This is our favorite easy teriyaki chicken recipe using grilled chicken thighs and the absolute best teriyaki sauce ever, ever, ever!
The Best Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
Cade loves sushi. Like, loves it. I think it is horrid. Wait, I know, you all love it too, but I just can’t jump on that bandwagon. I kind of want to, but at this point I’m just trying to find ways to survive. For example, I adore Cade and because he loves sushi I love going out with him for it.
The only stinky part is that then I sit there with nothing to eat, so I generally try to get a teriyaki chicken bowl or something similar. I loved an easy teriyaki chicken bowl growing up and remember how I told you about our teriyaki chicken quesadillas? Yeah, pretty much delicious. So why have I never posted such an easy and delicious recipe?!
I think the real secret to teriyaki chicken, other than a good sauce is actually the meat you use. Everyone goes for breast meat, which is awesome a leaner, but it’s all about them thighs! Chicken thighs are more moist and work so well with the teriyaki sauce.
In fact, maybe I should ask if they could make a teriyaki chicken sushi roll!!! GENIUS! Oh, wait, except I don’t love the seaweed. Dagnabit! See! I’ve tried to like the stuff. Any recommendations on what kind I should try that would be better for me to ease into? And in the meantime, bust out our easy teriyaki chicken bowl for the fam!
Teriyaki Chicken Ingredients
The best part of this teriyaki chicken recipe is, without a doubt, the homemade chicken teriyaki sauce. Oh my goodness is that stuff delicious! Best of all, it’s such an easy teriyaki sauce recipe and takes less than 5 minutes to make.
Here’s what we use in this homemade teriyaki chicken recipe:
- Water
- Soy sauce
- Garlic
- Brown sugar
- Honey
- Ground ginger
- Cornstarch
- Chicken thighs
- Salt and pepper
- Sesame seeds and green onions, optional
The measurements for each can be found in the recipe card down below.
How to Make Teriyaki Chicken
This truly is such a simple teriyaki chicken recipe. All you have to do is whisk together the chicken teriyaki sauce, grill the chicken, and serve! Here are the basic steps to mastering this teriyaki chicken recipe:
- Add the chicken teriyaki sauce ingredients to a saucepan and stir.
- Bring to a boil and let cook until thickened, then set aside.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then cook on a pre-heated grill pan.
- Slice the chicken, then serve with rice. Spoon homemade chicken teriyaki sauce on top.
Is Teriyaki Sauce Gluten-Free?
The most common source of gluten in teriyaki sauce is the soy sauce. Most soy sauces, unless labeled gluten-free, contain wheat as well as soybeans, salt and water.
What Can You Substitute for Rice in Teriyaki Chicken?
If you want to make your dish healthier, you can serve this easy teriyaki chicken with brown rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or in a lettuce wrap.
Can I Make Teriyaki Chicken in a Slow Cooker?
Yes, you can! Make the sauce the same as the directions state, then place the chicken in the slow cooker, salt and pepper it, and then pour the sauce over it. Cook on low for 3-4 hours, or high for 2.
Tips for Making the Best Teriyaki Chicken
If desired, you could use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs. However, we prefer using chicken thighs in this teriyaki chicken recipe as they result in a richer, juicier dish.
You can cook the chicken outdoors on a grill or indoors on a grill pan. And if you don’t have either, simply cook the chicken in an oiled skillet.
We like to garnish this easy teriyaki chicken with sesame seeds and sliced green onions, but both are optional.
Stop buying your teriyaki sauce at the grocery store! It is so simple to make at home with this teriyaki chicken recipe. It is the best of the best!
More TERIYAKI Recipes:
- Teriyaki Chicken Casserole
- Teriyaki Chicken Pasta Salad
- Chicken Noodles
- Teriyaki Beef Casserole
- Teriyaki Pina Colada Burger
- Easy Teriyaki Chicken Salad
- Teriyaki Veggie Bowl
- Pina Colada Teriyaki Chicken Strips
- Teriyaki Beef Wrap
- Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla
- All our family friendly ASIAN INSPIRED RECIPES here!
Easy Teriyaki Chicken
Description
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Water
- 1/3 Cup Soy Sauce
- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1 Clove Garlic, , minced
- 1 Tablespoon Honey
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 2 Tablespoons Water
- 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
- 8 Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Salt and Pepper, , to taste
- Sesame Seeds and Green Onions , , for garnish
Instructions
- Heat a saucepan over medium heat and add the water, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, honey and ground ginger. Bring to a boil.
- Meanwhile, whisk the water and cornstarch together then slowly whisk into the sauce.
- Allow the sauce to continue cooking at a soft boil for 1-3 minutes or until thick. Set aside.
- Heat a grill or grill pan over medium high heat.
- Sprinkle each side of the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Place the chicken on the grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
- Allow to rest on a plate for 2 minutes, then cut into slices.
- Serve over rice with sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Recommended Products
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Kristen
Can you store sauce in fridge? If so, for how long?
Sweet Basil
Hi Kristen! Yes, you can store it in the fridge for 3-4 days. It also freezes great if you want it to last longer.
Kim
Well about the sushi I don’t like it either and it’s ok, I also won’t eat seaweed, so you shouldn’t worry if you never eat it because it’s ok 😀.
About the recipe, I can’t eat chicken thighs, I just really don’t like the dark meat, will chicken breasts really be dryer? This looks so good! Thanks for sharing your love of cooking.
Sweet Basil
Chicken breasts will work great! They will be a little drier but they will taste great!
Laurie
Thank you for sharing your recipes. My family has liked every recipe we’ve tried, and they are all keepers!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Laurie! That’s exactly why we do what you do! Xoxo!
Tammy
How would you do this in a crockpot? Looks so delicious!
Sweet Basil
Hi Tammy! Great question! Make the sauce the same as the directions state. Place the chicken in the crockpot, salt and pepper it, and then pour the sauce over it. Cook on low for 3-4 hours, or high for 2. Enjoy!
Ashlee Urry
We love to use this teriyaki sauce to do chicken and pineapple kebabs on the grill. Just baste and spin! So yummy!
Sweet Basil
Yes! It is perfect for that! So glad you enjoy it!
Michelle
Instead of seaweed try soy paper or rice paper! I hate seawedd so whenever i get sushi i use one of the other two. 🙂
Sweet Basil
What a great idea!
Jonna
Could I use this teriyaki sauce with your teriyaki chicken noodle veggie dish?
Sweet Basil
Absolutely!
Helene C. Gapa
I read about you and sushi! I have a solution! I cannot eat the seaweed either and absolutely NO raw fish! I eat what is called Mr. Crab.. it is crab meat, cream cheese, cucumber andSoy Paper in place of seaweed! Try it! It is so edible! I want to know what you think!
Sweet Basil
Oh now that I could try!!
Karina
I’ve made this a couple of times, my family loves it! Thanks for such a simple and yummy dinner idea!
Sweet Basil
I’m so, so glad! Teriyaki chicken is one of my favorites!
Amanda
I am beyond excited to try out this recipe! It looks fantastic!
Would you be interested in teaming up with Chicory and becoming a recipe partner?
Donna
Would this also work with boneless chicken breast?
Sweet Basil
Absolutely, Donna however we found the flavor to not be as delicious as thighs. 🙂
Gaby
This just might have to be dinner tonight, looks yummy!
DARLENE
Thanks for the teriyaki recipe! I love the stuff but use (yikes) sauce from a bottle so it’s great to have a scratch recipe to go to. About the sushi, if you like crab try the California Roll but with rice paper. It’s just crab, avocado, cucumber and rice, and if you substitute the paper for the seaweed it’s not fishy at all (:
Amanda
YUM!
Laura
So excited to try this! I’m with you on the sushi thing.. the husband loves it but I just can’t stomach it. He’s made me try the California roll a few times claiming it’s the best for me, but I have to pick the fishy stuff out. The things we do for our husbands;)
Laura
I’m a dummy and spelled my website wrong on the first comment… (slow head shaking)
Sweet Basil
haha, exactly!
Emily
I love teriyaki chicken and haven’t had it in forever. We need to try this!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction
Easy dinners like this are the best!
Sweet Basil
And I love when there is extra sauce for another night!
cynthia
Yeah. I will be making this tonight. Thanks for saving me from the whole “What should I make tonight that is easy good and effortless” guilt trip i take myself on everyday around 4:00. Love ya!!
Sweet Basil
HI FRIEND!!! And then next time make our golden loaded potato soup, yum!
Karly
Love easy dinners like this! Looks amazing!