Easy Chicken Teriyaki Recipe 

This Chicken Teriyaki recipe is unbelievably easy! With just a few ingredients, you can whip up a flavorful and delicious meal in no time. Let’s go! 

Teriyaki, in Japanese, translates to “glossy” (teri) and “grilled” (yaki), perfectly describing the dish. The meat is ideally charred to perfection while coated in a glistening sauce.

My uncle, a Japanese chef, taught me how to make authentic teriyaki: He doesn’t use ginger, honey, or sesame oil. Instead, he focuses on a harmonious blend of soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and/or sake, balancing sweet, savory, and tangy flavors.

I know mirin and sake might not be readily available to everyone, but I’ve included a simple yet effective replacement that retains the dish’s true flavors.

Ingredients for Chicken Teriyaki 

Disclaimer: I get a small commission at no additional cost to you when you make a qualified purchase under the affiliate links. 

• Boneless Chicken Thigh – I prefer to use this because it’s easy to cook and it remains juicy. Alternatively, you can use chicken breast, but you need to be mindful of the cooking time as it can dry out quickly.
• Garlic, Onion, and Peppers – To add aroma and vegetables to the dish. You can also use scallions, carrots, broccoli, etc. 

Teriyaki Sauce 

• Soy Sauce – Use regular soy sauce for the salty and umami flavor.
• Sugar – The sweet component that will balance the saltiness of the soy sauce. This will also help thicken the sauce.
• Chicken Stock – Feel free to use your preferred chicken stock, but you can also make one from scratch by boiling the chicken we will use in this recipe. The stock will add depth and savor to the sauce. 
• Potato Starch and Water – To thicken the sauce.

This has been tried and tested by many of my followers and their families, and without a doubt—everyone LOVES this teriyaki recipe!

Honestly, you don’t need a lot to make something delicious, it’s only a matter of finding the right balance. In this recipe, the key lies in the ratio of soy sauce, sugar, and stock, which together create a sweet and savory sauce ideal for grilled meat. Furthermore, marinating the chicken is unnecessary. The sauce will generously coat each piece, ensuring maximum flavor in every bite.

How to Make Chicken Teriyaki? 

Make a Simple Chicken Stock

Prepare the chicken by removing the fat and chopping it into bite-sized pieces. 

Boil two cups of water in a pot, then add the chicken. Let it boil for five minutes to create a broke boyz stock. Do not overboil the chicken because it may dry out—strain to separate the chicken and stock. 

Make the Teriyaki Sauce 

Combine soy sauce, sugar, and chicken stock, then bring it to a boil. Mix together potato starch and water, then gradually add to the teriyaki sauce while mixing until the desired thickness is reached. Set this aside. 

The sauce can be doubled up and kept in a clean jar to be used anytime you feel like having teriyaki! 

Make Chicken Teriyaki 

In a pan, place it on high heat, add oil, and saute the garlic and chicken. Let it pan-fry until there’s a bit of browning for additional flavor. Once browned, add onions and peppers and continue sauteing. 

TIP: If you want your chicken to be a bit crispy, you can sprinkle potato starch before pan-frying the chicken. 

Pour the sauce gradually until everything is coated. Taste and adjust with more sauce as needed.

How to Serve Chicken Teriyaki? 

Pair chicken teriyaki with rice for an easy, cheap, and filling lunch or dinner. Alternatively, you can also serve this with any noodles and drizzle all that excess sauce. This is also great with other vegetable dishes like beansprout banchan or chive kimchi. 

This recipe is also perfect for meal prep. Serve it with some multigrain rice for a healthier kick, then store it in a clean container inside the fridge, and it can last for a whole week! Enjoy!

Other easy and delicious lunch or dinner ideas you may like:

• Cantonese Steamed Fish
• Beef Bulgogi
• Spicy Stir Fried Pork
• Leftover Steak Fried Rice
• Korean Sausage Stir Fry

Make sure to leave a rating, a comment, or tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Tiktok when you chop them up! Yeobosayo! 

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Easy Chicken Teriyaki Recipe

This Chicken Teriyaki recipe is unbelievably easy! With just a few ingredients, you can whip up a flavorful and delicious meal in no time. Let’s go! 

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time20 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: Chicken Teriyaki

Servings: 2 servings

Author: Chef Chris Cho

Ingredients

• 450 grams Boneless Chicken Thigh Cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 tbsp Vegetable or Canola Oil For sauteing
• 1/2 tbsp Garlic
• Onion Diced
• Red & Green Peppers Diamond Cut

Teriyaki Sauce

• 1 cup Chicken Stock
• 1/4 cup Soy Sauce
• 1/3 cup Sugar
• 1/2 tbsp Potato Starch
• 1 tbsp Water

Instructions

• Cut the fat out from the chicken thighs and chop it to bite size pieces.
• Boil 2 cups of water and place the chicken thighs in it. Let the chicken boil for 5 minutes.
• Drain the chicken and save the chicken broth, this is going to be your chicken stock.
• Combine chicken stock, soy sauce, and sugar and bring it to a boil. This is the teriyaki sauce base.
• Combine potato starch and 1 tbsp of water to create a starch slurry and add to the teriyaki base. Bring the sauce to a boil until it becomes thick. Turn off the heat.
• In a separate pan, saute the chicken with garlic and pan-fry it until the chicken is nicely light brown.
• Add the vegetables and saute them again until nicely lightly brown.
• Pour in the sauce until everything is covered.
• Taste and adjust with more sauce as needed.
• Plate and serve with freshly cooked rice. Enjoy!

Video

Posted By: Chef Chris Cho · In: 30-Mins / One Pot / One Pan Dishes, Broke Boyz, Chicken, Main Dishes, Non-Spicy