4-Ingredient Katsu Sauce

This homemade katsu sauce is the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors and pairs wonderfully with tonkatsu, chicken katsu, or any of your favorite deep-fried dishes. Best of all, it takes less than 5 minutes to make with 4 simple ingredients!

What is katsu sauce? 

Katsu sauce, also known as tonkatsu sauce (とんかつソース), is a sweet and tangy condiment that is essential to Japanese cuisine.

It is commonly used as a dipping sauce for Japanese deep-fried cutlets like Tonkatsu or chicken katsu, but also pairs well with other deep-fried dishes like Takoyaki, Ebi Fry, croquettes, or sandwiches. 

Personally, tonkatsu sauce is one of my favorite sauces to serve alongside many dishes, but it can also be used to add a depth of flavor to your dishes, as demonstrated in my Hamburg Steak recipe. 

What does katsu sauce taste like?

In terms of flavor, katsu sauce can be described as a Japanese-style barbecue sauce that is more catered to the Asian palate than the traditonal western alternative.

It is sweet, tangy, and savory, and so addictive that you will want to serve it with anything and everything you enjoy! 

Although tonkatsu sauce can be commonly found in grocery stores with a popular option being the Bulldog brand, I prefer using my homemade katsu sauce recipe as it is cost-effective and comes together with just 4 ingredients that are easily accessible in my pantry. 

To make it even more convenient, you can double or triple the portion to make a bigger batch. Stored in an airtight container, this homemade katsu sauce will store well for up to a month in the fridge.

What do I need to make homemade tonkatsu sauce?

As mentioned earlier, this easy tonkatsu sauce recipe calls for only 4 simple ingredients, and the good news is that they are all easily accessible ingredients that are commonly found in your pantry.

Here are the ingredients you will need for this easy katsu sauce recipe:

• Ketchup: for the tangy and sweet flavors. You can use any tomato ketchup of choice, but I suggest using Hunt’s or Heinz for best results.
• Worcestershire sauce: for the umami. The anchovies in the sauce add a wonderful umami flavor, as well as contain a slight smokiness to complement the sweet tanginess of the sauce. 
• Sugar: for the extra sweetness. The amount of sugar can be easily altered to your desired preference. Both brown sugar, white sugar.
  • Liquid sweetners like honey or maple syrup will also work with this recipe, although it will thin out the consistency by a little bit. 
• Oyster sauce: or soy sauce, for the rich, savory flavors with an extra hint of umami. The premium soy sauce from Lee Kum Kee is still my personal favorite. 

And that’s it! All the ingredients you need to make your own homemade katsu or chicken katsu sauce. 

Simply combine all these ingredients in a bowl, and they are good for up to 1 month to use in whatever your heart desires. 

You can also add a tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds if you prefer nutty aromas in the sauce. To further enhance the aromas, crush them with a mortar and pestle before adding them to the mixture. 

What goes well with katsu sauce?

Aside from using it as your go-to tonkatsu or chicken katsu sauce, this versatile sauce can be used as a dipping sauce to any of your favorite dishes including chicken tenders, potstickers, croquettes, or tempura. 

It is basically a Japanese-style barbeque sauce, so you can totally be creative in its use! I also like to add this sauce to Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki, as well as in sandwiches or burgers to elevate their flavor. 

Hope you enjoy this delicious tonkatsu sauce recipe, and please leave me a comment below or message me on Instagram if you have any questions. Happy cooking! ♥

Other easy Japanese recipes you may like:

• 15-Minute Yaki Udon (Stir-Fried Udon Noodles)
• 10-Minute Zaru Soba (Cold Soba Noodles)
• Tamago Sando (Japanese Egg Sandwich)
• 15-Minute Oyakodon (Japanese Chicken & Egg Rice Bowl)
• Easy Bulgogi Beef Udon Stir Fry