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Because we all still need to eat real meals leading up to Christmas and not everyone can survive on Christmas cookies; so this! Teriyaki chicken is a quick and easy dinner and tastes better than takeout. It’s hard to stop eating that honey orange glaze. Not too sweet and not too salty, but just right.
The chicken thighs are tender and delicious. If you’re like me and love super clean meat, chickenthighs can be a little annoying to trim but it’s so worth it. You can’t beatthe juiciness and flavor ofthigh meat.
I learned how to make this simple and delicious teriyaki chicken from Juliana on Instagram! Her delicious photo of glazed teriyaki chicken over white rice came up in my feedand I was like “gimme‘dat chicken ?!” I love getting dinner-time inspiration on Instagram!
The ingredient list is so simple, but it works! We’ve made it 3 times in the past week and a half and even when I burned the sauce , my hubby and son still enjoyed it. Leave it to me to burn the sauce.
Watch how to make Chicken Teriyaki!
Ingredients for Chicken Teriyaki Recipe:
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (from 1 1/2 medium or 1 large oranges)
3 Tbsp honey
1 tsp finely grated fresh ginger
1 tsp sesame oil
1 1/2 to 2lbs (about 6-7 medium) boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat
1 Tbsp oil (I use light olive oil)
1 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter
Green onion and sesame seeds for garnish, optional
Cooks Tip: How to Peel and Grate fresh ginger:
1. Peel with a spoon. It’s the easiest way to get the skin off. Grate peeledginger with a fine grater or zester.
How to Make Teriyaki Chicken:
1. In a largebowl, whisk together all marinade ingredients: 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/3 cup orange juice, 3 Tbsp honey, 1 tsp ginger and 1 tsp sesame oil.
2. Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces and place into marinade. Stir and cover with plastic wrap and marinate on the counter 20min.
3. Heat a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tbsp olive oil. Remove chicken from marinade with a slotted spoon, reserving marinade in the bowl. Add chicken to the hot pan and sauté, stirring occasionally until golden and cooked through (5 min).
4. Remove pan from heat and transfer chicken to a bowl. (Don’t leave the empty pan over the heat or you mayscorch the bottom of the pan andruin the sauce – been there, done that and if it happens to you, continue making the sauce using a clean pan).
5. Pour reserved marinade into the pan, add 1 1/2 Tbsp butter(it’s in bold for my own sake because I’ve forgotten it before and it just wasn’t the same) and place back over medium/high heat. Bring to a boil stirring constantly untilslightly thickened(1 min) then remove from heat. Add chicken back to the pan and stir to combine.
Serve over hot buttery white rice garnished with fresh green onion and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for pizzazle. I served it with steamed broccoli to appease my conscience and make it a meal.
Easy Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
This teriyaki chicken tastes better than takeout. It's hard to stop eating that honey orange glaze. Not too sweet and not too salty, but just right.
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Prep Time: 30 minutes mins
Cook Time: 8 minutes mins
Total Time: 38 minutes mins
Ingredients
Servings: 4 as a main course
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, from 1 1/2 medium or 1 large oranges
- 3 Tbsp honey
- 1 tsp finely grated fresh ginger
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 1/2 to 2 lbs about 6-7 medium boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat
- 1 Tbsp oil, I use light olive oil
- 1 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- Green onion and sesame seeds for garnish, optional
Instructions
In a large bowl, whisk together all marinade ingredients: 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/3 cup orange juice, 3 Tbsp honey, 1 tsp ginger and 1 tsp sesame oil.
Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces and place into marinade. Stir and cover with plastic wrap and marinate on the counter 20 min.
Heat a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tbsp olive oil. Remove chicken from marinade with a slotted spoon, reserving marinade in the bowl. Add chicken to the hot pan and sauté, stirring occasionally until golden and cooked through (5 min).
Remove pan from heat and transfer chicken to a bowl.
Pour reserved marinade into the pan, add 1 1/2 Tbsp butter and place back over medium/high heat. Bring to a boil stirring constantly until slightly thickened (1 min) then remove from heat. Add chicken back to the pan and stir to combine. Serve over hot buttery white rice garnished with fresh green onion and a sprinkle of sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
How to Peel and Grate fresh ginger: Peel with a spoon. It's the easiest way to get the skin off. Grate peeled ginger with a fine grater or zester.
- Full Nutrition Label
- Nutrition Disclosure
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
Keyword: teriyaki chicken
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Now that’s what I call teriyaki chicken! I love that it glows – do you see it too?
Natasha Kravchuk
Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.
Read more posts by Natasha
FAQs
If you want to turn your teriyaki marinade into a sauce you can serve with your meal, simply add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and ½ cup of water to the other ingredients. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce the sauce until it thickens to your desired consistency.
What is teriyaki chicken sauce made of? ›
Authentic Japanese teriyaki sauce combines soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and sake to create a distinctively sharp taste, with Westernized versions incorporating honey, garlic, and ginger for added edge. Cornstarch is often added to teriyaki sauce as a thickener.
Is there a difference between teriyaki sauce and marinade? ›
EHow says that the most significant difference between teriyaki marinade and sauce is its use. A marinade is a thin liquid with a consistency similar to water. Vegetables such as garlic, onion, or ginger are often added to enhance the marinade's flavor potency (via eHow).
What goes with teriyaki chicken? ›
Serve chicken teriyaki warm with any of the following: Steamed Broccoli or Roasted Broccoli. Roasted Green Beans. Rice (white, jasmine, or brown)
Can you use jar marinade as a sauce? ›
Sauce. By cooking the marinade down through boiling, you can also make a tasty sauce. Some marinades that possess a thicker consistency, such as Tennessee Whiskey may stand to be used as a sauce on their own without any cooking necessary.
Is it better to buy or make teriyaki sauce? ›
You know how the irresistibly sweet-salty teriyaki-slathered grilled meat you get at a Japanese restaurant is infinitely more delicious than the stuff you make at home? Well, the reason is simple: Homemade teriyaki sauce is just always better than the sickly sweet store-bought stuff.
How do you make bottled teriyaki sauce better? ›
Here are a few ideas: Garlic and ginger: Add minced garlic and ginger to the sauce for an extra kick of flavor. You can sauté them in a pan with a little oil before adding to the sauce to deepen their flavors. Sesame oil: A drizzle of sesame oil will add a nutty and aromatic flavor to your teriyaki sauce.
Can you use Kikkoman teriyaki sauce as a marinade? ›
Use it right from the bottle as a marinade, dipping sauce, condiment or signature sauce base.
What is a substitute for teriyaki sauce? ›
Soy Sauce and Sweetener:Mix soy sauce with a sweetener such as honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, or brown sugar. Adjust the ratio based on your desired sweetness. This combination provides a savory and sweet profile similar to teriyaki sauce.
How do you thicken up teriyaki sauce? ›
How to Thicken Teriyaki Sauce. The easiest way to make teriyaki sauce thicker is with a cornstarch slurry (which this recipe uses). Whisk together 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water, and add the mixture to your sauce while it simmers.
If you're looking for a substitute with a bit more depth and complexity, try combining Worcestershire sauce and honey. Worcestershire sauce adds a tangy, umami flavor, while the honey provides sweetness. Mix equal parts of Worcestershire sauce and honey to create a flavorful alternative to teriyaki sauce.
What sauce is closest to teriyaki sauce? ›
The Best Teriyaki Sauce Substitutes
- Make your own. If I don't have any teriyaki marinade I make my own using the following ingredients: ...
- Soy sauce + honey. For an even more simple home made teriyaki, just mix equal parts soy sauce and honey.
- Oyster sauce. ...
- Sweet soy sauce (kecap manis) ...
- Hoisin sauce.
The delicious flavors and simplicity of the dish appealed to diverse palates, and it wasn't long before teriyaki gained popularity beyond Japan's borders. In the United States, teriyaki became especially popular in Hawaii, where Japanese immigrants introduced the local population to this delightful culinary creation.
How to use teriyaki sauce? ›
As a marinade or glaze: Teriyaki sauce is best known as a glaze in classic dishes like teriyaki chicken or teriyaki salmon, but it can also stand in for barbecue sauce on pork ribs. If you're using teriyaki as a marinade, drip off any excess sauce before grilling so that the sugar doesn't burn.
What is teriyaki sauce best for? ›
Teriyaki sauce is most often used as a marinade or a glaze for meats and fish. It's best known for its combination with grilled chicken, but it also works in the oven or broiler, in a skillet on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, and in a wok for stir-frying.
Can you turn a marinade into a sauce? ›
Marinades that are boiled for safety can be used as a sauce all on their own or additional ingredients can be added as desired. Depending on how thick or thin you want your sauce, you may need to add additional liquid to the marinade since boiling will also reduce and thicken the liquid.
Can you eat teriyaki marinade without cooking? ›
You should never use the raw marinade from chicken on ANYTHING you're not going to cook thoroughly first. It touched raw chicken - it may now be contaminated with salmonella. If you eat it, you might get extremely sick.
Can Kikkoman teriyaki marinade be used as sauce? ›
Made with Kikkoman® Soy Sauce, premium wines, vinegar, corn syrup and Asian seasonings, Kikkoman® Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce gives foods rich teriyaki flavor you can count on time after time. Use it right from the bottle as a marinade, dipping sauce, condiment or signature sauce base.
How do you thicken teriyaki marinade sauce? ›
Transfer to a small bowl; the mixture will thicken as it cools. Note: If you want super thick teriyaki sauce, you can use a bit of cornstarch to help. Here's how: pour a tablespoon of the sauce into a small bowl. Add a teaspoon of cornstarch to the small bowl and whisk until it completely dissolves.
