Sizzling Teriyaki Chicken Recipe: Juicy Asian-Inspired Magic

Fire up the skillet for a mouthwatering teriyaki chicken that delivers serious flavor.

This classic teriyaki chicken recipe brings Japanese-inspired comfort straight to your dinner table.

Tender chicken pieces bathe in a glossy, sweet-savory sauce that clings perfectly to each morsel.

Packed with umami and balanced seasonings, the dish promises a restaurant-quality meal you can easily make at home.

The combination of soy sauce, mirin, and brown sugar creates a magical marinade that transforms ordinary chicken into something extraordinary.

Serve this teriyaki chicken over steamed rice, and watch as everyone at the table asks for seconds.

Your weeknight dinner just got a delicious upgrade.

Instructions for Sweet and Sticky Teriyaki Chicken

• Prep The Protein

Season chicken with salt and pepper, ensuring each piece gets a tasty coating.

• Craft The Sauce

Blend soy sauce, honey, vinegar, crushed garlic, and grated ginger in a bowl, creating a vibrant flavor mix.

• Cook The Chicken

Sizzle chicken in a hot skillet with oil until golden and fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes, then set aside.

• Build The Glaze

Pour sauce into the same skillet, letting it bubble and reduce over medium heat.

• Thicken The Coating

Create a quick cornstarch slurry by mixing with water, then stir into the sauce until it transforms into a glossy, clingy glaze.

• Combine And Finish

Return chicken to the skillet, rolling and coating each piece in the rich, sticky sauce.

• Add Final Touches

Sprinkle sesame seeds and chopped green onions over the chicken for a fresh, crunchy garnish before serving.

Tips for Thickening or Adjusting the Teriyaki Sauce

• Flavor Boost: Marinate chicken in the teriyaki sauce for 30 minutes before cooking to enhance deeper flavor profiles and tenderize the meat.
• Low-Sodium Swap: Replace regular soy sauce with reduced-sodium soy sauce or tamari for a healthier alternative without compromising taste.
• Protein Variations: Substitute chicken with tofu, salmon, or beef for different protein options that work perfectly with the teriyaki sauce.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the teriyaki sauce in advance and store in the refrigerator for up to a week, allowing quick weeknight meal preparation with minimal effort.
• Gluten-Free Friendly: Use gluten-free soy sauce and ensure cornstarch is certified gluten-free to make this recipe safe for those with gluten sensitivities.

Serving Ideas for Teriyaki Chicken Meals

• Family Dinner Star: Serve this teriyaki chicken over steamed white or brown rice for a complete meal that brings everyone to the table with smiles.
• Meal Prep Champion: Pack individual portions with quinoa and roasted vegetables for delicious, easy lunch containers that stay exciting throughout the week.
• Crowd-Pleasing Gathering: Create a build-your-own teriyaki bowl station with chicken, extra sauce, chopped vegetables, and multiple grain options so guests can customize their plates.
• Flavor Booster Technique: Sprinkle extra toasted sesame seeds and finely sliced green onions right before serving to add fresh crunch and enhance the dish's visual appeal.

How to Store Teriyaki Chicken for Later

• Smart Batch Cooking: Prepare multiple chicken portions in advance, storing extras in airtight containers for quick weeknight meals. Refrigerate prepared chicken up to 3-4 days for maximum freshness and flavor retention.
• Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Cool teriyaki chicken completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers. Freeze portions for up to 2 months, ensuring perfect grab-and-go meals during busy weeks.
• Sauce Separation Tip: Store teriyaki sauce separately from chicken to maintain crispy texture. Keep sauce in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator, lasting approximately 7-10 days.
• Reheating Magic: Warm refrigerated chicken in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water to prevent drying. Microwave works too – cover and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between rounds for even temperature distribution.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Calories: 350 kcal

Servings: 4

Easy Teriyaki Chicken Ingredient List

• Chicken: Lean protein that provides the main substance of the dish, select boneless and skinless chicken breasts or thighs for tender, easy-to-cook meat with consistent texture.

• Soy Sauce: Adds deep umami flavor and saltiness, choose low-sodium version for better control of dish's saltiness.
• Honey: Provides natural sweetness and helps create glossy sauce texture, use raw honey for richer flavor profile.
• Brown Sugar: Alternative sweetener with deeper caramel notes, great for enhancing sauce complexity.
• Rice Vinegar: Brings subtle tangy brightness, helps balance sauce's sweet and savory elements.

• Garlic: Infuses robust, pungent flavor, use fresh minced cloves for most vibrant taste.
• Ginger: Adds warm, spicy undertone, fresh grated ginger provides more intense flavor than dried.

• Cornstarch: Creates silky, glossy sauce texture, ensures sauce clings perfectly to chicken.
• Water: Helps dissolve cornstarch and adjust sauce consistency.

• Sesame Seeds: Provides nutty crunch and visual appeal, toasted seeds offer more intense flavor.
• Green Onions: Adds fresh, mild onion flavor and bright color, slice thinly for best presentation.

• Salt: Enhances overall seasoning, use sparingly as soy sauce already contains salt.
• Pepper: Adds subtle heat and complexity to chicken's flavor.

Tools for Marinating and Cooking Teriyaki Chicken

• Large skillet: Essential for cooking chicken and preparing the sauce, preferably non-stick for easy cleaning.
• Small bowl: Perfect for whisking together the teriyaki sauce ingredients.
• Whisk: Needed to blend sauce components smoothly and prevent lumps.
• Measuring spoons and cups: Crucial for accurately measuring sauce ingredients.
• Cutting board: Used for preparing garlic, ginger, and green onion garnish.
• Sharp knife: Required for chopping garnish ingredients.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring sauce and tossing chicken in the skillet.

Sizzling Teriyaki Chicken Recipe

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4.7 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Savory homemade teriyaki chicken delivers authentic Japanese flavor in just 30 minutes. Simple ingredients and quick cooking method create a delicious meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 500 g (1 lb) chicken thighs or chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 3 tbsps soy sauce
• 2 tbsps honey
• 2 tbsps brown sugar
• 2 tbsps rice vinegar
• 2 tbsps apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsps mirin
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsps water
• sesame seeds
• chopped green onions

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Instructions

1. Seasoning Preparation: Thoroughly rub chicken pieces with salt and pepper, ensuring comprehensive flavor distribution.
2. Teriyaki Sauce Creation: Whisk soy sauce, honey, vinegar, garlic, and ginger in a bowl until ingredients seamlessly integrate, forming a glossy, aromatic liquid.
3. Searing Stage: Heat skillet with cooking oil over medium-high flame, positioning surface for optimal chicken caramelization and crisp exterior development.
4. Chicken Cooking Process: Place seasoned chicken in hot skillet, allowing each piece to transform into golden-brown perfection while achieving complete internal cooking, roughly 5-7 minutes per side.
5. Sauce Transformation: Transfer cooked chicken to a holding plate, then pour teriyaki mixture into the same skillet, initiating a gentle simmer that concentrates flavor profiles.
6. Sauce Thickening Technique: Blend cornstarch with water to create a smooth slurry, then slowly incorporate into simmering sauce, stirring continuously to develop a luxurious, velvety consistency.
7. Final Fusion: Return chicken to sauce-filled skillet, delicately coating each piece to ensure maximum flavor absorption and glistening presentation.
8. Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions over the dish, adding textural contrast and visual allure before presenting to eager diners.

Notes

• Chicken Prep Pro: Pat chicken dry before seasoning to ensure crispy, evenly browned exterior and prevent steaming.
• Sauce Consistency Hack: Adjust cornstarch slurry gradually to control sauce thickness; start with small amounts to prevent over-thickening.
• Heat Management Trick: Maintain medium-high heat for perfect golden-brown chicken without burning, using a heavy-bottomed skillet for even heat distribution.
• Flavor Boost Option: Marinate chicken in teriyaki sauce for 30 minutes before cooking to intensify flavor absorption and create more depth in the dish.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Japanese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 295
• Sugar: 12 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 27 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg