Easy Teriyaki Chicken Recipe

Teriyaki chicken is a popular Japanese meal that has a great mix of sweet and salty ingredients. This Easy Teriyaki Chicken Recipe combines the best of both worlds: it’s quick and easy to make in your own home. This recipe is great for a weekday dinner or to amaze your family or friends. It’s easy to make and always a hit.

Preparation and Cooking Time

Time to get ready: 10 minutes
Time to cook: 15 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

Four chicken breasts or thighs without bones or skin
1 tablespoon of honey (for marinade)
2 tablespoons of soy sauce (for marinade)
1 teaspoon of black pepper (for marinade)
2 teaspoons of olive oil
Add salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup of soy sauce (low-sodium is best)
1/4 cup of honey
Rice vinegar, 2 teaspoons
2 teaspoons of brown sugar
One tablespoon of freshly grated ginger or one teaspoon of powdered ginger
2 cloves of minced garlic
1 tablespoon of cornstarch (optional, for a richer sauce)
1 tablespoon of water (if you’re using cornstarch)
Optional: sesame seeds and sliced green onions for garnish

Instructions

Make the marinade: Mix together 1 tablespoon of honey, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, and a teaspoon of black pepper in a small bowl. Mix together by stirring. You may also add minced garlic and ginger to the marinade for extra flavor if you have more time.
Put the chicken in a marinade: Put the chicken breasts or thighs in a shallow dish or a resealable plastic bag. Make sure the chicken is well-coated by pouring the marinade over it. Put the bag in the fridge for at least 30 minutes after sealing it or covering the dish. You can marinade the chicken for up to four hours to give it extra flavor.
Get the chicken ready: On both sides, season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
Make the Chicken: Put the olive oil in a big skillet and turn the heat to medium. Add the chicken to the hot oil and cook it for about 6 to 7 minutes on each side, or until the inside of the chicken reaches 165°F (75°C) and the outside is golden brown. Check for doneness with a meat thermometer. You might need to cook chicken thighs for a little longer because they are thicker. Take the chicken out of the pan and set it aside.
Let the Chicken Rest: Let the chicken sit for a few minutes before cutting it up. Letting the chicken rest will help it keep its fluids and stay moist.
Make the sauce for teriyaki: While the chicken is cooking, make the teriyaki sauce. Put the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic in the same skillet. Mix everything together and heat it over medium heat until it starts to boil. Let the sauce simmer for 3-4 minutes to thicken somewhat. If you prefer a thicker sauce, combine the cornstarch and water together in a small basin, then stir it into the sauce. Continue to cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Taste and Change: Taste the sauce and change the sweetness or sourness as needed. For more sweetness, add a little more honey. For more tang, add a little more vinegar. You can make the sauce thinner by adding a bit more water if it gets too thick.
Coat the Chicken: After the chicken has rested, cut it into strips or pieces on a cutting board. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet with the sauce. Spoon the sauce over the chicken, ensuring it is uniformly coated. Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for 2-3 minutes, enabling the flavors to melt together. You may also pour the sauce over the chicken after it has been plated for a cleaner look.
Serve: Remove from heat and transfer the chicken to plates. Drizzle with any residual sauce from the pan.
Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions if preferred. If you want to add more taste and color, sprinkle sesame seeds and chopped green onions on top.

Serving Suggestions

You can serve this Easy Teriyaki Chicken with a lot of different sides. Here are several ways to serve:

Steamed Jasmine Rice: The sticky rice will soak up the tasty sauce, making it a great side dish for teriyaki chicken.
Stir-fried veggies: Serve stir-fried veggies like bell peppers, broccoli, and carrots with your dinner to make it more balanced.
Asian Slaw with a Vinegar Dressing: This crunchy slaw goes well with the rich chicken.
Noodles: For an even heartier supper, try putting the chicken on a bed of soba noodles or ramen.
Steamed edamame: A terrific snack or side dish to go with your teriyaki chicken.
For a full supper, serve the Teriyaki Chicken over steamed rice or with stir-fried vegetables.

Flavor Variations

To make the teriyaki sauce spicy, add a dash of chili flakes or a little quantity of sriracha.
Honey Garlic Teriyaki Chicken: If you want the sauce to taste more like garlic, add more minced garlic.
You can grill the marinated chicken instead of pan-searing it to give it a smokey flavor.
For a plant-based variation of vegetarian teriyaki “chicken,” use tofu or tempeh instead of chicken. Before marinating and cooking, make sure to press the tofu to get rid of extra water.
Teriyaki Chicken Bowls: Put rice, vegetables, and sliced chicken in a bowl and top with more teriyaki sauce for a full dinner.

Advice for Success

Marinate the Chicken: The chicken will taste better the longer you let it sit in the marinade. A simple 30-minute marinate will make the flavor better, but marinating for many hours or overnight will make it even better.
Use Fresh Garlic and Ginger: The teriyaki sauce tastes a lot better with fresh garlic and ginger. The flavor might not be as fresh or bright if you buy jarred varieties.
Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: When you cook the chicken, don’t put too many pieces in the pan at once. Cook the chicken in batches if you have to. If you put too many things in the pan, they can steam instead than sear.
Let the chicken rest: It’s very important to let the chicken cool down after cooking. It keeps the liquids in, which makes the chicken more soft and moist.
Change the sauce: You can change the sauce to suit your tastes. Add extra cornstarch if you want a thicker sauce, or more water if you want a thinner sauce.
Chicken thighs may take a bit longer to cook, so make sure the inside temperature reaches 165°F.

This Easy Teriyaki Chicken Recipe is a simple but tasty meal that you can make a lot of times. You can make a tasty supper that will wow your family and friends with just a few simple steps and few supplies. You can serve this dish in a lot of different ways, such over rice, in a wrap, or as part of a bigger meal.