Teriyaki Chicken

Teriyaki Chicken – flavorful and juicy chicken thighs coated in a delicious homemade and easy Teriyaki sauce. Why get Japanese takeout when you can enjoy close-to-authentic version of this dish right at home – either cooked on the stovetop or grilled?

I do get a little adventurous with my food cravings. But when it comes to Japanese food, either I order them at my favorite restaurant or just buy takeout. Sure, they are delicious, but why go through all the trouble of going out when you can easily make a close-to-authentic Teriyaki Chicken right at home? And not to mention how inexpensive it is.

Once you try this lip-smacking chicken dish, you’ll want this on your weekly rotation and even make it on top of your family’s favorite list!

What is Teriyaki Chicken?

Teriyaki Chicken is a classic Japanese takeout dish. It could be a fish or any meat of sorts that is marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, ginger and other Asian flavorings that will please your taste buds. 

Although you can easily buy Japanese Teriyaki sauce from the grocery store, but usually they could either be quite expensive, too reduced or really salty. And perhaps by now you know how I love making my own version of seasonings and sauces at home ’cause you have the freedom to customize it to suit your taste.

 

How To Make Teriyaki Chicken?

Since you guys are awesome, I went ahead and prepared this Teriyaki Chicken recipe here in two methods – on stovetop and grilled! Can I get some thumbs up? 🙂

Both the stovetop and grilled chicken are truly spectacular, as it flew off the table easily. My friendly neighbors couldn’t quite contain there happiness when I prepared this for them during one of our backyard cookouts. They even printed out a copy of this recipe before I could even publish this. 

Teriyaki Sauce

Alright, I know. The ingredients  might be not that “authentic” Japanese teriyaki you’re expecting to, but let me assure you that they’re all worth it and closely resembles to that Japanese takeout you’ve been ordering during lazy weeknights!

Soy Sauce. What is an Asian dish without a dash of soy sauce? This brown salty sauce here is the holy grail of Asian cuisine. Soy sauce is a liquid condiment of Chinese origin that came from fermented soybeans that has an earthy, umami flavor. For this recipe, go for the regular or light soy sauce as it is more versatile of the two. It is often used in stir-fry, braising, dips and marinades. But if you pay close attention to your sodium intake, dark soy sauce would be a better option.

Brown Sugar. White sugar is commonly used in making  a teriyaki sauce but I prefer to use the brown sugar. For a healthier option, you may replace it with honey.

Ginger and Garlic. These two make a great combination on marinades and stir-fry cooking making them as integral ingredients in Asian cooking. With garlic’s pungent flavor and fresh ginger’s unique tang and aroma, you’re sure to have a well-flavored dish right in front of you.

Tip: Use a spoon to easily peel the ginger. Garlic should be stored in a dry and cool place but not refrigerated.

Lemon Juice. Although not found in the traditional Teriyaki sauce, adding a freshly squeezed lemon juice in this dish gives a distinct tang and acidity to balance out the sweetness of the sugar. This “sort of” replaces the more traditional ingredients of sake and mirin which are both kinda harder to find if your local grocery stores doesn’t carry international ingredients.

Chicken Thighs or Breast?

Chicken breast is such an easy breezy meat to prepare. They work fine for this recipe. But if you’re gunning for that extra flavor and juiciness, I would highly recommend going for chicken thighs. When searing your chicken, make sure that the oil in the pan is hot before you add the meat. This guarantees you a perfectly golden seared chicken. 

Tip: Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking the chicken. For this recipe I use my 12-inch cast-iron pan.

Alternately, you can also grill the chicken for that additional smokey flavor. Use the sauce as a marinade for the chicken before you fire up the grill.

What To Serve with Teriyaki Chicken?

Teriyaki Chicken is absolutely best paired with warm white or brown rice. Even fried rice works great with this, too. For a touch of veggies, you may serve it along with steamed broccoli. And don’t forget to garnish it with sliced green onions or sprinkle it with some sesame seeds. Enjoy a bowl of Teriyaki Chicken right at home!

Other Popular Asian Takeout Recipes

Don’t know what to do with your remaining bottle of soy sauce? Don’t worry, there’s a lot for you to use it with. And you’d be glad you bought that bottle of soy sauce for more tasty Asian recipes.

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Mongolian Beef

Beef Broccoli Stir Fry

Shrimp Stir Fry

Stir Fry Chicken and Vegetables

Light Chinese Chicken Salad

 

How To Cook Teriyaki Chicken

Place chicken thighs in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste, making sure all sides of the chicken are covered with seasoning.

In a medium size bowl, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, green onions and olive oil. Gently whisk ingredients together until fully combine.

Transfer spice mix to the chicken and mix until every part of the chicken is covered with spice. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let it marinade for about 1 to 2 hours.

Stovetop Method

1. Heat oil a large 12 inch cast iron skillet (non sticky sauce pan) over medium-high heat. Using a thong, add in marinated chicken to the skillet making sure to shake off any excess spice. Sear both sides of the chicken until golden and lightly charred- about 8 to 10 minutes on each side depending on the thickness of your fillet.
2. Add in the marinade into the cooked chicken and continue to cook and toss chicken until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with green onions if desired and serve warm with rice, broccoli or any veggies of your choice.

Grilled Method

1. When ready to grill, using tongs, remove chicken from the sauce and discard any excess marinate. Preheat grill to medium- high heat. Place chicken on the grill and grill for about 4-5 minutes on each side, until you have a nice char – you may need to turn the chicken occasionally on each side until it is cooked all the way.
2. Do this in batches if you have a small grill. Do not overcook chicken. Remove from grill (or grill pan). Let it rest for 5 minutes, then serve immediately.

 

Enjoy!