Japanese Chicken Teriyaki

Savor the authentic taste of teriyaki from Japan, the birthplace of this savory delight. Japanese Chicken Teriyaki features the rich flavor of chicken with crispy skin, complemented by traditional Japanese teriyaki sauce.

Jump to:

• What is Japanese Chicken Teriyaki?
• About Japanese teriyaki sauce
• What to accompany with it
• Ingredients
• Step-by-step instructions
• Tips on how to make
• Recipe Card

What is Japanese Chicken Teriyaki?

Japanese Chicken Teriyaki is a dish in which chicken is sautéed and seasoned with a sauce that mainly consists of sugar, mirin, and soy sauce. Teri refers to shine, and yaki means to sauté or grill. The dish is called "teriyaki" because the surface of the chicken cooked with this sauce appears to shine.

Chicken with a mild flavor pairs well with the rich teriyaki sauce. In Japan, it is enjoyed in various ways, such as a side dish for rice or as an ingredient in sandwiches. It is a popular choice for a bento (lunch box) as it remains delicious even when cooled.

About Japanese teriyaki sauce

The sauce used for Japanese chicken teriyaki is Japanese teriyaki sauce made from sake, sugar, mirin, and soy sauce. It is primarily used in Japan when cooking fish or meat, and the dish prepared with this glaze is called "teriyaki sauce" because the surface of the dish looks shiny (teri) when cooked (yaki) with it.

While there is also teriyaki sauce in the U.S., it differs in both ingredients and taste from the Japanese version. The U.S. teriyaki sauce is a Western-style sauce originally manufactured by Kikkoman, a Japanese soy sauce company. For an authentic experience, try Japanese teriyaki sauce for your Japanese dishes.

What to accompany with it

Japanese chicken teriyaki can be served on its own or is often accompanied by vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, shishito peppers, and broccoli to add color. However, it's advisable to avoid consuming it with large quantities of vegetables, as there might be a limited amount of teriyaki sauce to complement them.

Ingredients

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Step-by-step instructions

🕒 Total 15 mins

Step 1
Poke the chicken's skin with a fork. If the chicken is uneven in thickness, cut it open to even it out.

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Step 2
Mix A (sake, sugar, mirin, soy sauce) in a bowl.

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Step 3
Heat oil in a pan and sauté the chicken over medium heat, starting with the skin side down, until it is well-browned. Occasionally press the chicken down with a spatula to ensure even browning of the skin.

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Step 4
Flip the chicken over, cover the pan, and steam over low-medium heat for about 3 minutes.

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Step 5
Turn off the heat, remove the lid, and wipe off any excess oil from the pan with paper towels. Then, add the seasoning liquid from the bowl and cook over low-medium heat again, turning the chicken occasionally, until most of the sauce has reduced.

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Step 6
Remove the chicken from the pan and cut it into 0.8 inch (2cm) pieces.

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Step 7
Serve the chicken on a plate and top it with the sauce remaining in the pan. Accompany it with a side of lettuce and cherry tomatoes.

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To Store

You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Tips on how to make

• Poke the chicken's skin with a fork. This will allow excess oil to drain off during sautéing, making it easier for the sauce to penetrate.
• If the chicken is uneven in thickness, slice it open to even it out. Ensuring consistent thickness will help it cook evenly and stay juicy.
• Wipe off any excess oil from the pan with paper towels before adding the seasoning liquid. Removing the excess oil will help the chicken achieve a crispy texture and allow the sauce to penetrate more easily.

Recipe Card