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Homemade teriyaki chicken served over white rice with broccoli and sesame seeds

Teriyaki Chicken

Tender bite-sized chicken coated in a sweet and savory homemade teriyaki sauce, ready in 30 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.
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Prep Time 18 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Asian
Calories: 330
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts cut into 1-inch bite-sized pieces
  • 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 3 tbsp packed brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 tsp fresh ginger minced; substitute 1/2 tsp ground ginger if needed
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch whisk into sauce while cold
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • black pepper to taste
  • cooked rice for serving
  • chopped green onions and sesame seeds optional, for serving

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Whisk

Method
 

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, water, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch until fully smooth with no cornstarch lumps. Set aside.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and season with black pepper. Let the chicken brown on the first side for 2 to 3 minutes without moving it. Flip and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, about 7 to 10 minutes total. Do not crowd the pan. Reduce heat to medium if the pan starts to smoke.
  3. Give the sauce a quick whisk to recombine the cornstarch, then pour it into the pan with the chicken. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats every piece of chicken.
  4. Serve immediately over cooked rice, topped with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.

Notes

Do not skip whisking cornstarch into the cold sauce before cooking — it prevents lumps. Chicken thighs take slightly longer than breasts. Nutrition estimate is based on chicken breast and does not include rice.