5-Ingredient Teriyaki Chicken
Teriyaki Chicken
If you've ever ordered teriyaki chicken from a Western-style takeaway and found the sauce overly sweet, this recipe is for you.
I wanted to make a more traditional Japanese-style teriyaki chicken that doesn't rely on a ton of added sugar. Instead, the sauce gets its natural sweetness and depth from mirin, balanced with soy sauce, Japanese cooking sake and water.
And you only need 5 key ingredients for the chicken and sauce: chicken thighs, soy sauce, mirin, Japanese cooking sake and cornstarch. Simple!
The result is juicy, golden chicken coated in a glossy teriyaki sauce that's sweet, savoury and beautifully balanced without being overwhelmingly sweet.
Even better, this entire meal comes together in just 15 minutes.
What Makes This Teriyaki Sauce Different?
The sauce is incredibly simple.
I use equal parts soy sauce, mirin, Japanese cooking sake and water.
There is no need for a large amount of added sugar. Mirin provides sweetness while soy sauce brings saltiness and umami, and sake adds depth and aroma. The water helps balance everything before the sauce is reduced into a glossy glaze.
It's a simple combination, but once the sauce simmers and reduces, it becomes rich, glossy and syrupy.
Why You'll Love This Japanese-Style Teriyaki Chicken
It's not overly sweet: Many Western-style teriyaki sauces can be quite sweet. This version keeps the sweetness more balanced by using mirin rather than adding a large amount of sugar.
Only a few key ingredients: You don't need a long list of ingredients to make delicious teriyaki chicken at home.
Ready in 15 minutes: It's perfect when you want a quick homemade dinner without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.
Juicy and golden: Chicken thighs are lightly coated in cornstarch and pan-fried until golden, giving them a delicious texture and helping the sauce cling to every piece.
One-pan finish: The teriyaki sauce is reduced in the same pan used to cook the chicken, so you get plenty of flavour with minimal cleanup.
Things you need:
Measuring Spoons: https://link.amazon/A0eliWTA2
Measuring Cup : https://link.amazon/B07Oo7Dlo
Kitchen Gloves: https://link.amazon/B0fsEvLIY
Non-Stick Pan: https://link.amazon/B0g8SIHCv
Spatula: https://link.amazon/B0gwDh82P
Ingredients for Japanese-Style Teriyaki Chicken
INGREDIENTS
Chicken
600g chicken thighs
2 tbsp cooking oil
Cornstarch, for lightly coating the chicken
Chicken Marinade
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp mirin
1 tbsp Japanese cooking sake
Teriyaki Sauce
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup mirin
¼ cup Japanese cooking sake
¼ cup water
How to Make Japanese-Style Teriyaki Chicken
1. Prepare the Chicken
Add tablespoon each of soy sauce, mirin and Japanese cooking sake in a small bowl and mix well.
Pour it over the chicken - I am using chicken thigh as they tend to stay juicy when cooked.
Let the chicken marinate for a few minutes.
Once the chicken is marinated, lightly coat each piece with cornstarch.
You only need a thin coating. The cornstarch helps the chicken develop a lovely golden crust when pan-fried and gives the teriyaki sauce something to cling to.
Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
Add the chicken and pan-fry until golden brown and cooked through, turning the pieces as needed.
Depending on the size and thickness of your chicken pieces, this should take around 10 minutes.
While the chicken is cooking, mix the soy sauce, mirin, Japanese cooking sake and water in a small bowl.
The easiest way to remember this sauce is:
1 part soy sauce + 1 part mirin + 1 part sake + 1 part water.
For this recipe, I use ¼ cup of each.
Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan and set it aside.
Pour the teriyaki sauce into the same pan.
Let it simmer for a few minutes on low-medium heat. As the liquid reduces, the sauce will become thicker, glossy and syrupy.
This process can take about 5-8 minutes.
Add the cooked chicken back into the pan.
Toss the chicken through the sauce until every piece is coated in that beautiful glossy teriyaki glaze.
That's it! Your homemade Japanese-style teriyaki chicken is ready to serve.
What to Serve With Teriyaki Chicken
For me, teriyaki chicken and steamed rice are a perfect match. 🍚
The fluffy rice soaks up the extra glossy sauce, making every bite delicious.
You can also serve it with simple steamed or stir-fried vegetables such as broccoli, bok choy, green beans or carrots.
For an easy weeknight dinner, I love keeping the sides simple — chicken, rice and some vegetables are all you need.
See the YouTube video for step-by-step cooking process: 5-Ingridient Japanese Teriyaki Chicken recipe! 15-mins beginners guide!
