1. Gather Ingredients
For making a yummy teriyaki chicken meal, you need the right ingredients. Soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, chicken – these are all must-haves! Plus, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and cornstarch can be added to the sauce. All of these ingredients are essential for making a tasty teriyaki chicken dish!
Chicken
For the yummy Teriyaki Chicken, get fresh boneless and skinless chicken breasts. Rinse them under cold water. Take out any fat and dry them. Cut them into one-inch cubes. Or you can go for pre-cooked or frozen cubed chicken breast. If frozen, defrost them before cooking. Enjoy!
Teriyaki sauce
Teriyaki sauce is a traditional Japanese seasoning. Soy sauce, mirin and sake are usually used as the main ingredients. Garlic, ginger or onions are often added for flavor. In Japan, teriyaki usually refers to a cooking method.
Halfway through cooking, a flavorful glaze is brushed on the dish. This glaze is made by mixing the ingredients together in a saucepan and heating gently.
Teriyaki Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup mirin or sweet cooking wine
- 1/4 cup sake (rice wine)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Optional Additions: 1 tablespoon grated ginger, 2 cloves minced garlic or 2 teaspoons onion powder.
Honey
Honey is essential for teriyaki chicken. It has a high sugar content, adding sweetness to the sauce. It also helps balance out the saltiness of the soy sauce. Plus, it provides color and viscosity. Don’t overdo it though, a quarter cup of honey per cup of soy sauce should suffice. That way, you’ll end up with a flavorful yet not overly sweet teriyaki sauce.
Garlic
Garlic is key for teriyaki chicken. Its pungent flavour gives the marinade a signature taste, and gives the dish a kick of bold flavour. To make sure the taste is well-distributed, mince or press the cloves. You can add minced garlic straight to the marinade, or use garlic paste, which has been finely chopped and mixed with oil. Use 1-2 cloves for a faint taste, or up to 4 cloves for an intense garlic aroma and flavour. Remember, it’s also a great source of protein and vitamins!
Soy sauce
Soy sauce is an important ingredient when it comes to teriyaki chicken. It’s made from fermented soy beans, wheat, water and salt.
When selecting a soy sauce for your teriyaki chicken, you will find three types: dark soy sauce, light soy sauce and low-sodium soy sauce.
- Dark soy sauce has a strong flavor due to added ingredients such as molasses or caramel coloring.
- Light soy sauce, as the name implies, is more mild and has less aging time.
- Low-sodium soy sauce is less salty and milder, great for dishes that need subtle seasonings like teriyaki chicken.
Rice wine vinegar
Rice wine vinegar is crafted from fermenting the sugars of rice or grains. It has a sweet and sour flavor that’s more delicate than other vinegars. This type of vinegar is a major component in many Asian dishes, like teriyaki sauce.
Including it in marinades, dressings, and sauces helps make Asian-inspired meals authentic. When using rice wine vinegar, remember that its high acidity can overpower other ingredients if used too much. To balance the taste, add a little sugar or honey.
2. Preparation
Teriyaki chicken – easy to make! Gather ingredients: chicken thighs, soy sauce, sake, mirin, sugar, spring onions. Mix sauces and marinate chicken. Ready to cook!
Marinate chicken in teriyaki sauce, honey, garlic, soy sauce, and rice wine vinegar
Gather the ingredients for teriyaki chicken. In a bowl, mix teriyaki sauce, honey, garlic, soy sauce, and rice wine vinegar. Whisk until combined.
Trim fat off chicken and cut into cubes or strips. Put chicken in a large container or resealable plastic bag. Pour half the marinade into the bag with the chicken. Refrigerate for 6 hours up to overnight. Reserve the remaining marinade for topping.
Heat a skillet or wok to medium-high heat. Stir-fry the chicken pieces. Toss in veggies. Cook until browned. Add extra teriyaki sauce if needed. Serve hot over cooked white rice or on its own! Enjoy!
Heat oil in a pan
Heat oil in a large skillet. Heat on medium-high. Once the oil is hot, add chicken. Season with salt. Cook each side until golden brown. About 7 minutes per side. Move to a plate. Let cool. Cut into smaller, bite-sized pieces.
3. Cooking
Make a mouth-watering Teriyaki Chicken dish in just 30 minutes! It’s flavorful and you can make as much or as little as you prefer. Customize it with your favorite ingredients and dietary needs.
Let’s get cooking and enjoy some delicious Teriyaki Chicken!
Add chicken to the pan and cook for 10 minutes
Add chicken to pan, spread out each piece evenly. Don’t overcrowd pan. Cook in batches if needed. Cook on high heat for 10 minutes, flip several times. Don’t overcook, reduce heat or remove from pan if charring or burning. Chicken is ready when golden on both sides and cooked through at 165°F (74°C).
Flip chicken and cook for an additional 5 minutes
Once the chicken has been cooking for 5 minutes, reduce the heat. Utilize a pair of tongs or a spatula to flip each piece. Cook for an extra 5 minutes on the other side. Take off the heat, put onto a plate. Serve with rice and vegetables, or whatever you desire. Enjoy!
4. Serving
Hosting a gathering? Or making a quick meal? Serve your Teriyaki Chicken right, and make all the difference! Here’s how:
- Presentation: style it.
- Accompaniments? Side dishes? We’ll discuss the best methods of serving Teriyaki Chicken.
Serve chicken with steamed white rice and vegetables
Teriyaki chicken is the best! Serve it with steamed white rice and fresh vegetables.
- Keep cooked basmati rice in the freezer. Put it in a heat-safe dish and cover it with foil. Heat at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
- Prepare vegetables. Steam or stir fry.
- Transfer the chicken to a plate. Serve with freshly cooked rice and warm vegetables. Drizzle teriyaki sauce for flavor. Finish it off with toasted sesame seeds for crunch.
- Serve and enjoy!
Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions
For a final flavorful touch, sprinkle your teriyaki chicken dish with sesame seeds and green onions! Toast the sesame seeds in a pan over low heat until fragrant. Meanwhile, wash and cut green onions into thin 1-inch pieces. For extra visual appeal, use either black or white sesame seeds.
When ready to serve, sprinkle both the toasted sesame seeds and green onions for an attractive and tasty final touch!
