Chicken Teriyaki Recipe (2024)

Recipe from Sujan Shrestha

Adapted by John T. Edge

Updated Feb. 13, 2024

Chicken Teriyaki Recipe (1)

Total Time
30 minutes, plus marinating
Rating
5(4,219)
Notes
Read community notes

Teriyaki is derived from the Japanese root words teri, which means “to shine,” and yaki, which means “to broil or grill.” That’s the way traditional teriyaki looks: shiny and incised with grill marks. In Japan, teriyaki is a mix of soy sauce, sake and the rice wine mirin, which imparts a subtle sweetness. The teriyaki found throughout Seattle, of which this is an adaptation, is a bit more showy. Cooks sweeten with white sugar and pineapple juice. They thicken with cornstarch. Ginger and garlic go into the mix because of the Korean ancestry of many cooks. It is not at all traditional, but it is simple to prepare and a pleasure to eat. Be sure to plan ahead as you do need to marinate the chicken before cooking. An overnight stay in the fridge is ideal, but many readers have been happy with a quick marinade of an hour or so. —John T. Edge

Featured in: A City’s Specialty, Japanese in Name Only

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Ingredients

Yield:8 servings

  • 1cup soy sauce
  • 1cup granulated sugar
  • teaspoons brown sugar
  • 6garlic cloves, crushed in a press
  • 2tablespoons grated fresh ginger
  • ¼teaspoon black pepper
  • 13-inch cinnamon stick
  • 1tablespoon pineapple juice
  • 8skinless, boneless chicken thighs
  • 2tablespoons cornstarch

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

557 calories; 32 grams fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 13 grams monounsaturated fat; 7 grams polyunsaturated fat; 31 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 26 grams sugars; 35 grams protein; 1908 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Chicken Teriyaki Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients except cornstarch and chicken. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and stir until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Discard cinnamon stick and mix in ½ cup water.

  2. Place chicken in a heavy-duty resealable plastic bag. Add soy sauce mixture, seal bag, and turn to coat chicken. Refrigerate for at least an hour, ideally overnight.

  3. Step

    3

    Remove chicken and set aside. Pour mixture into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low. Mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water and add to pan. Stir until mixture begins to thicken, and gradually stir in enough water (about ½ cup) until sauce is the consistency of heavy cream. Remove from heat and set aside.

  4. Step

    4

    Heat a broiler or grill. Lightly brush chicken pieces on all sides with sauce, and broil or grill about 3 minutes per side. While chicken is cooking, place sauce over high heat and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a bare simmer, adding water a bit at a time to keep mixture at a pourable consistency. To serve, slice chicken into strips, arrange on plates, and drizzle with sauce.

Ratings

5

out of 5

4,219

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Mary

For those of you put off by the quantity of sugar, the introduction explains that this is a sweet, Seattle-specific, inauthentic version of Teriyaki. Perhaps a more authentic recipe would be more to your taste? This site has several less-sugary options, including Melissa Clark's Yakitori sauce. Google authentic Teriyaki, and wow, do the internets yield results! Or stick with this one, and reduce the amount of sugar. So many options that don't involve sugar-shaming other readers.

Linda Criss

Make the marinade
Do not heat
Make a bed of onion and carrot chunks
place bone in - skin on - chicken thighs on top of vegetables
Pour marinade over the dish
Bake 350
Two hours

Jennifer

This was easy and much better than any store bought marinade. First tip when reading ANY recipe I would say is to Always read it all the way through first, but, I did not marinade overnight, never do, no one has time for that. I let it marinate for 1hr 30min. More than enough time. Buy pre shaved ginger at grocery store by the herb pastes. 10-12 min each side for chicken under broiler. Pair with white rice and if you have a Publix near you then get their Makoto Honey Ginger salad mix in a bag.

Janet

This is so much tastier than any bottled teriyaki sauce, though I'm grateful for readers' suggestions for how to reduce the amount of sugar. Another thing: I wish the editors would stop using plastic bags in the recipe directions for marinades etc. Nonreactive bowls with a plate on top work fine.

Mary

I omitted the granulated sugar, but used all of the juice from a can of pineapple chunks. I marinated the chicken for an hour, then I browned it in a skillet for ~5 minutes per side, removed it from the heat. I cut up an onion, bell pepper, a fresh jalapeno and stir fried them with the pineapple chunks in a bit of peanut oil in the same pan until I had a few char marks and then added the chicken back, along with the marinade. I simmered all of that for about fifteen minutes. Served with rice.

professional chef

2 hours is 3-4x longer than necessary. Thighs cook quickly in a preheated oven, 25-35 minutes tops, depending on temperature and amount cooking. Im a professional chef on a mission to help people stop destroying their perfectly innocent and naturally delicious chickens.

Gaby

I made it with skinless pounded chicken breast. I only marinated it 4 hours and it was still delicious. Grilled it and served it with basmati rice, scallions and roasted king oyster mushrooms.

Michelle

Excellent. Worth the little bit of planning to marinate the night before. I used 1/2 cup of sugar and it was perfect. There was ample sauce, so we put it on our rice too. I baked the thighs at 400 for 12 minutes first, then broiled 3 minutes per side and they were perfectly done.

Christina

What I like to do when recipes call for marinading overnight, 6 hours etc is to make up a big batch, do the marinade time then freeze the uncooked meat in some sauce in zip lock bags. That way I can have the meat already marinaded when I pull it from the freezer. I have a wonderful recipe for boneless pork chops - Teriyaki and Beer Marinade. Great on the grill.

Jennifer

Made this tonight. Family loved it. I did marinate the chicken overnight and grilled it. Cut the granulated to sugar to 3/4 cup. I added a small can of pineapple chunks to the chicken and used the juice for the sauce. Easy to make too. Will be making this again.

flatjack

Excellent recipe. I just have to say that the sauce to chicken ratio seems way out off balance: I ended up with way to much leftover sauce

Peter C. Herman

Really good, but a cup of sugar? Seriously? I cut the sugar content down to about three tablespoons of brown sugar (I also used pineapple juice) and it came out great.

KimmieLA

Grilled outside on skewers with fresh pineapple & dried figs. Used ground cinnamon instead of stick. Was yummy even after 3.5 hrs marinate. Added cumin for a little kick. Used low-salt soy sauce. Cooked brown rice with chicken broth to accompany. Yummy Sunday dinner with grilled corn.

Leskap19

The floating material may have been clumps of cornstarch. I had one and I had to strain it out. Otherwise, this was very delicious and easy. Just wish I made more chicken as it would make great left overs.

Yvette

These are just so tasty and so easy to make. Cut into small pieces and serve with toothpicks as an hors d'oeuvre or serve over rice as a main dish or with any other side. Not fancy by any means but everyone will love it.

CJR

Four stars, tasty and easy to make. I agree that it is on the sweet side but that’s how it’s supposed to be.

RW Carter

Sauce is amazing. Lower and slower on the grill is the key. High heat and high sugar are dangerous. Garnish with scallions and a bit of ginger.

kidrid

Verb: Marinate/marinatedNoun: marinade

Traci

I eliminated the sugar altogether (not sugar shaming, have a diabetic family member) and just used pineapple juice and some honey for the sweetener. Other than that, followed the recipe exactly and it was utterly delicious!

Jan

My husband and I really enjoyed this dish. I used full amount of sugar, marinated in fridge overnight, and oven-broiled 7 minutes each side, one notch from the top. This is a keeper!

Heidi

Experienced beginner at broiling. Put the chicken on for three minutes. Needed four but the smell of burning chicken had me pulling it out soon. Just the rough tips of the chicken had burned a bit crispy which was yummy. Thank you for this recipe. I really like that this had cinnamon in it.

Jeff

Disappointing. Tried it on a whole chicken that was spatchco*cked and cooked in the oven. Looked great, thought we had a real winner, but it came out bland compared to what we usually get from our teriyaki sauce recipes. Seemed to lack depth.

Rick T

Good, but oversweet for my taste. Needed something astringent, like lime juice.

Susan

I think the steps could be written in a better sequence. Too much back and forth with the sauce. I never had to thin it with water at the end. It's very tasty and I enjoyed it over rice.

Chris

Too much sugar!

Char

I’m not opposed to sugar, but I concur with others that this is sweet past the point of tasting good. I would definitely cut the sugar by 1/2 to 1/3 next time.

3 minutes a side?

Trying to figure out in what world chicken thighs are thoroughly cooked with 3 minutes a side.Other than that, it’s going to be delicious!

BlueIris

Not being from the Seattle area, this is WAY too sweet for me. My teriyaki recipe uses only 3 T. of sugar to 1 c. soy sauce.

Greg

Is there something you could use to substitute the pineapple juice? It's a tiny amount and I don't know what I would do with all of the leftover.

Traci

I’d suggest lime juice and honey

Maria

One cup soy sauce is 14,000 mgs sodium. One cup low-sodium soy sauce is 9,000 mgs sodium. Any suggestions for substitutes?

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Chicken Teriyaki Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you marinate chicken too long in teriyaki sauce? ›

Most recipes for marinating meat and poultry recommend six hours up to 24 hours. It is safe to keep the food in the marinade longer, but after two days it is possible that the marinade can start to break down the fibers of the meat, causing it to become mushy.

What is the difference between teriyaki sauce and teriyaki marinade? ›

The main difference is that marinades are used to flavor food before cooking while a sauce is added during the cooking process or after the dish has been cooked. One important thing: don't use premade marinade that's been used to marinate meat, poultry, or fish.

How does Gordon Ramsay make chicken teriyaki? ›

Combine 1/3 cup of soy sauce, 1/4 cup of mirin, 1/4 cup of cooking sake, 3 cloves of minced garlic, 1 tsp of grated ginger, and 2 tbsp of brown sugar for the sauce. Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil or neutral oil and sear the chicken until golden. Simmer the sauce until it thickens.

Does teriyaki sauce go on before or after cooking? ›

Teriyaki sauce is usually added to the meat (or meat substitute) while it's being cooked on a grill or a wok. It's also often used as a dipping sauce or condiment for pork tenderloin, chicken thighs, chicken breasts, flank steak, or, of course, your meat substitutes of choice.

Can you use store bought teriyaki sauce as a marinade? ›

The word loosely translates to "glossy broil" and is synonymous with a bold, tangy flavor that is beloved the world over. Teriyaki sauce can be used as a marinade, basting agent, or dipping sauce.

Do you have to refrigerate teriyaki marinade after opening? ›

Soy Sauce: Stable at room temp for up to a month. For optimal flavor, store in refrigerator if longer than a few weeks. Teriyaki Sauce: While soy sauce is a major ingredient in teriyaki sauce, it must be refrigerated, once opened. Whole Dill Pickles: Even with the brine, pickles must be refrigerated after opening.

Can Kikkoman teriyaki marinade be used as sauce? ›

A blend of traditionally brewed soy sauce for umami flavor, wine, sugar and spices, teriyaki marinade & sauce has the depth of flavor that makes it an ideal marinade or brush-on sauce, right from the bottle.

Can you use store-bought marinade as sauce? ›

If some of the marinade is to be used as a sauce on the cooked food, reserve a portion of the marinade before putting raw meat or poultry in it. However, if the marinade used on raw meat or poultry is to be reused, make sure to let it come to a boil first to destroy any harmful bacteria.

What can I use instead of ginger in teriyaki sauce? ›

Allspice, Turmeric, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, or Mace. Of course, none of these spices really tastes like ginger. Instead, think of them as alternatives rather than direct substitutes: In a recipe that calls for ground ginger, you can substitute the same amount of any of these spices—or a mixture of them.

What is Chinese teriyaki chicken made of? ›

Traditional teriyaki from Japan is grilled meat with a simple glaze made of soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar.

What is teriyaki glaze made of? ›

Stir together shoyu and sugar in a small saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Add ginger, garlic, and simmer for about 30 minutes. Remove and discard ginger and garlic. Sauce will keep in a sealed container in refrigerator for at least a month.

What ethnicity is teriyaki chicken? ›

“So it's a dish that is getting glazed as it's grilled. That is the original definition of teriyaki.” It's believed to have originated during the Edo period in Japan, which lasted between the 17th and 19th centuries.

Should teriyaki sauce be thick or thin? ›

Should teriyaki sauce be thick or thin? Teriyaki sauce that is on the thinner side is better for marinating. I like to use this recipe to marinate beef, pork or chicken. And when making a stir-fry, add it to the pan, along with a cornstarch slurry, which will thicken the sauce.

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 long is too long to marinate chicken in soy sauce? ›

How Long to Marinate Chicken in the Fridge
Marinade TypeMinimumMaximum
Citrus containing20 min4 hour
Dairy (Greek yogurt)2 hours24 hours
Vinegar + Oil20 min1 hour
Soy sauce containing20 min2 days
3 more rows
May 9, 2023

What is the maximum length to marinate chicken? ›

The USDA recommends not keeping poultry in marinade for longer than two days, as it's possible that the marinade will start breaking down the meat's fibers and cause it to become mushy. A good rule of thumb is to keep marinating time under 24 hours.

Is 48 hours too long to marinate chicken? ›

Avoid over-marinating

While you can cook and eat chicken that has been marinating for more than 24 hours, you're risking exposing yourself to some strange textures. Chicken can get both mushy and tough when it's been left to marinate too long. If it's been more than 48 hours, the USDA recommends throwing it out.

Does marinating chicken longer make it better? ›

When marinating meat, longer is not always better. And in fact, depending on certain variables, there is a point at which the quality of that meat will start to deteriorate if you marinate it for too long before cooking. Instead of flavorful, tender meat, you could end up with a mushy mess.

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