Teriyaki chicken is a deliciously savory and sweet meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights, family dinners, and easy meal prep. Tender pieces of chicken are cooked until golden and then coated in a glossy homemade teriyaki sauce made with soy sauce, honey or brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. The sauce thickens beautifully around the chicken, creating a sticky coating packed with bold Asian-inspired flavor.
This easy teriyaki chicken recipe comes together quickly and uses simple ingredients you may already have in your kitchen. Serve it over fluffy white rice, brown rice, or noodles with steamed broccoli and your favorite vegetables for a complete dinner that tastes like your favorite takeout but is easy to make at home.
Classic Teriyaki Chicken
Ingredients
You’ll need boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts, soy sauce, honey or brown sugar, fresh garlic, fresh ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cornstarch, olive oil, and green onions. Chicken thighs tend to stay especially juicy, while chicken breast is a leaner option. Sesame seeds and sliced green onions make an easy finishing garnish.
Instructions
Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and season lightly with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the chicken until golden brown and fully cooked. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and cornstarch until smooth. Pour the sauce over the cooked chicken and simmer for several minutes, stirring frequently, until it becomes thick, glossy, and sticky. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds before serving over warm rice.
Easy Teriyaki Chicken Breast
Ingredients
Chicken breasts, low-sodium soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cornstarch, olive oil, black pepper, sesame seeds, and green onions create a flavorful and simple dinner. Chicken breast works especially well when cut into evenly sized pieces so it cooks quickly without drying out.
Instructions
Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with black pepper. Sear the chicken in olive oil until golden on all sides and cooked through. Whisk together the soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, vinegar, sesame oil, and cornstarch before adding the mixture to the skillet. Simmer until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken completely. Finish with sesame seeds and green onions.
Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli
Ingredients
Chicken, broccoli florets, soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cornstarch, olive oil, sesame seeds, and green onions create a balanced meal with tender chicken and crisp-tender vegetables. Serve everything over steamed rice for a filling family dinner.
Instructions
Cook the chicken in a hot skillet until browned and fully cooked before setting it aside. Steam or sauté the broccoli until bright green and tender-crisp. Prepare the teriyaki sauce by combining soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, vinegar, sesame oil, and cornstarch, then return the chicken to the skillet and pour the sauce over it. Add the broccoli and toss everything together until the sauce becomes glossy and coats all the ingredients.
Honey Teriyaki Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken thighs, honey, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cornstarch, olive oil, and sesame seeds create an especially sweet and sticky teriyaki glaze. Honey caramelizes beautifully as it cooks, giving the chicken a glossy finish and rich flavor.
Instructions
Sear the chicken thighs in olive oil until golden brown and nearly cooked through. Combine the honey, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, vinegar, sesame oil, and cornstarch, then pour the sauce into the skillet. Allow it to simmer gently while turning the chicken frequently so the glaze thickens and sticks to every piece. Finish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
Teriyaki Chicken Bowls
Ingredients
Cooked teriyaki chicken, steamed rice, broccoli, carrots, edamame, cucumber, avocado, sesame seeds, green onions, and extra teriyaki sauce create colorful and satisfying bowls. You can use white rice, brown rice, jasmine rice, or quinoa as the base depending on your preference.
Instructions
Prepare the chicken and teriyaki sauce until the pieces are well coated and glossy. Divide warm rice between serving bowls and arrange the chicken, broccoli, carrots, edamame, cucumber, and avocado around the top. Drizzle with additional teriyaki sauce and finish with sesame seeds and green onions before serving.
Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
Ingredients
Chicken breast, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, snap peas, onions, soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cornstarch, and olive oil make a colorful and flavorful stir-fry. The combination of crunchy vegetables and tender chicken makes this an excellent quick dinner.
Instructions
Cut the chicken and vegetables into similarly sized pieces so they cook quickly and evenly. Sear the chicken in a hot wok or skillet until golden, then add the vegetables and stir-fry until crisp-tender. Whisk together the teriyaki sauce ingredients and pour them into the pan. Toss everything continuously until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken and vegetables.
Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
Chicken thighs or breasts, soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, olive oil, bell peppers, onions, and pineapple create flavorful skewers perfect for grilling. Pineapple adds natural sweetness and pairs beautifully with the savory teriyaki glaze.
Instructions
Cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces and marinate it with soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, vinegar, and sesame oil. Thread the chicken onto skewers with peppers, onions, and pineapple. Grill over medium-high heat, turning regularly and brushing with additional teriyaki sauce until the chicken is cooked through and lightly caramelized around the edges.
Baked Teriyaki Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken thighs, soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cornstarch, black pepper, and green onions create an easy oven-baked dinner. Chicken thighs are particularly suitable for baking because they remain tender and juicy while the sauce caramelizes around the edges.
Instructions
Arrange the seasoned chicken in a baking dish and pour the teriyaki sauce over the top, making sure every piece is coated. Bake until the chicken is completely cooked and the sauce becomes thick and glossy. For extra caramelization, brush the chicken with additional sauce near the end of cooking and briefly broil until the edges become sticky and golden.
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken thighs, soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, chicken broth, cornstarch, and green onions create a tender slow-cooked meal with very little hands-on preparation. The long cooking time allows the chicken to absorb the savory-sweet sauce.
Instructions
Place the chicken in the slow cooker and pour over a mixture of soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, vinegar, sesame oil, and a small amount of broth. Cook until the chicken is tender and fully cooked. Remove the chicken and transfer the cooking liquid to a saucepan, then thicken it with cornstarch before pouring the glossy sauce over the shredded or sliced chicken.
Spicy Teriyaki Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken, soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cornstarch, sriracha or chili sauce, red pepper flakes, green onions, and sesame seeds create a sweet and spicy version of classic teriyaki chicken. Adjust the amount of chili sauce according to your preferred level of heat.
Instructions
Cook the chicken in a hot skillet until golden and fully cooked. Mix the soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, vinegar, sesame oil, cornstarch, and chili sauce before adding the mixture to the pan. Simmer until thick and glossy, tossing the chicken continuously so the spicy glaze coats every piece. Finish with red pepper flakes and green onions.
Teriyaki Chicken Noodles
Ingredients
Chicken breast, noodles, soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, rice vinegar, broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, cornstarch, and green onions create a complete one-pan-inspired noodle dinner. Lo mein, udon, rice noodles, or spaghetti can all work depending on what you have available.
Instructions
Cook the noodles according to the package directions and set them aside. Sauté the chicken until browned and cooked through, then add the vegetables and stir-fry until crisp-tender. Pour in the homemade teriyaki sauce and allow it to thicken before adding the noodles. Toss everything together until evenly coated and finish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Healthy Teriyaki Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken breast, low-sodium soy sauce, honey, fresh garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, brown rice, and sesame seeds create a lighter teriyaki dinner. Using lean chicken breast, plenty of vegetables, and brown rice makes this a satisfying meal without needing a heavy side dish.
Instructions
Cook the chicken breast until golden and completely cooked, then prepare the teriyaki sauce using low-sodium soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, vinegar, and a small amount of sesame oil. Add the sauce to the chicken and simmer until it thickens. Serve the chicken over brown rice with plenty of steamed or stir-fried vegetables and finish with sesame seeds and green onions.
Tips for the Best Teriyaki Chicken
Ingredients
The best homemade teriyaki sauce needs a balance of salty soy sauce, sweet honey or brown sugar, aromatic garlic and ginger, and a little acidity from rice vinegar. Sesame oil adds a distinctive nutty flavor, while cornstarch helps the sauce become thick and glossy. Fresh garlic and ginger are especially useful for creating a sauce that tastes much more flavorful than bottled alternatives.
Instructions
For the best texture, cook the chicken over medium-high heat so it develops a golden exterior before adding the sauce. Don’t add the sauce too early because the sugars can burn before the chicken is fully cooked. Once the chicken is ready, reduce the heat and allow the sauce to simmer until thick enough to coat the pieces. Serve immediately over rice or noodles and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.
Final Thoughts
This easy Teriyaki Chicken recipe is a delicious way to enjoy a homemade takeout-style dinner using simple ingredients. The combination of tender chicken and glossy sweet-savory sauce makes it incredibly satisfying, while broccoli, carrots, rice, noodles, and other vegetables can easily turn it into a complete meal.
Whether you make classic skillet teriyaki chicken, a healthy bowl, spicy chicken, grilled skewers, or a quick stir-fry, this recipe is easy to customize. Make a batch for dinner tonight and save extra chicken for lunches throughout the week.
