Japanese Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Recipe

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We make teriyaki chicken for family get-togethers, church potlucks, and just regular meals. After much trial and error, I’ve finally mastered my homemade chicken teriyaki recipe to share with you. Teriyaki chicken is an ICONIC Japanese American food. It’s not only a cult classic takeout dish, but it’s also a staple food in the Japanese American community.

How to make Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
  1. Mix the teriyaki marinade. In a bowl, whisk together the garlic, ginger, brown sugar, and soy sauce.
  2. Marinate the chicken. Add the chicken thighs to the soy sauce mixture and stir just to combine. Cover the chicken with plastic wrap and let it marinate in the refrigerator.

How To Make Grilled Teriyaki Chicken-Japanese Food Recipes-Outdoor Cooking Garden

Homemade Grilled Teriyaki Chicken 🔗

Satisfy your takeout cravings with this amazing homemade grilled teriyaki chicken. If you don't have a grill, you can always bake your chicken. Serve over rice with extra homemade teriyaki sauce for some perfect Asian American comfort food.

Prep: 15min

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup sake
  • 1 cup mirin
  • 1 cup Japanese soy sauce
  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Instruction:

  1. The night before you want to cook your chicken, combine all the marinade ingredients in a large, deep sided skillet.
  2. Bring the marinade to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes to boil off the alcohol.
  3. Let the marinade cool to room temperature. Pour half of the mixture into a container with your chicken thighs to marinate. Let your chicken marinate in the fridge overnight.
  4. The remaining half of the marinade is for teriyaki sauce. Whenever you are ready to make the sauce, bring the liquid to a simmer again in a skillet over stovetop.
  5. Keep simmering for about 10 minutes or until the liquid is reduced to a shiny glaze, almost the consistency of maple syrup. Remember that this glaze will thicken slightly as it cools.
  6. If making ahead of time, store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge.
  7. After the chicken has marinated overnight, it's ready to grill. Preheat your grill and remove the chicken from the marinade.
  8. Grill on medium high heat for 5-7 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Remember cook times will vary depending on the size of your chicken thigh.
  9. Let the chicken thighs rest for 5 minutes, then slice and plate with rice. Spoon the teriyaki sauce you previously made on top of your grilled chicken and serve!

FAQ

What kind of teriyaki sauce do Japanese restaurants use?

The sauce, known as taré in Japanese, is typically made from soy sauce, sake (or mirin), and sugar, and it is thickened by boiling the ingredients until they become thick and syrupy. Teriyaki is a Japanese cooking method used to cook and glaze proteins with a savory-sweet sauce.

What is Japanese style teriyaki?

In westernized Japanese cooking, the teriyaki sauce is frequently used as a marinade as well as a basting sauce. Teriyaki, (Japanese: “glossy broil”) is a term for foods grilled with a highly flavorful glaze of soy sauce, sake or mirin (sweet wine), garlic, and fresh ginger.

What is the difference between teriyaki sauce and teriyaki marinade?

In contrast to teriyaki marinade, which requires soaking the protein for a longer period of time before cooking, teriyaki sauce/glaze is used to flavor protein quickly while it is being cooked.

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