30 Ways To Use Soy Sauce for Dinner Tonight

If you’re on the hunt for some creative ways to use soy sauce, you’ve come to the right place.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve got more than one bottle hiding in the fridge. So, why not make something savory and scrumptious?

It’s easier than you think to replace table salt with the umami goodness of soy.

The wings are yummy, and the Asian chicken recipes are delicious, but did you know you can even add it to cookie dough?

No matter what you’re in the mood for, these 30 ways to use soy sauce should have you covered.

1. Sesame Chicken

Recreate this succulent foodcourt staple right in your own kitchen.

Sesame chicken is so savory and delicious and is an excellent option for when you want to make takeout at home.

Plus, it’s got a more salty profile than, say, orange chicken or sweet and sour pork.

This sesame chicken is breaded and smothered in a mouthwatering glaze, with sesame seeds sprinkled on top. Yum!

2. Eggs with Soy Sauce Sauce & Scallions

Looking for something filling on a budget? How about this super-simple egg dish?

It’s easy to throw together, and it’s pretty tasty too!

Soy sauce is the real star of the show, accompanying the eggs and scallions to perfection.

Served on a bed of white rice, this is the perfect thing to make for a late-night snack. Feel free to add some leftover chicken, pork, or tofu too.

3. Yakitori

Yakitori roughly translates to grilled chicken, but these skewers are much more than that.

Coated in a savory-sweet sauce made from soy, mirin, sake, and sugar, this chicken is bursting with flavor in every bite.

For the best taste, cook this on the grill.

4. Beef and Broccoli

This recipe is so simple and yet so jampacked with flavor. 

I mean, what’s not to love about tender beef mingled with crispy broccoli, coated in a thick, flavorful sauce?

5. Filipino Chicken Adobo

Chicken Adobo isn’t the national dish of the Philippines for nothing.

This recipe is effortless but yields such an incredible, flavor-packed result.

The chicken is tender and juicy, coated in a sweet thick glaze with whole peppercorns sprinkled in to give it a bit of an edge.

It’s Filipino chicken at its best. 

6. Easy Saucy Ramen Noodles (Vegan Recipe)

If you’re a “carbivore” like me, you’ll definitely appreciate these easy saucy ramen noodles.

The sauce might intimidate with its ten ingredients, but you probably have many components in your pantry already. From there, it’s a breeze.

This recipe is vegan and comes together in under 20 minutes. 

7. LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs)

These short ribs are so succulent they’ll fall right off the bone. 

Soy sauce provides the perfect base to the marinade too, which leaves these ribs so juicy and tasty, they’ll have you going back for seconds. 

8. Korean Sweet Tangy Soy Dipping Sauce

If you want to spice up your dinner, this sauce has you covered.

This authentic Korean recipe takes a pantry staple and turns it into something sweet, tangy, and wonderfully customizable.

Just add sugar, water, and rice vinegar, to take it to a whole new level of yum. Oh, and don’t forget the spice. I like to add a few glugs of Sriracha too!

9. Hoisin Sriracha Chicken 

Hoisin sauce is always a winner. The sweetness complements everything from chicken and duck to tofu.

When you add soy sauce, too, it creates something breathtaking.

In 20 minutes, you can have this mouthwatering hoisin Sriracha chicken on the table, and trust me, your guests will be wowed

The flavors from the ginger, hoisin, and soy sauce sing from the plate, and the kick from the Sriracha leaves you feeling warm and satisfied.

10. Easy Stir Fry Sauce 

Stir fry is my favorite dish to make when cleaning the fridge. It’s so simple and tasty, and you can pretty much add whatever you’d like!

This easy stir fry sauce might look ingredient-heavy, but you probably already have everything kicking around. 

It creates a sweet, savory, salty, and swoon-worthy sauce in a matter of minutes.

11. Korean Pickled Perilla Leaves (Kkaennip Jangajji)

This dish closely resembles Kimchi, but with the added benefits of perilla leaves to give you that daily dose of veggies.

This is one of the easiest recipes to prep; all you do is mix the ingredients in a container and leave it in the fridge to ferment. 

The next day you’re greeted with the perfect pickled perilla leaves, ready to be served as a healthy, tasty Korean appetizer or side dish. 

12. Soy Sauce Chicken

Looking for a simple yet delicious dish to whip up for dinner? How about this ridiculously easy three-ingredient chicken recipe?

It’s a beautiful representation of how delectable soy sauce is and shows that it can shine even on its own. 

13. Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls

Why spend money on takeout when you can make this affordable, restaurant-style Chinese food without leaving home?

Sweet and sour chicken balls are tender, juicy, and ideal for a Friday night dinner with the family.

Coated in a light and airy batter then deep-fried to perfection, these bite-sized balls are brimming with flavor and savory goodness.

Next time you’re craving that foodcourt Panda Express, rest easy knowing you have this recipe in your back pocket.

14. Korean Fried Chicken

If you’re a fried chicken fan, get ready to fall in love.

Korean fried chicken takes all the goodness of American-style fried chicken but makes up for what KFC lacks in flavor.

You’ll use chili paste for heat, but it’s easy to adjust the spice level. 

15. Coffee and Soy Marinated Flank Steak

Who knew your morning cup of Joe could become your next favorite marinade? 

You might be thinking, ‘I don’t know about coffee and steak,’ but hear me out.

It’s an unlikely pairing, but the coffee brings a subtle smokiness to the meat, while the soy sauce adds savory umami flavors.

Together, the flavor duo makes a fantastic steak you won’t forget.

16. Soy Sauce Caramel

I bet you never thought you’d see this flavor combination. 

If you’re a fan of salted caramel (and I mean, who isn’t), then get ready for a rendition that will blow your socks off.

This recipe creates a savory-sweet sauce that tastes like salted caramel with a savory kick.

It’s perfect for drizzling over ice cream, cheesecake, pies, and more! 

17. 3 Ingredient Easy Teriyaki Sauce

What’s better than a four-ingredient teriyaki sauce? Why a three-ingredient teriyaki sauce, of course.

This simple sauce packs a mean punch in the flavor department and only requires soy sauce, honey, and cornstarch.

The result? A sinfully straightforward sauce that will make any meat, poultry, or tofu sing.

18. Korean Chicken Wings with Gochujang Sauce 

These sweet ‘n’ spicy wings give you the perfect side dish for Friday night football. They’re easy to make and full of garlicky goodness.

You’ll use gochugaru on the wings, then gochujang in the sauce, so the heat is pretty impressive.

But you can easily adjust that to your liking!

19. Mongolian Chicken

This Mongolian chicken recipe creates perfect bitesize pieces. 

The chicken is crispy on the outside but tender and juicy inside. Each mouthful is better than the last and it won’t take long before you’re hooked on this Mongolian dish.

20. Hawaiian Beef Teriyaki 

Who knew that beef could be so sweet and succulent? 

The tender slices of beef in this Hawaiian beef teriyaki recipe soak up the flavor like a sponge.

Marinating the meat ahead of time is essential if you want to seal in the taste. But it’s easy enough to prep the night before a dinner party.

21. Scallop Crudo 

This recipe only takes ten minutes to prep, and the results are spectacular.

Featuring thinly sliced scallops served in a gentle marinade of olive oil, soy sauce, and lime juice, this is one heavenly, melt-in-your-mouth dish.

The sweetness of the fresh scallops is unexpected, but after one bite, you’ll wish you’d made double.

22. Instant Pot Moo Shu Beef 

Moo Shu Beef is one of my go-to Chinese carryout meals, but that was before I knew how easy it was to make in an Instant Pot. 

Now, I can’t wait to make this for a lazy Sunday night dinner when it’s too cold to leave the house.

This easy Instant Pot recipe combines many unique flavors and textures, including tender shredded beef, crisp fresh coleslaw, and fluffy scrambled eggs.

23. Sugared Soy Sauce Salmon

Soy sauce and salmon are one of my favorite combinations, especially when there’s some chili in the mix too.

This recipe takes it a step further by adding a sugary sweetness to buttery fish.

To obtain maximum flavor, you only have to marinade these salmon fillets for ten minutes. 

The brown sugar coats the fish beautifully, creating a subtle crust that brings a breeze of sweetness to every mouthful.

24. Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes were always an ordinary weeknight dinner in my family. 

Even now, whenever I’m craving something comforting and nostalgic, I hail back to these messy-delicious sloppy sammies.

Soy sauce is the secret weapon in this recipe, bringing a bit extra umami to the sweet and tangy sauce.

Together, the salty, sweet, and smoky mingle and create one heck of a fantastic sandwich.

25. Hawaiian Fried Rice

Fried rice is always my go-to on those nights I don’t feel like cooking. But this recipe takes the lazy meal is little more than just cold rice and eggs. 

The addition of sweet, juicy pineapple and savory, smoky ham pieces makes this a well-rounded treat for your palate.

Best of all, it’s still super simple to make! Canned pineapple and prebaked ham make a no-frills addition to really level up this recipe.

26. Soy Sauce Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yep, you read this right: soy sauce chocolate chip cookies are the treat you didn’t know you needed.

If you’re a fan of adding sea salt to your cookies, this recipe will knock your socks off. 

The salty and sweet go hand in hand, after all, creating one interesting bite (in the most fantastic way.)

Give this recipe a spin if you want a fresh twist on the old classic. I promise you won’t regret it. 

27. Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)

Pad Kee Mao literally translates to ‘drunken noodles,’ and these saucy noodles go well with beer to cure a hangover.

That said, this recipe is fantastic no matter when or where you make it.

The chili adds a nice little kick to every bite, cutting out some of the sauce’s sweetness. But there’s still plenty of sugary heat.

It’s super easy to whip together, too, especially on late, post-hangover morning when you need all the help you can get. 

28. Pork and Cabbage Potstickers

These potstickers are better than takeout. Not convinced? Try them for yourself!

While rolling and sealing the dough might take a few tries, the final product will be well worth it. 

One bite into the juicy filling, and you’ll be wondering why you don’t make these every day.

29. Miso Butter Mushrooms in Foil 

This dish is one decadent delight.

All you have to do is place the mushroom medley into foil, add butter, miso, sake, and soy sauce. Then, let it bake. 

The juices of the mushrooms are sealed in, ready to be served over a bed of jasmine rice.

30. Char Siu Chicken 

Char Siu seasoning combines everything I love about Chinese cuisine; garlic, sweetness, and a little spice. 

This recipe is perfect for a summer BBQ when you’re getting a little tired of the same old sauce. 

This recipe provides the same smoky-sweetness but with more umami flavor. 

Be sure to make extra because you’ll want to put it on everything!