Easy 15-Minute Teriyaki Chicken Recipe

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Easy 15-minute teriyaki chicken is a simple recipe for a savory, Japanese-American style chicken dinner that just requires several basic pantry staples, made without dairy, mirin, sake, or any fish sauce.

Easy 15-minute teriyaki chicken is a simple recipe for a quick Japanese-American style dish, but serve it over white rice and you’ll have yourself a cozy and filling chicken dinner that’s perfect for dinner after a busy day.

This recipe is customizable. Just sear the chicken and coat with a delicious savory-sweet sauce, then add whatever stir-fry vegetables you like.

Also, this recipe contains no mirin, sake, or fish sauce, making it an excellent alcohol-free and seafood-free option. It also contains no dairy or red meat. So it’s perfect for anyone avoiding those ingredients.

A little about teriyaki

Teriyaki sauce (teri means “shine,” while yaki means “grill”) was originally a homemade fish marinade, and every family had their version of it, with their own choice of ingredients.

There doesn’t seem to be any clear history as to who began using this fish marinade for meat or who brought the idea to the United States (there are a variety of stories, and credit is given to a variety of people from a variety of places).

However, it is widely accepted that the teriyaki sauce, as we know it today, is a Japanese-American creation, and therefore, teriyaki chicken is a dish that one would not find in traditional Japanese cooking.

Some cooking terms

What does it mean when a recipe says that an ingredient is “optional”?

If an ingredient is “optional,” it means that you can add it in or not based on your own preference. An optional ingredient can be flavor-related (i.e., salty, sweet, spicy, etc.), appearance-related (garnish), or even something like nuts or chocolate chips in baking.

What does “savory” mean?

“Savory” refers to foods that are not sweet, such as foods that taste salty, spicy, or herbal.

What does it mean to sear?

Searing means browning the outside of meat/chicken at a high temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Teriyaki Chicken

What is in teriyaki chicken sauce?

Traditional teriyaki sauce typically relies on soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar. This simplified version uses basic pantry staples to create a rich, savory glaze without requiring specialized or hard-to-find ingredients.

Is this teriyaki chicken recipe alcohol-free?

Yes! Many authentic teriyaki recipes use cooking wine like sake or mirin. This recipe is made completely without alcohol, making it a great family-friendly option.

Can I make this teriyaki chicken ahead of time?

Yes, you can cook the chicken and sauce in advance, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days, and reheat it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.

What should I serve with teriyaki chicken?

It pairs wonderfully with steamed white rice or brown rice and steamed or stir-fried vegetables like broccoli, snap peas, or carrots to soak up the savory sauce.

My list of pantry essentials

I personally found that this list of “essentials” is great to always have on hand in my kitchen and has saved me numerous sudden trips to the store or having to borrow from a neighbor.

While this is my comprehensive list based on my cooking needs, you should definitely make your own based on yours.

Seasoning and flavoring:

• salt (my recipes use regular table salt)
• ground black or white pepper
• granulated garlic or garlic powder (I prefer granulated)
• onion powder
• sweet paprika and/or sweet pepper flakes (paprika is ground dried red pepper, pepper flakes are crushed dried red pepper)
• hot paprika, hot pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper (moderately spicy dried ground chili pepper) for those occasional spicy dishes
• ground turmeric
• ground cumin
• ground cinnamon
• ground ginger
• ground nutmeg
• ground cloves (for pumpkin flavors)
• sugar (granulated)
• brown sugar
• chicken consommé powder / beef bouillon powder (regular or vegetarian)
• onion soup mix
• onion flakes (substitute for fresh onion—3 tablespoons for 1 medium onion).
• various herbs
• additional spices to adapt taste to preference

Misc:

• oil / margarine / butter / cooking spray
• coconut cream as a dairy-free cream substitute
• flavorless milk substitute as a dairy-free milk alternative
• cornstarch as a thickening agent
• flour
• baking powder
• baking soda
• bread crumbs or cornflake crumbs (you can make these with your blender or food processor) for coating
• condiments, such as ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce
• tomato sauce/tomato paste/canned tomatoes—diced or crushed/pasta sauce
• soy sauce (makes a great flavoring for savory foods)
• ready-made pie crusts and dough (to just add filling)

We always have eggs in the fridge and onions, rice, and potatoes on our shelves, as well as pasta.

In addition, having some fresh vegetables in the fridge, such as carrots, celery, tomatoes, bell peppers (various colors), etc., can be very useful when putting together a quick but delicious meal.

It is also a good idea to have some ground meat or chicken (breast, ground, or in parts) in the freezer for anyone who likes meat dishes in a snap.

Here are some easy chicken recipes that you can make using leftover ingredients from this recipe:

Chicken and Broccoli
Honey Garlic Chicken and Broccoli
Chicken Fried Rice
Chicken Chop Suey

What is needed to make this Easy Teriyaki Chicken recipe?

I hardly ever meal plan and that’s why I keep a nice stock of a variety of ingredients in my kitchen cupboards and fridge. However, if you don’t, these are all you need to have on hand to make this recipe even last minute!

soy sauce
brown sugar
granulated garlic
powdered ginger
cornstarch
sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
oil (for frying)

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Yield: 4 servings

Easy 15-Minute Teriyaki Chicken Recipe

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Easy, delicious Teriyaki Chicken recipe with no marin or any other specialty ingredients, just simple pantry items!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken breast or chicken thighs
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• sesame seeds for garnish (if desired)
• oil for frying

Instructions

1. In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch until smooth.
2. Cut chicken into 1.5-inch chunks.
3. Pour just enough oil on the bottom of a skillet and sear the chicken on all sides until golden brown.
4. Add the chicken pieces from the pan into the bowl with the sauce and coat well.
5. Place the coated chicken and the sauce back into the frying pan and cook on medium heat, mixing occasionally, until the sauce has thickened.
6. Garnish with sesame seeds before service (if desired)

Notes

To ensure this dish is kosher, make sure that all of the ingredient are.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 576Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 234mgSodium: 1385mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 1gSugar: 11gProtein: 81g

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