Easy to make Chicken Teriyaki Recipe you will love! (2024)

BY :Bebs | Published: | Updated: | 13 Comments

RECIPE VIDEO PRINT

5 from 6 votes

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Crispy skin yet tender-juicy meat drizzled with sweet-savory sauce,- this Chicken Teriyaki Recipe is indeed a delicious mix of contradictions that you will love. More so because it is so easy to make!

Easy to make Chicken Teriyaki Recipe you will love! (1)
  • What is Teriyaki?
  • Teriyaki Sauce and Its Ingredients
  • More Teriyaki Options
  • Printable Recipe
  • Easy Teriyaki Chicken

What is Teriyaki?

Teriyaki is a famous Japanese cooking technique where the meat is usually broiled or grilled and served with a glazed sauce. The term itself is derived from two Japanese words- Teri and Yaki. Teri refers to the gloss or sheen in the sauce created by the sugar, while Yaki simply means to grill or to broil.

Teriyaki Sauce and Its Ingredients

Teriyaki sauce is made from four basic ingredients, soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and ginger. While three out of these four ingredients are very familiar to a lot of us, some may not know much about mirin.

Mirin is a Japanese rice wine used for cooking. It is similar to Sake but it has more sugar and less alcohol content in it. I get a lot of questions about substituting Sake for Mirin- this is fine, as long as you are aware of the difference between the two. Remember- while Marin is purposely made for cooking, Sake is made as an alcoholic drink that can be used for cooking as well.

I substituted sugar with honey on this recipe. Though both are considered sweeteners, honey is sweeter so I used less of it. Honey has more health benefits compared to processed sugar as it contains minerals, amino acids, and is a good source of antioxidants.

You will also notice that my recipe below does not have ginger on it but feel free to use it if you want to. I would say that it is more apt to use it for fish teriyaki recipes.

Easy to make Chicken Teriyaki Recipe you will love! (2)

More Teriyaki Options

I opted to use chicken thighs for this recipe because I wanted to have crispy chicken skin with the tender meat. I personally prefer using the thigh versus breast part as it packs more flavor and is juicier, making it perfect for frying.

If you do not like chicken in general, don't fret! Teriyaki sauce can be paired with an array of options. You can use fish like tuna, mackerel, salmon, and trout. If you prefer other meats, you can also use pork, lamb, and beef. This is a very versatile sauce that goes well with a lot of food.

You can serve this chicken teriyaki as rice toppings and with some green vegetables like steamed broccoli or pak choi. I like garnishing mine with thinly sliced fresh green onions stalk because it adds more crispiness from the already crispy chicken skin. It gives every mouthful a refreshingly good taste.

Easy to make Chicken Teriyaki Recipe you will love! (3)

More Japanese food for you...

If you are still in the mood for more scrumptious Japanese food after trying this Chicken Teriyaki Recipe, try these:

Printable Recipe

Easy to make Chicken Teriyaki Recipe you will love! (7)

Print Review

Easy Teriyaki Chicken

5 from 6 votes

Sweet and savory sauce, crispy yet tender meat, this Chicken Teriyaki Recipe is indeed a delicious mix of contradictions that you will love.

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Marinating Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 45 minutes mins

Course :Main Course

Servings =6

Print Recipe Rate this Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless chicken thigh with skin or chicken breast -about 4-5 pieces
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 3 teaspoon mirin
  • 2-3 tablespoons oil - for frying
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds - for garnishing
  • 1 stalk green onions - sliced thinly for garnishing

TERIYAKI SAUCE

  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup Mirin
  • ¼ cup honey
  • ¼ cup water

Instructions

  • Combine chicken, salt, sugar, and mirin in a bowl and mix well. Cover and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.

  • While waiting, prepare the teriyaki sauce by combining all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Let it cook until reduced by half and slightly thicker. Set aside.

  • Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken with the skin side first for 3-5 minutes or until golden and crispy. Then turn and do the same on the other side.

  • Transfer chicken to a chopping board and cut into bite-size. Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with teriyaki sauce. Finish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds on top and some green onions.

Nutrition

Calories: 447kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 26gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 148mgSodium: 1527mgPotassium: 338mgFiber: 1gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 138IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg

Have you tried this recipe?Mention @foxyfolksy or tag #FoxyFolksyRecipes!

This recipe was originally published in Novem 2017. Updated in August 2020 to include new photos, more tips, and a recipe video.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    What do you think?

  1. S Walker says

    The sauce was bland and did not thicken as much so i added 2 tbsp brown sugar and corn starch slurry to thicken it a little bit more. 2 tsp salt on the marinate was too salty for me, i will cut it down to 1 tsp next time. Overall, my family loved the recipe!

    Reply

  2. Remy Perez says

    Easy to make Chicken Teriyaki Recipe you will love! (20)
    It is a very simple recipe to make and,it taste good. My family and friends like it very much.

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      That's great, Remy! Thanks for the great review.

      Reply

  3. Cyrene says

    Easy to make Chicken Teriyaki Recipe you will love! (21)
    Finally found the perfect teriyaki recipe... my family loved it. Thanks for sharing

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      Glad you and the family like it! Thanks for the 5 star, Cyrene.

      Reply

      • Chrissie says

        Easy to make Chicken Teriyaki Recipe you will love! (22)
        What a great chicken teriyaki recipe! Tastes like something that would be served in a Japanese restaurant. Thank you!

        Reply

        • Bebs says

          What praise! 😘 That is so nice of you, Chrissie.

          Reply

  4. Rose says

    Easy to make Chicken Teriyaki Recipe you will love! (23)
    Thanks for sharing this recipe. This will be my go-to teriyaki recipe from now on.

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      Happy that you like it, Rose.

      Reply

  5. Monica says

    Easy to make Chicken Teriyaki Recipe you will love! (24)
    It was so good. This has been the teriyaki recipe I have been wanting to cook for a long time. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      That is awesome! Glad you love it, Monica.

      Reply

  6. Mary Nichole says

    Easy to make Chicken Teriyaki Recipe you will love! (25)
    Amazing Recipe!! For the first time, I have tried this and it was just yum. We can make our tummy full of tasty chicken. Must try!!

    Reply

  7. A L says

    Loved your very simple recipes. Have tried several of them.

    Reply

Easy to make Chicken Teriyaki Recipe you will love! (2024)

FAQs

How is teriyaki traditionally made? ›

Traditionally, teriyaki sauce is made by mixing and heating three ingredients: sugar, soy sauce, and sake (or mirin). Mirin is a Japanese rice wine, similar to sake, but with more sugar and a lower alcohol content of 14%.

What is chicken teriyaki made of? ›

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

How do you thicken and sweeten teriyaki sauce? ›

The easiest way to make teriyaki sauce thicker is with a cornstarch slurry (which this recipe uses). Whisk together 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water, and add the mixture to your sauce while it simmers.

Is there a difference between chicken teriyaki and teriyaki chicken? ›

It's common to use this form when talking about a specific menu item at a restaurant, for example, "I'll have the chicken teriyaki." Teriyaki Chicken: This phrase emphasizes the key ingredients and the cooking style. It can be used in a more general sense, such as when yo.

What is 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.

Is chicken teriyaki supposed to be sweet? ›

Teriyaki sauce has a complex flavour; a mixture of sweet and savoury, tangy and salty. The sweetness comes from the sweet wine and the caramelisation of the sugar, honey or syrup, which also gives the sauce its shiny glaze.

How long to marinate chicken? ›

You can marinate chicken anywhere from 2 hours up to 24 hours, though marinating chicken for even 15 to 30 minutes can impart flavor and moisture into smaller pieces of meat. Generally, bone-in cuts of chicken, such as wings, drumsticks and breasts, will require a longer marinade time than their boneless counterparts.

What is teriyaki marinade made of? ›

To make a marinade: Stir soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, brown sugar, sesame seeds, garlic, and ginger together in a bowl until well combined. To make a sauce: Pour marinade mixture into a small saucepan and warm over medium-high heat.

How do you make teriyaki sauce taste better? ›

Sesame oil: A drizzle of sesame oil will add a nutty and aromatic flavor to your teriyaki sauce. It's a great way to enhance the overall taste and aroma of the dish. Honey or brown sugar: Adding a little honey or brown sugar will give the sauce a touch of sweetness that will balance out the saltiness.

Should I add cornstarch to teriyaki sauce? ›

To Make the Teriyaki Sauce:

When the mixture reaches a simmer, bring the heat down to low and allow to reduce for 10 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl; the mixture will thicken as it cools. Note: If you want super thick teriyaki sauce, you can use a bit of cornstarch to help.

What can I substitute for honey in teriyaki sauce? ›

Honey or maple syrup

Typically, you'll find a combination of honey and brown sugar in teriyaki recipes. I wanted this recipe to be entirely naturally sweetened, so I used all honey instead. If you want teriyaki sauce without honey, simply use maple syrup. It's great, too!

Is it better to buy or make teriyaki sauce? ›

Home cooks should be aware of the two versions of teriyaki sauce when they go shopping. The thinner teriyaki sauce makes for a better a marinade, though in our teriyaki taste test, we determined you're better off making your own teriyaki marinade at home than buying a bottle of the thin stuff.

What is the closest thing to teriyaki sauce? ›

A simple and effective substitute for teriyaki sauce is a combination of soy sauce and brown sugar. The soy sauce provides the salty umami flavor, while the brown sugar adds sweetness and helps to caramelize the dish. To make this substitute, mix one part soy sauce with one part brown sugar.

Is teriyaki traditional? ›

Ultimately, while teriyaki is of Japanese descent and a traditional method of preparing and cooking meats, the origins of the classic teriyaki dish that we know and consume today is Japanese-American. It is the by-product of American colonization, immigration patterns, and cultural collaboration.

What is the origin of teriyaki? ›

In short, teriyaki (teri: the shine on the food; and yaki: grilling) goes back a few hundred years in Japan, and was associated with a style of grilling fish with a sauce primarily made from soy sauce, sweet rice wine, and sake.

What is the origin of teriyaki marinade? ›

Teriyaki sauce has a very interesting history. It is widely believed that the cooking technique emerged in the 17thcentury in Japan, referring to the culinary method that was used to grilled food during the era.

Where was teriyaki first made? ›

Traditionally the meat is dipped in or brushed with sauce several times during cooking. It is believed that Teriyaki in Japan evolved during the 1600s.

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