Teriyaki Chicken Recipe

🍗 Easy Teriyaki Chicken

A simple, glossy, sweet-and-savory chicken dinner you can make in about 30 minutes.

Ingredients

For the chicken

• 500 g (1 lb) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
• 1 tbsp cooking oil
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper

For the teriyaki sauce

• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp honey or brown sugar
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• ½ cup water
• 1 tbsp cornstarch

Optional garnish

• Sesame seeds
• Sliced green onions
• Red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Make the sauce: Whisk soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and water together. Stir in the cornstarch until completely smooth.
2. Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken dry and season lightly with salt and pepper. Cut into bite-sized pieces.
3. Cook the chicken: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer and cook for about 5–7 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through.
4. Add the sauce: Reduce the heat to medium and pour the sauce into the skillet.
5. Thicken: Simmer for 2–4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce becomes glossy and thick enough to coat the chicken.
6. Finish: Remove from the heat and sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions.
7. Serve: Spoon over steamed rice and add broccoli, carrots, or another vegetable for a complete meal.

⭐ Tip for extra flavor

Let the chicken brown well before adding the sauce. Those browned bits in the pan give the teriyaki sauce a much deeper flavor.

Food-safety note: Chicken should reach 165°F / 74°C internally at the thickest point.