Teriyaki Chicken (Most Delicious Recipe) - Downshiftology (2024)

Home Recipes Courses Dinner Teriyaki Chicken

by Lisa Bryan

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Updated Oct 18, 2023

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Teriyaki chicken is a quick and hearty dish that wins every time. Quickly stir fry chicken pieces and mix with a sticky sweet teriyaki sauce. Serve it on top of a bed of rice alongside freshly steamed veggies. Best of all? You’ll have a healthy and satisfying meal on your dinner table in just 20 minutes.

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You know that deliciously sweet and sticky teriyaki chicken you get at a Japanese restaurant? Well, it’s pretty simple to make right at home – so add this to your list of easy dinner ideas.

This is a quick stir-fry recipe that will switch up your typical chicken routine. Instead of using a blend of herbs like in my chicken fajitas or slow cooker chicken, we’re turning towards basic Japanese pantry items. Ingredients like soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sake work together to create the most delicious homemade teriyaki sauce. Just pour this over the chicken towards the end, let it simmer, and you’re done.

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Forget about the store-bought stuff. It’s full of fillers and colorings. All you need for the most delicious teriyaki sauce is four simple ingredients:

  • Soy Sauce: I’m using Tamari for gluten-free soy sauce. But, you can also use coconut aminos for a soy-free version.
  • Sake: A Japanese alcohol made from fermented rice that can be enjoyed as a drink and give flavor to cooking.
  • Mirin: It’s similar to sake but has a lower alcohol content and more sugar. It also gives our sauce that lovely glaze.
  • Honey: Traditional teriyaki sauce uses granulated sugar, but honey works just as well.

This teriyaki sauce will taste just like your Japanese restaurant favorite! But if you don’t have sake or mirin, check out the substitutions I’ve listed on my teriyaki sauce post. I’ll give you options with pantry staples as well.

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How To Make Teriyaki Chicken

This recipe is best made with boneless skinless chicken thighs. While you can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs are generally more tender, flavorful and juicy.

  1. Prep the sauce. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sake, mirin and honey until everything is well combined. Set this aside.
  2. Prep and cook the chicken. Dice the chicken thighs into bite size pieces. Then, heat the oil in a large saute pan or wok over medium high heat. Add in the chicken and stir fry for 3-4 minutes, until it becomes a golden brown.
  3. Add the sauce. Give the sauce a quick whisk then stir it in with the chicken. Continue cooking and let it simmer for about 4-5 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
  4. Serve. Serve on top a fresh bed of rice and steamed broccoli. Garnish with optional diced green onions and sesame seeds.
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What To Serve With Teriyaki Chicken

Since teriyaki chicken is already rich in flavor, rice and freshly steamed veggies make for the perfect pairing. Below are a few easy ideas to whip up while your chicken is cooking in the pan.

  • Steamed Broccoli
  • Garlic Sauteed Spinach
  • Sauteed Cabbage
  • Green Beans With Shallots And Lemon
  • Garlic Ginger Bok Choy
  • Cauliflower Rice

To Store

  • If you’ve got leftovers, store the teriyaki chicken and rice in their own containers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Separate containers will make sure your rice doesn’t get soggy from the sauce.
  • If you’re looking to freeze for later, place the chicken into a freezer-safe container and store for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat, let it thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat the next day.
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More Easy Dinner Ideas

On a time crunch? Here’s a few tasty and easy dinner recipes to keep up your sleeves come dinner hour.

  • Chicken Fajitas
  • Garlic Butter Shrimp
  • Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl
  • Coconut Curry Chicken
  • Scallops With Citrus Ginger Sauce
  • Stuffed Peppers
  • Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Teriyaki Chicken (Most Delicious Recipe) - Downshiftology (6)

Most Delicious Teriyaki Chicken

4.90 from 59 votes

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Total: 20 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Lisa Bryan

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Description

Teriyaki chicken is bursting with flavor and super easy. This Japanese restaurant favorite can be made in 20 minutes! Watch the video below to see how I make it in my kitchen!

Video

Ingredients

Chicken Stir Fry

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, diced into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Teriyaki Sauce

Garnish

Instructions

  • In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sake, mirin, and honey until everything is well combined. Set this aside.

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  • Dice the chicken into 1-inch pieces.

    Teriyaki Chicken (Most Delicious Recipe) - Downshiftology (8)

  • Heat the oil in a large saute pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add in the chicken and let it cook for 1-2 minutes on one side, until nice and golden. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.

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  • Stir fry the chicken, flip it over, and cook the other side for another 1-2 minutes. You don't want it cooked through at this stage, just seared on the outside.

    Teriyaki Chicken (Most Delicious Recipe) - Downshiftology (10)

  • Give the sauce a quick whisk and add it to the pan along with the minced ginger and garlic. Stir the sauce with the chicken and let it simmer for 4-5 minutes until the sauce has reduced and thickened.

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  • Serve on top of a fresh bed of rice and a side of steamed broccoli. Garnish with diced green onions and sesame seeds.

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Lisa’s Tips

  • Remember that if you don’t have sake or mirin, you can still make this delicious recipe. Check out my teriyaki sauce post for substitutions.

Nutrition

Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 162mg | Sodium: 1345mg | Potassium: 458mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 41IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 2mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: Chicken Teriyaki, How To Make Teriyaki Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken

©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

Read More About Me

Teriyaki Chicken (Most Delicious Recipe) - Downshiftology (2024)

FAQs

What is teriyaki chicken made of? ›

Traditional teriyaki from Japan is grilled meat with a simple glaze made of soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar.

How to use teriyaki sauce in cooking? ›

Teriyaki sauce is usually added to the meat (or meat substitute) while it's being cooked on a grill or a wok. It's also often used as a dipping sauce or condiment for pork tenderloin, chicken thighs, chicken breasts, flank steak, or, of course, your meat substitutes of choice.

Is teriyaki popular in Japan? ›

Cultural Significance of Teriyaki

Its simplicity and delicious taste have made it a staple in Japanese bento boxes and family meals.

What is authentic teriyaki sauce made of? ›

Authentic Japanese teriyaki sauce combines soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and sake to create a distinctively sharp taste, with Westernized versions incorporating honey, garlic, and ginger for added edge. Cornstarch is often added to teriyaki sauce as a thickener.

What's the difference between teriyaki and teriyaki marinade? ›

The main difference is that marinades are used to flavor food before cooking while a sauce is added during the cooking process or after the dish has been cooked. One important thing: don't use premade marinade that's been used to marinate meat, poultry, or fish.

Can I just use teriyaki marinade as sauce? ›

To make a sauce: Pour marinade mixture into a small saucepan and warm over medium-high heat. Whisk water and cornstarch together in a small bowl; add to marinade mixture. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer sauce, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 5 to 7 minutes.

Can you use teriyaki sauce straight from the bottle? ›

A blend of traditionally brewed soy sauce for umami flavor, wine, sugar and spices, teriyaki marinade & sauce has the depth of flavor that makes it an ideal marinade or brush-on sauce, right from the bottle.

How do you make bottled teriyaki sauce taste better? ›

I would sweeten Kikkoman teriyaki sauce with brown sugar, honey or plain white sugar. I know Kikkoman teriyaki to be fairly bland, so I would also add some dried ginger, a little garlic powder, and a shot of mirin or dry sherry as well.

What mixes well with teriyaki? ›

This goes really well with rice and green vegetables on the side, such as broccoli. Mangetout, green beans or carrots also work. If you like your vegetables coated in sauce, when they're cooked you can mix them into the teriyaki sauce just before serving.

What alcohol goes with teriyaki chicken? ›

Teriyaki Chicken paired with Pinot Noir:

The Wine: Pinot Noir, with its red fruit aromas and earthy undertones, complements the sweet-savory play of Teriyaki.

Can you eat leftover teriyaki chicken? ›

Chicken can be tricky to reheat sometimes without drying it out. When I reheat teriyaki chicken, I like to add more sauce to it and then heat it up.

What is the difference between Japanese teriyaki and American teriyaki? ›

Teriyaki sauce in Japan is made by mixing together soy sauce, sake, mirin, sugar, etc. However, in the United States, it is made by adding several unique spices, creating a flavor a bit different from Japanese teriyaki sauce.

Why is Seattle teriyaki different? ›

Seattle style teriyaki takes a slight departure from the traditional Japanese method. Fresh ginger and garlic is blended into the teriyaki sauce, which is then used as a marinade to soak meat overnight.

What does yaki mean in Japanese? ›

The word "yaki" (meaning, basically, "cooked over direct. heat") shows up in the names of many well-known Japanese dishes. Some of the best known include teriyaki (meat or tofu cooked in a glistening.

What is teriyaki made of meat? ›

Teriyaki is a Japanese cooking term which describes food (usually meat) that is dipped or brushed with a sauce and then quickly grilled or broiled. The sauce used in teriyaki recipes is traditionally made with soy sauce, sake or mirin, and sugar or honey.

What does teriyaki taste like? ›

The main things that you'll taste when eating anything that's been glazed in teriyaki sauce is sweetness, tanginess and stickiness. You'll also get a big whack of salt and umami flavouring from the soy, which is why it works so well to amp up light fish or veg and bring out the umami flavours in red meat.

Why is teriyaki chicken healthy? ›

Teriyaki chicken's nutritional profile makes this Japanese dish a healthy choice for many. Packed with protein, low in calories and carbs, teriyaki chicken also provides essential vitamins and minerals. Customizable with various vegetables and toppings, teriyaki chicken suits different tastes and dietary needs.

Why is teriyaki chicken pink? ›

The USDA further explains that even fully cooked poultry can sometimes show a pinkish tinge in the meat and juices. This is particularly true of young chickens whose bones and skin are still very permeable. Pigment in the bone marrow can color the surrounding tissue and make the bones themselves look very dark.

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