Teriyaki Chicken

Teriyaki Chicken is a meal the whole family will love. The marinated chicken is grilled allowing the teriyaki sauce to caramelize on the chicken.

More easy dinner ideas include this Balsamic Chicken and Peppers, Brown Butter Ravioli, Sweet and Sour Pork.

There are all kinds of ways to make teriyaki chicken. I often make it in the crock pot. But today we have a more authentic, traditional version.

The word teriyaki comes from the Japanese root words teri, to shine, and yaki, to broil or grill. That’s the way traditional teriyaki looks, it’s shiny and has grill marks. 

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Recipe

Soy Sauce. I prefer to use low sodium soy sauce. You can also use Tamari if you need a gluten free version.

Mirin. This is a Japanese rice wine vinegar and gives the sauce a subtle sweet tang. I highly recommend using it. You can find it in the Asian aisle of the store along with the soy sauce. If you can’t find it, you can substitute dry sherry, sweet marsala wine, dry white wine or rice vinegar will also do, though you’ll need to counteract the sourness with about a 1/2 teaspoon of sugar for every tablespoon you use.

Garlic. I use fresh minced garlic.

Ginger. If you don’t have fresh you can substitute dried ginger but use half the amount.

Sugar. Use granulated sugar or you an substitute honey.

Combine the soy sauce and sugar in a sauce pan and bring to a bowl, stir so that the sugar dissolves. Reserve 1/4 cup of this for later.

Let the 3/r cup of mixture cool and then add in the garlic, ginger and mirin and blend in the blender.

How to Make Teriyaki Chicken

Chicken. I like to use boneless, skinless thighs for this recipe but you can also use boneless skinless breasts. Trim excess fat off of the thighs.

Sauce. Reserve 1/4 cup of sauce to pour over cooked chicken. Place 3/4 cup over the chicken in a zippered bag and marinade in the refrigerator for an hour or overnight.

Cook. I use a gas grill but you could also use a grill pan on the stove top, you just want those grill marks for a more authentic teriyaki chicken. Cook until meat is cooked through and then slice.

Serve. Slice the chicken, and place on a serving plate. Pour remaining sauce over the top. Serve with rice and garnish with green onions.

What to Serve with Teriyaki Chicken.

Traditionally it is served with white rice.

Roasted broccoli.

Instant Pot Brown Rice

Fried rice.

Another fun way to serve Teriyaki Chicken is as a rice bowl. Fill your bowl with rice, add in the chicken and then top with carrots, broccoli, some broccoli slaw or any other veggies you might have on hand. Drizzle with your remaining sauce.

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Teriyaki Chicken Recipe