Craving takeout but want something quick and homemade? This easy teriyaki chicken is a great weeknight dinner that comes together in one pan. Tender pieces of chicken are stir-fried until golden, then coated in a sweet, savory teriyaki sauce with plenty of garlic, ginger, and a little kick from red pepper flakes. Serve it over rice with steamed broccoli, and you’ve got a simple meal everyone will love.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into cubes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- ½ cup green onions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch, divided
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
For the Teriyaki Sauce
- ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ⅓ cup mirin
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
You can substitute granulated sugar or brown sugar if you prefer.
Directions
Step 1: Make the Teriyaki Sauce
First, let’s get the sauce ready. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, and honey. Give everything a good stir until it’s really mixed, then set the sauce aside. Having it ready now makes the rest of the recipe come together quickly.
Step 2: Season the Chicken
Next, place the cubed chicken in a bowl and season it with salt and black pepper. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of cornstarch over the chicken and toss everything together until each piece is evenly coated. The cornstarch helps give the chicken a lightly crisp exterior while also helping the sauce cling to it later.
Step 3: Cook the Chicken
Now, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken in a single layer. Stir-fry until the chicken is no longer pink in the center and lightly browned on the outside. Give the pieces a little room to cook so they can brown nicely instead of steaming.
Step 4: Add the Garlic and Ginger
Once the chicken is cooked, stir in the minced garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Cook everything for about 1 minute, just until the garlic and ginger become fragrant. Keep things moving during this step, since garlic can burn quickly.
Step 5: Add the Teriyaki Sauce
Next, pour the prepared teriyaki sauce and ½ cup of water into the skillet. Stir everything together, then reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer for about 3 minutes. As it simmers, the sauce will start to coat the chicken and all those flavors will come together.
Step 6: Thicken the Sauce
While the chicken is simmering, make your cornstarch slurry. In a small bowl, mix the remaining 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water until smooth. Slowly pour the slurry into the skillet while stirring. Keep cooking until the sauce thickens to your liking. You may not need all of the slurry, so add it gradually rather than pouring it in all at once. If the sauce ends up thicker than you’d like, simply stir in a small splash of water to loosen it.
Step 7: Finish and Serve
Once the sauce has reached the consistency you want, stir in the chopped green onions and cook for another minute. Then, remove the skillet from the heat. Last but not least, spoon the teriyaki chicken over cooked rice and serve it with steamed broccoli. Finish everything with a few extra green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
And that’s it! You’ve got tender chicken coated in a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce that’s easy enough for a busy weeknight dinner and delicious enough to make you want to add it to the regular rotation.
Click here for more healthy, delicious recipes!
About The Author
