Easy Teriyaki Chicken Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Because we all still need to eat real meals leading up to Christmas and not everyone can survive on Christmas cookies; so this! Teriyaki chicken is a quick and easy dinner and tastes better than takeout. It’s hard to stop eating that honey orange glaze. Not too sweet and not too salty, but just right.

The chicken thighs are tender and delicious. If you’re like me and love super clean meat, chicken thighs can be a little annoying to trim but it’s so worth it. You can’t beat the juiciness and flavor of thigh meat.

I learned how to make this simple and delicious teriyaki chicken from Juliana on Instagram! Her delicious photo of glazed teriyaki chicken over white rice came up in my feed and I was like “gimme ‘dat chicken ?!” I love getting dinner-time inspiration on Instagram!

The ingredient list is so simple, but it works! We’ve made it 3 times in the past week and a half and even when I burned the sauce , my hubby and son still enjoyed it. Leave it to me to burn the sauce.

Watch how to make Chicken Teriyaki!

Ingredients for Chicken Teriyaki Recipe:

1/4 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (from 1 1/2 medium or 1 large oranges)
3 Tbsp honey
1 tsp finely grated fresh ginger
1 tsp sesame oil
1 1/2 to 2 lbs (about 6-7 medium) boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat
1 Tbsp oil (I use light olive oil)
1 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter
Green onion and sesame seeds for garnish, optional

Cooks Tip: How to Peel and Grate fresh ginger:

1. Peel with a spoon. It’s the easiest way to get the skin off. Grate peeled ginger with a fine grater or zester.

How to Make Teriyaki Chicken:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together all marinade ingredients: 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/3 cup orange juice, 3 Tbsp honey, 1 tsp ginger and 1 tsp sesame oil.

2. Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces and place into marinade. Stir and cover with plastic wrap and marinate on the counter 20 min.

3. Heat a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tbsp olive oil. Remove chicken from marinade with a slotted spoon, reserving marinade in the bowl. Add chicken to the hot pan and sauté, stirring occasionally until golden and cooked through (5 min).

4. Remove pan from heat and transfer chicken to a bowl. (Don’t leave the empty pan over the heat or you may scorch the bottom of the pan and ruin the sauce – been there, done that and if it happens to you, continue making the sauce using a clean pan). 

5. Pour reserved marinade into the pan, add 1 1/2 Tbsp butter (it’s in bold for my own sake because I’ve forgotten it before and it just wasn’t the same) and place back over medium/high heat. Bring to a boil stirring constantly until slightly thickened (1 min) then remove from heat. Add chicken back to the pan and stir to combine.

Serve over hot buttery white rice garnished with fresh green onion and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for pizzazle. I served it with steamed broccoli to appease my conscience and make it a meal.

Easy Teriyaki Chicken Recipe

4.87 from 179 votes

Author: Natasha Kravchuk

This teriyaki chicken tastes better than takeout. It's hard to stop eating that honey orange glaze. Not too sweet and not too salty, but just right.

SaveSaved Pin Review Print

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 8 minutes mins

Total Time: 38 minutes mins

Ingredients 

Servings: 4 as a main course

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, from 1 1/2 medium or 1 large oranges
• 3 Tbsp honey
• 1 tsp finely grated fresh ginger
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 1/2 to 2 lbs about 6-7 medium boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat
• 1 Tbsp oil, I use light olive oil
• 1 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter
• Green onion and sesame seeds for garnish, optional

Instructions

• In a large bowl, whisk together all marinade ingredients: 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/3 cup orange juice, 3 Tbsp honey, 1 tsp ginger and 1 tsp sesame oil.
• Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces and place into marinade. Stir and cover with plastic wrap and marinate on the counter 20 min.
• Heat a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tbsp olive oil. Remove chicken from marinade with a slotted spoon, reserving marinade in the bowl. Add chicken to the hot pan and sauté, stirring occasionally until golden and cooked through (5 min).
• Remove pan from heat and transfer chicken to a bowl.
• Pour reserved marinade into the pan, add 1 1/2 Tbsp butter and place back over medium/high heat. Bring to a boil stirring constantly until slightly thickened (1 min) then remove from heat. Add chicken back to the pan and stir to combine. Serve over hot buttery white rice garnished with fresh green onion and a sprinkle of sesame seeds if desired.

Notes

How to Peel and Grate fresh ginger: Peel with a spoon. It's the easiest way to get the skin off. Grate peeled ginger with a fine grater or zester.

• Full Nutrition Label
• Nutrition Disclosure

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian, Chinese

Keyword: teriyaki chicken

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $

Now that’s what I call teriyaki chicken! I love that it glows – do you see it too?