Teriyaki Chicken
KOENJapaneseMain course⏱ 25 minEdit history

Teriyaki Chicken

Japanese pan-glazed chicken: crisp-skinned thigh coated in a glossy soy-mirin-sugar teriyaki sauce reduced right in the pan. Slice it over a bowl of rice and it becomes a perfect donburi.

Ingredients

2servings
  • Boneless chicken thighs · skin on400 g
  • Salt & pepper · a pinch
  • Cooking oil1 tbsp
  • Sesame seeds · garnish
  • Scallion · garnish, sliced1
  • Teriyaki sauce
  • Soy sauce3 tbsp
  • Mirin3 tbsp
  • Sake · or water2 tbsp
  • Sugar · or honey2 tbsp

Steps

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry and score the thicker parts so they cook evenly. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

    ⏲ 2 min
  2. In a small bowl, stir the soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar together until the sugar dissolves.

    ⏲ 1 min
  3. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat and lay the chicken skin-side down. Cook until the skin is golden and crisp.

    ⏲ 6 min
  4. Flip and cook through, then wipe the rendered fat from the pan with a paper towel.

    ⏲ 4 min
  5. Lower the heat, pour in the sauce, and once it bubbles keep spooning it over the chicken until it thickens to a glossy glaze.

    ⏲ 3 min
  6. Let it rest briefly, then slice. Spoon the remaining sauce over, scatter sesame seeds and scallion, and serve with rice.

Tips & Variations

Variations

  • Teriyaki don: Pile it over a bowl of rice with plenty of extra sauce.
  • Teriyaki salmon: Swap the chicken for salmon, same method.
  • Teriyaki tofu: Pan-fry drained tofu until golden, then glaze.
  • Teriyaki meatballs: Roll ground-meat balls through the sauce.

Tips

  • For crisp skin, dry the chicken well and start it skin-side down over medium-low heat.
  • The sugar in the sauce burns easily, so reduce it last, over low heat.
  • No mirin? Use sake + a little sugar; no sake? Water works.
  • Rest the chicken before slicing so it keeps its juices.
  • Keep spooning the sauce over for an even, shiny glaze.

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