Easy Teriyaki Chicken: A Fast, Flavorful Weeknight Triumph

Easy Teriyaki Chicken Recipe

Introduction

If you’re craving a flavorful yet effortless dinner, this Easy Teriyaki Chicken Recipe is your answer. Teriyaki chicken’s signature sweet and savory glaze transforms simple chicken into a crave-worthy dish everyone will love. Whether you’re feeding a busy family or want a meal that shines during weeknight dinners, this recipe comes together quickly, satisfying your tastebuds and your schedule.

Why This Easy Teriyaki Chicken Is a Crowd Pleaser

Few dishes hit the spot quite like tender chicken coated in homemade teriyaki sauce. This version balances flavors with everyday ingredients—no hard-to-find sauces or lengthy marinades required. Get deliciously glazed chicken in under 30 minutes, perfect for meal preppers, busy cooks, and anyone looking for fuss-free flavor.

Secrets to the Best Teriyaki Glaze

Achieving a rich, sticky teriyaki glaze is simpler than you think. Combining soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger delivers complex flavor, while cornstarch saucily thickens everything for that irresistible shiny coating. Simmer the sauce for a few minutes after adding the cornstarch to ensure it clings perfectly to your juicy chicken pieces.

How to Cook Easy Teriyaki Chicken

Start by quickly browning the chicken over medium-high heat to lock in juiciness. Once cooked through, pour the sauce directly into the pan—let it bubble and thicken, enveloping every bite in bold teriyaki flavor. Serve over steamed rice, toss with veggies, or enjoy as part of a lunch prep box.

Serving Suggestions for Maximum Enjoyment

For a complete meal, pair your teriyaki chicken with steamed white rice, stir-fried veggies, or even wrap it in lettuce for a low-carb dinner. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions before serving for a restaurant-quality look and an extra pop of flavor.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This easy teriyaki chicken recipe serves four. Each serving contains approximately 300–350 calories, depending on cut and sauce quantity. It’s a balanced protein option that can be enjoyed as part of many different meal plans.

Easy Teriyaki Chicken (Recap)

Quick to cook and full of flavor, this Easy Teriyaki Chicken Recipe is perfect for those wanting a fast, reliable, and family-friendly dinner you’ll return to again and again.

Ingredients

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons neutral oil (e.g., canola or vegetable)
1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup water
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced (or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger)
Sesame seeds and chopped green onion, for garnish
Optional: Cooked rice and steamed veggies, for serving

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly create a shopping list with the ingredients grouped by grocery category. Skip the guesswork and stay organized for easy grocery trips and stress-free weekly meal prep!

CookifyAI meal planning interface

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, cornstarch, water, garlic, and ginger. Set the sauce aside.
  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces and cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and cooked through.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Pour in the prepared teriyaki sauce. Stir continuously as the sauce boils and thickens, about 2–3 minutes, making sure every piece gets coated.
  4. Once the sauce becomes glossy and sticks to the chicken, remove the pan from heat.
  5. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onion. Serve hot over rice or with veggies as desired.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Easy Teriyaki Chicken is fantastic for weekly meal prep—it reheats beautifully and pairs well with a variety of sides. Save and schedule this recipe to automatically organize ingredient amounts across your week and combine them efficiently on a single grocery list.

Planning Benefits:

  • Automatically calculates total ingredient amounts across all saved recipes
  • Sorts shopping lists by grocery section for faster trips
  • Reduces forgotten or duplicate items
  • Streamlines prepping and cooking for the entire week

Pro tip: When building your meal plan, schedule this recipe alongside others—CookifyAI helps track overlapping ingredients (like soy sauce or garlic), so you only buy what you need.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Enjoy bold teriyaki flavor with minimal effort—perfect for busy weeknights and organized weekly meal planning!

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