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This easy teriyaki chicken recipe is one of those recipes you keep in your pocket for those busy nights when you don’t want to think too much about dinner but still want something comforting. It’s sweet, savory, glossy, and quick to make with simple ingredients you have in your pantry. No commercially available sauces here!
If takeout teriyaki is your norm, this homemade version will surprise you. It’s faster than delivery, easy to customize, and one of those meals everyone at the table will love.
best teriyaki chicken recipe
Cade loves sushi. I like it. I think that’s terrifying. Wait, I know you guys like it too, but I just can’t get on that bandwagon. I’d love to, but at the moment I’m just trying to find a way to survive. For example, I love Cade and he loves sushi, so we love going out to eat sushi together.
The only thing that stinks is sitting there without eating anything, so I usually try to buy a teriyaki chicken bowl or something similar. I’ve loved easy teriyaki chicken bowls since I was a kid, and remember how I told you about teriyaki chicken quesadillas? Yeah, they’re pretty good. So why have I never posted such an easy and delicious recipe?
I think the real secret to teriyaki chicken, other than the sauce, lies in the actual meat used. Everyone wants the brisket, which is nice and firm, but it’s all about the thighs! The chicken thighs are moist and go well with the teriyaki sauce.
In fact, I think I’ll ask if they can make teriyaki chicken sushi rolls for me! genius! Oh, wait, I don’t like seaweed. Dagnabit! look! I’ve tried to like the thing. Do you have any recommendations on which types to try that would be more familiar to me?In the meantime, let’s make some easy teriyaki chicken bowls for my family!
teriyaki chicken ingredients
The best part about this teriyaki chicken recipe is definitely the homemade teriyaki chicken sauce. Here’s what you need:
Water: Thin the sauce to the right consistency and balance the sweet and salty flavors to avoid making the teriyaki too thick. Soy sauce: Provides the flavorful, salty backbone of the sauce and provides the classic umami flavor essential to teriyaki. Garlic: Adds depth of aroma and warmth of flavor, giving sauces a rich, homemade flavor. Brown sugar: It adds sweetness and also slightly caramelizes the sauce during cooking, giving it a glossy finish. Honey: Adds a mellower, mellower sweetness, and the sauce coats the chicken beautifully. Grated ginger: Gentle warmth and a hint of spice balance the sweetness and enhance the overall depth of flavor. Cornstarch: The sauce thickens during cooking, creating a distinctive glossy, restaurant-style teriyaki coating. Chicken thighs: They remain tender and juicy during cooking and absorb the sauce well, making them ideal for flavorful teriyaki dishes. Salt and pepper: Enhance and balance the overall flavor of the chicken without overpowering the sauce. Sesame seeds and green onions: Add texture, freshness, and a finishing touch. The sesame seeds provide a light nutty crunch, and the green onions add brightness and color.
How to make teriyaki chicken
This is a really easy teriyaki chicken recipe. Mix the chicken teriyaki sauce, grill the chicken, and serve! Here are the detailed steps:
Make the sauce: Add all sauce ingredients to the pot and stir. Bring to a boil. Thicken the sauce: Whisk the water and cornstarch together, then slowly stir into the sauce at a soft boil for 1 to 3 minutes or until thickened. Let’s set it aside. Grill the chicken: Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper. Place on the grill and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side. Note: The safe internal temperature for chicken thighs is 165°F. Check doneness using a meat thermometer. Let it rest: Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 2 minutes before cutting into slices. To eat: Place the chicken on top of the rice, pour the teriyaki sauce over the top, and serve over the rice. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.
FAQ
The most common source of gluten in teriyaki sauce is soy sauce. Unless labeled gluten-free, most soy sauces contain wheat, soy, salt, and water.
If you want to make your dish healthier, serve this easy teriyaki chicken with brown rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or wrapped in lettuce.
Yes, you can! Make the sauce according to the instructions, add the chicken to the slow cooker, season with salt and pepper, and pour the sauce over it. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 2 hours.
what to eat with teriyaki chicken
Nine times out of ten, I’ll serve teriyaki chicken and rice. Timeless, classic and so delicious! It goes great with noodles, or you can add vegetables to your teriyaki chicken bowl and serve it with steamed vegetables alone.
Some other good ideas include sautéed snap peas with garlic, roasted broccoli, and Asian cucumber salad.
Tips for making the best teriyaki chicken
You can also use chicken breast instead of chicken thighs if you prefer. However, for this teriyaki chicken recipe, I prefer to use chicken thighs as it makes for a richer and juicier dish. Chicken can be cooked on an outdoor grill or indoors in a grill pan. If you don’t have either, just fry the chicken in a frying pan with oil. We like to garnish this no-fuss teriyaki chicken with sesame seeds and green onion slices, but both are optional. For a fun twist, add pineapple chunks to your teriyaki sauce. I love the added texture and sweetness!
Preservation, freezing, reheating
Any leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. I prefer to store the chicken with the sauce, but you can store it separately if you prefer.
It also cools down very well. I like to freeze the chicken and teriyaki sauce together using Food Saver. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat, thaw frozen chicken completely and then reheat in a skillet on the stove.
Don’t buy teriyaki sauce at the grocery store. With this teriyaki chicken recipe, you can easily make it at home. It’s the best of the best!
This easy teriyaki chicken proves that weeknight dinners don’t have to be complicated to be delicious. With tender chicken, simple homemade sauce, and endless ways to serve it, it’s a recipe you’ll want to make again and again.
More teriyaki recipes:
cooking modePrevent the screen from going dark
Heat a pot over medium heat and add water, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, honey, and ground ginger. Bring to a boil.
1 cup of water, 1/3 cup soy sauce, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 clove of garlic, 1 tablespoon honey, 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
Meanwhile, combine the water and cornstarch and slowly fold into the sauce.
2 tablespoons water, 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Continue to simmer the sauce at a soft boil for 1 to 3 minutes or until thickened. Let’s set it aside.
Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the chicken.
8 boneless skinless chicken thighs, salt & pepper
Place the chicken on the grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until cooked through.
Let rest on the plate for 2 minutes before slicing.
Serve with the sauce over rice.
sesame seeds and green onions
Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Provided by: 1thigh, calorie: 209kcal, carbohydrates: 18g, protein: twenty threeg, fat: 5g, Saturated fat: 1g, Trans fat: 1g, cholesterol: 107mg, sodium: 646mg, potassium: 320mg, fiber: 1g, sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 27IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, calcium: 26mg, iron: 1mg
Nutritional information is automatically calculated and should only be used as a rough guide.
