Last Tuesday, oliver came home from his friend Jake's house raving about the teriyaki chicken Jake's mom had made for dinner. "Mom, it was so shiny and sweet, and it stuck to the rice in the best way!" For the next three days, he asked when we could make it at home. I'll admit, my previous attempts at homemade teriyaki had been disappointing - the sauce was either too thin and watery or burned onto the pan before it could get that restaurant-style glaze.
That weekend, I decided to figure it out once and for all. We spent Saturday afternoon testing different sauce ratios, with oliver acting as my official taste tester. By the third batch, when that glossy, caramelized sauce clung perfectly to the chicken and the kitchen smelled like our favorite Japanese restaurant, oliver looked up at me with sauce on his chin and said, "This is better than Jake's mom's!" High praise from a seven-year-old.
Why This Teriyaki Chicken Works
This teriyaki chicken has saved countless weeknight dinners in our house. The sauce takes just minutes to make with pantry staples, and the chicken cooks fast no matter which method you choose. oliver loves whisking the sauce and watching it go from thin liquid to thick and shiny. Plus, it tastes better than takeout, costs less, and we know exactly what's going into it.
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Teriyaki Chicken Ingredients
The Sauce:
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
The Chicken:
- 1½ pounds boneless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
For Serving:
- 4 cups cooked steamed rice
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 2 cups steamed broccoli
How To Make Teriyaki Chicken Step By Step
Make the Sauce
- Whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, and honey in small saucepan
- Add rice vinegar and water to thin the mixture
- Grate fresh garlic and ginger directly into the sauce
- Mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water in separate bowl
- Pour cornstarch slurry into sauce while whisking constantly
- Bring to simmer over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes
- Sauce will thicken and become glossy when ready
- Should coat the back of spoon when done
Prep and Season Chicken
- Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces about 1 inch each
- Pat dry with paper towels for better browning
- Season both sides with salt and pepper
- Room temperature chicken cooks more evenly than cold
Cook the Chicken
- Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat
- Add chicken in single layer without crowding the pan
- Cook undisturbed for 6 to 7 minutes until golden brown
- Flip and cook other side another 6 to 7 minutes
- Chicken should reach 165°F internal temperature
- Remove any excess oil if needed before adding sauce
Glaze with Sauce
- Pour prepared sauce over cooked chicken in skillet
- Let it bubble and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes
- Toss chicken to coat all pieces evenly with sauce
- Sauce will reduce and become thick and sticky
- Add sesame oil now if using for extra flavor
Serve and Garnish
- Transfer glazed chicken to serving plate over rice
- Spoon extra sauce from pan over the top
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds for crunch
- Top with sliced green onions for fresh flavor
- Serve immediately while hot and glossy
Smart Swaps for Teriyaki Chicken
Sauce Adjustments:
- Coconut aminos → Soy sauce
- Maple syrup → Honey
- Apple cider vinegar → Rice vinegar
- Arrowroot powder → Cornstarch
Protein Options:
- Salmon → Chicken
- Tofu → Chicken
- Shrimp → Chicken
- Pork tenderloin → Chicken
Sweetener Changes:
- White sugar → Brown sugar
- Agave → Honey
- Sugar-free → Regular
Teriyaki Chicken Variations
Through lots of dinner experiments, these versions are family favorites:
Teriyaki Chicken Bowl
- Cook teriyaki chicken as directed and set aside
- Prepare bowl with steamed white or brown rice as base
- Add 1 cup cooked edamame for protein boost
- Include sliced cucumber and shredded carrots for crunch
- Top with diced avocado for creamy texture
- Drizzle with spicy mayo or sriracha for heat
- Garnish with extra sesame seeds and green onions
- Complete meal in one bowl perfect for lunch prep
Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
- Cut chicken into smaller strips instead of chunks
- Toss in 2 sliced bell peppers during last few minutes of cooking
- Add 1 cup snap peas or snow peas for crisp texture
- Include 2 julienned carrots for color and sweetness
- Stir in sliced onions if desired
- Serve over cooked egg noodles or lo mein noodles
- Everything cooks together in one pan for easy cleanup
- Great way to use up vegetables in your fridge
Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken
- Add 1 cup pineapple chunks to pan with the sauce
- Use extra tablespoon of grated ginger for tropical flavor
- Include 1 sliced jalapeño for sweet and spicy combination
- Squeeze fresh lime juice over finished dish
- Pineapple caramelizes beautifully in the sauce
- Sweet and tangy flavors balance perfectly
- Serve over coconut rice for island-inspired meal
Sheet Pan Teriyaki Chicken
- Place chicken pieces on parchment-lined baking sheet
- Add 3 cups broccoli florets around the chicken
- Brush half the sauce on chicken before baking
- Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes
- Toss vegetables in remaining sauce halfway through
- Everything roasts together for hands-off cooking
- Less mess and easier cleanup than stovetop version
- Perfect for busy weeknights when you need easy dinner
Equipment For Teriyaki Chicken
- Heavy-bottomed skillet
- Small saucepan
- Sharp knife
- Whisk
- Measuring spoons
Storage Tips
Based on weekly meal prep sessions, here's what works:
Best Fresh
- Serve teriyaki chicken immediately while hot for best texture
- Fresh made chicken has the glossiest sauce and most tender meat
- The caramelized edges stay crispy when newly cooked
- Sauce clings perfectly to warm chicken right off the stove
Refrigerator Storage
- Cool chicken completely before storing to prevent condensation
- Store chicken and sauce separately in airtight containers
- Keep refrigerated up to 4 days for best quality
- Reheat gently in skillet over medium heat with splash of water
- Add fresh garnishes like sesame seeds and green onions when serving
- Sauce may thicken when cold so thin with water during reheating
Freezer Storage
- Freeze cooked chicken in portion sized containers up to 2 months
- Store sauce separately in freezer safe bags for best results
- Label containers with date to track freshness
- Thaw overnight in refrigerator before reheating
- Reheat on stovetop rather than microwave for better texture
- Frozen chicken loses some moisture so add extra sauce when reheating
Make Ahead Strategy
- Marinate raw chicken in half the sauce up to 24 hours ahead
- Prepare full sauce batch up to 3 days ahead and refrigerate
- Prep vegetables in advance and store in containers
- Cook chicken fresh day of serving for best flavor and texture
- Fresh cooked teriyaki chicken always tastes better than reheated
Top Tip
- oliver and I stumbled on our favorite twist to this teriyaki chicken sauce by total accident one Sunday afternoon. I was juggling multiple pots while oliver was "helping" by stirring the sauce. He grabbed what he thought was the rice vinegar and added an extra splash.
- Turns out, he'd picked up the bottle of mirin I'd just bought for another recipe. I almost started over, but oliver insisted we try it anyway. That happy accident taught us that a tablespoon of mirin adds this sweetness and depth that makes the sauce taste more complex - almost like you've been simmering it for hours.
- Now we always keep mirin on hand for our teriyaki chicken bowl nights. oliver calls it his "secret ingredient," and honestly, he's not wrong. Sometimes the best recipes come from seven-year-old mistakes in the kitchen.
FAQ
What is in teriyaki chicken?
Traditional teriyaki chicken has chicken with a sweet-savory sauce made from soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, garlic, ginger, and rice vinegar. The sauce thickens with cornstarch, creating that glossy coating. Some versions add sesame oil for nutty depth and mirin for subtle sweetness that balances the salty soy sauce.
Do I add teriyaki sauce before or after cooking chicken?
Add teriyaki sauce after cooking the chicken. Cook your chicken pieces until golden and fully cooked, then pour the sauce over them in the final few minutes. This stops the sugars from burning and lets the sauce glaze properly. For deeper flavor, you can marinate chicken beforehand but always finish with fresh sauce.
Does teriyaki chicken need to be marinated?
No, teriyaki chicken doesn't need marinating, though it can add flavor. The traditional method involves cooking chicken first, then glazing with sauce. For busy weeknights, skip marinating and just cook the chicken, add sauce, and let it reduce to a glossy coating. Marinating for 30 minutes to overnight works if you want deeper flavor.
What is the sauce for teriyaki chicken?
The classic teriyaki chicken sauce mixes equal parts soy sauce and sweetener (brown sugar or honey), with rice vinegar, fresh garlic, grated ginger, and a cornstarch slurry for thickening. Some recipes add mirin, sesame oil, or pineapple juice. The key is balancing sweet, salty, and tangy flavors while getting that thick, glossy consistency.
Dinner Made Simple!
Now you've got everything you need to make restaurant-quality teriyaki chicken at home - from the right sauce ratio to oliver's mirin discovery. This quick dinner proves that the best meals don't need fancy techniques.
Craving more comfort food winners? Try our Easy French Onion Pot Roast Recipe that fills your kitchen with amazing aromas and melts in your mouth. Short on time? Our Easy Butter Chicken Recipe Ready in 15 minutes delivers rich, creamy flavors without the wait. Need a budget-friendly family dinner? Check out our Best Hobo Casserole Ground Beef Recipe that's hearty, satisfying, and uses simple ingredients!
Share your Teriyaki Chicken success! Tag @SarahAndoliverKitchen and #HomemadeTeriyaki. We love seeing your dinner creations!
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Teriyaki Chicken
Teriyaki Chicken
🍳 Equipment
- 1 Heavy-bottomed skillet (For even browning and glazing the chicken)
- 1 Small saucepan (To simmer and thicken the sauce)
- 1 Sharp knife (For cutting chicken and prepping ingredients)
- 1 Whisk (For mixing sauce and slurry)
- 1 Measuring spoons (For accuracy in sauce ratios)
Ingredients
The Sauce
- ½ cup soy sauce - Can substitute coconut aminos
- ¼ cup brown sugar - Adds caramel sweetness
- 2 tablespoon honey - For glossy texture
- 2 tablespoon rice vinegar - Adds tanginess
- 3 cloves garlic - Minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger - Grated
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil - Optional for nutty flavor
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch - Thickener
- 2 tablespoon water - For slurry
- 1 tablespoon mirin - Optional - Oliver's "secret ingredient"
The Chicken
- 1½ lbs boneless chicken thighs or breasts - Cut into bite-sized pieces
- salt and pepper - To taste
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil - For cooking
For Serving
- 4 cups steamed rice - White or brown
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds - For garnish
- 2 green onions - Sliced
- 2 cups steamed broccoli - Optional side
Instructions
- Whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger in a saucepan. Mix cornstarch with water, add to the pan, and simmer 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces, pat dry with paper towels, and season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 6-7 minutes per side until golden brown and fully cooked (165°F).
- Pour prepared sauce over the cooked chicken, bring to a gentle simmer, and toss to coat evenly for 2-3 minutes until the sauce reduces and clings to the chicken.
- Serve the glazed chicken over steamed rice, drizzle with extra sauce, and garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
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