Description
Restaurant-quality teriyaki chicken with a glossy, sweet-savory glaze made completely from scratch. Tender, juicy chicken thighs coated in authentic Japanese-inspired sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water (for slurry)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (for garnish)
- 2 stalks green onions, sliced (for garnish)
Instructions
- 1. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and trim excess fat. Cut into uniform pieces if desired.
- 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, 1/2 cup water, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, minced ginger, minced garlic, and sesame oil until sugar dissolves.
- 3. In a small separate bowl, mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water to create a smooth slurry.
- 4. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- 5. Add chicken pieces to the hot skillet and sear without moving for 4-5 minutes until golden brown.
- 6. Flip chicken and cook an additional 5-7 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 7. Pour the teriyaki sauce mixture over the chicken and bring to a simmer.
- 8. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- 9. Continue cooking and basting chicken with sauce for 3-4 minutes until chicken is well-coated and sauce has reduced.
- 10. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions before serving.
Notes
Store leftover teriyaki chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in a skillet with a splash of water or extra sauce. For meal prep, store sauce separately to prevent sogginess. Serve over steamed rice with stir-fried vegetables or use in rice bowls, salads, or tacos.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Searing
- Cuisine: Japanese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 34g