Chicken Teriyaki

This easy Chicken Teriyaki recipe is here to save the day! Made with chicken thighs or breasts in a sticky, sweet teriyaki sauce, then served with brown rice and frozen veggies (hello shortcut!), this is a dinner-in-a-hurry that doesn’t sacrifice flavor. Who needs takeout?!

Why You’ll Love This Easy Chicken Teriyaki Recipe

  • Quick, Easy One-Pan Dinner. With chicken teriyaki, you can get a square meal on the table in only 20 minutes. This recipe is the stovetop rendition of my Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken and Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken. (For an oven version, check out Teriyaki Chicken Casserole.)
  • A Delicious and Satisfying Dinner. Chock-full of vegetables, made without butter and with little oil, and served over whole grain rice, this stir fry is a wholesome meal that’s also scrumptious!
  • A Store-Bought Shortcut. Bagged steamed vegetables serve as a secret shortcut, so no extra chopping is required. For a recipe that is made with veggies sautéed right in the dish, see my Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry.
  • This Sauce is the Boss. Chicken teriyaki sauce is made of soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Making your own sauce gives you control over the sugar content and how sweet or spicy you prefer it.
easy teriyaki chicken with rice and sauce in a large bowl

How to Make Chicken Teriyaki

The Ingredients

  • Chicken. You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Thighs are my preference, as they are more juicy.
  • Soy Sauce. Opt for low sodium so you can control the salt content. Use gluten-free tamari in place of the soy sauce and this recipe is gluten-free.
  • Honey. This from-scratch teriyaki sauce is naturally sweetened with honey. It’s plenty sweet without any brown sugar.
  • Rice Vinegar. Adds the acidity to the sauce.
  • Ginger and Garlic. Get about a 1-inch piece of ginger, peel and mince it. The flavor difference is worth it! Or, look for fresh ginger in a tube in the refrigerated section, or frozen ginger cubes.
  • Cornstarch. Coating the chicken, plus whisked into the sauce to make a cornstarch slurry, cornstarch makes the sauce thick and glossy.
  • Red Pepper Flakes. If you want to add a kick of heat.
  • Oil. Use a neutrally flavored oil with a high smoke point, such as canola oil or grapeseed oil. Do not use olive oil for stir fries; when it is heated hot enough to sear the chicken, the oil will burn.
  • Green Onions. Adds a bite.

The Directions

easy marinated teriyaki chicken in a bowl
  1. Season. Coat chicken with soy sauce, salt, and pepper.
adding cornstarch to a bowl with teriyaki marinated chicken
  1. Coat. Stir in cornstarch.
whisking the sauce for 20 minute teriyaki chicken
  1. Make the Sauce. Whisk together the water, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, soy sauce, and cornstarch.
cooking teriyaki chicken in a wok
  1. Brown Chicken. The cornstarch will give it a nice crust.
adding easy sauce to teriyaki chicken in a large wok
  1. Make It Saucy. Pour in the sauce and stir, and then simmer until sauce thickens.
green onions and teriyaki chicken in a wok
  1. Finish. Stir in green onion. Serve chicken teriyaki with rice, steamed vegetables, and a garnish of green onions. ENJOY!

Meal Prep Tip

You can prep the chicken and sauce in advance to make for extra-speedy dinner time cooking. Chop the chicken into bite-size pieces and store in a ziptop bag in the refrigerator. Whisk together sauce ingredients right in your measuring cup and store in the refrigerator with plastic wrap over the top.

teriyaki chicken recipe in a wok

Leftover Ideas

Leftover chicken teriyaki is an easy protein to revive with lunch the next day. Add it to Asian Noodle Salad, or make a wrap such as these Asian Chicken Wraps.

What to Serve with Chicken Teriyaki

Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Cut the Chicken Into Even Pieces. This will help ensure that it’s all cooked through at the same time—and that smaller pieces don’t over-cook while you’re waiting for the larger pieces to be finished.
  • Double Up on the Sauce for a Bigger Meal. If you want to load up on veggies and grains, or if you just like your chicken teriyaki on the saucy side, you can double the sauce to make some extra.
  • Make Sure the Wok Is Hot. To keep the chicken from over-cooking, you want to stir-fry it quickly over high heat. The pan should be blazing hot before you add the chicken pieces—especially if you use chicken breast, which is more prone to getting tough when cooked too long.
easy 20 minutes teriyaki chicken in a bowl

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