sweeter than others; therefore, I would adjust the amount of sugar accordingly.
1/4cupWorcestershiresauce
2tbspoyster sauce – my favorite oyster sauce is by Lee Kum Kee.
- They make a great vegan version as well!
1tbspbrown sugar – this will beto taste, so start with less than 1 tbsp and add accordingly. I like my Homemade Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce on the less sweet side but you may prefer a sweeter version! You may also find that your ketchup is not as sweet as some other brands (noted above).

What is Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce?

Homemade Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce is a thick, sweet and savory Japanese sauce that is often used as a dipping sauce for Tonkatsu, a deep-fried pork cutlet, Chicken Katsu (or Air Fryer Chicken Katsu), and other Japanese dishes. If you’re a fan of Japanese cuisine, then you’re probably already familiar with Tonkatsu (Katsu) sauce. We love it so much, we can practically eat it with anything!

If you’re looking for ideas on other dishes to eat Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce with, try it with:

Roasted Vegetables
Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce goes amazingly with fried foods; I love eating it with other fried Japanese food, such as Japanese Fried Chicken – Chicken Karaage or Air Fryer Chicken Karaage
In Hawaii, I’ve had Mochiko Chicken served with Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce on the side with Hawaiian Mac Salad and a bowl of white rice
This might be a surprising combination but I think the sweet and savory sauce goes perfectly with scrambled eggs or an omelet!

Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce (only 4 ingredients!) - CJ Eats Recipes (4)

PRO TIPS

Expert Tips for Homemade Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce

Use high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly affect the flavor of your sauce. Choose a good quality ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and oyster sauce for the best results.
Adjust the sweetness and saltiness to your liking: The recipe above is just a guide, so feel free to adjust the sweetness and saltiness of the sauce to your liking. Some people prefer a sweeter sauce, while others prefer a saltier sauce.
Let the flavors meld: It’s important to let the sauce chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld together and create a more cohesive sauce.
Use as a dipping sauce or drizzle it over dishes: Tonkatsu sauce is a versatile sauce that can be used as a dipping sauce for katsu or drizzled over vegetables, salads, or other dishes.

How to Store Your Homemade Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce

When I make my homemade Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce, I like to double or triple the portion so it’s easily accessible whenever I want it! Therefore, it’s important to discuss how to store your delicious sauce.

Once mixed, store your homemade Tonkatsu (Katsu) sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. (This must be refrigerated!) In an airtight container, it can be stored in your refrigerator for up to 1 month. NOTE: Make sure to avoid dipping directly into your Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce container; you want to avoid any cross-contamination or crumbs in your sauce!

Why I love Making Homemade Sauces

I love making as many Sauces and Condiments at home as possible! It allows me to:

control the quality of my ingredients
avoid unnecessary additives or preservatives
I can customize it to my taste (I usually prefer sauces on the less sweet and more spicy side)

I would highly recommend you try making some of your favorite sauces or condiments at home as well!

Some of my favorite recipes that you will love are:

If I had to pick one recipe of mine you have to try, it would be my super versatile Sichuan Chili Oil – I drizzle this one top of EVERYTHING! One of the most commonly asked questions I get is what brand of chili oil I recommend and my answer is always – my own!
I love making homemade Garlic Herb Compound Butter for the holidays, special occasions, or even just to elevate your weekly meals at home! If you’re having guests over, they will be so impressed by how beautiful and delicious this butter is!
Dumplings are one of my favorite foods in the world and nothing goes better with dumplings than my homemade Dumpling Dipping Sauce! It’s sweet, savory, spicy, and tangy – basically the perfect sauce!

If you tried this Homemade Tonkatsu (Katsu) Sauce or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!

5 from 26 votes

Tonkatsu Sauce

By: Chris Joe

Servings: 1 cup

Prep: 5 minutes mins

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Ingredients

▢ 1/2 cup Ketchup
▢ 1/4 cup Worcestershiresauce
▢ 2 tbsp Oyster sauce
▢ 1 tbsp Brown sugar, to taste

Instructions

Mix together ketchup, worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce, and brown sugar in a bowl until smooth.
Let chill in the fridge for 15-30 minutes in the fridge to let the flavors meld together. Serve as a dipping sauce for katsu or drizzle it on vegetables, or salads and enjoy!

Notes

KEY TIPS:

Use high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly affect the flavor of your sauce. Choose a good quality ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and oyster sauce for the best results.

Adjust the sweetness and saltiness to your liking: The recipe above is just a guide, so feel free to adjust the sweetness and saltiness of the sauce to your liking. Some people prefer a sweeter sauce, while others prefer a saltier sauce.

Let the flavors meld: It’s important to let the sauce chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld together and create a more cohesive sauce.

Use as a dipping sauce or drizzle it over dishes: Tonkatsu sauce is a versatile sauce that can be used as a dipping sauce for katsu or drizzled over vegetables, salads, or other dishes.

Nutrition

Calories: 238kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 2gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.04gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 2968mgPotassium: 923mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 44gVitamin A: 670IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 113mgIron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Japanese

Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce (only 4 ingredients!) - CJ Eats Recipes (6)

About CJ

I’m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

6 Comments

Just what I needed!
Reply
Love this easy recipe!
Ig: d3e.ana
Reply
🤙will_that_one_guy
Reply
This tastes just like at the restaurant! Thanks man!
Reply
1. Thanks for taking the time to share your review! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
  Reply
Like YUMMY! Made with Katsu Chicken and Pork. My family loved it!
Reply

Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce (only 4 ingredients!) - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)