Effortless Chicken Teriyaki: Quick Dinner for Busy Nights
Perfect for when cooking feels like too much, but takeout isn’t the answer!
After a long day, the last thing you want is a complicated recipe. That’s where this 10-minute chicken teriyaki comes in: It’s a quick, no-fuss meal that’s as satisfying as it is simple. Whether you’re meal prepping or need something for dinner ASAP, this recipe delivers yummy but with minimal effort!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Quick: Cooks in under 10 minutes!
Accessible Ingredients: Except maybe mirin, but you should buy it because teriyaki sauce is so yummy
Customizable: Serve it over rice, or with noodles! This also works for other types of protein
Prep time: 5 minutes + 30 minutes marinate
Cook time: 10 minutes
Serves: 1
Ingredients
250g chicken thigh
2.5 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp mirin
1.5 tbsp light soy sauce
Togarashi & furikake (sprinkle before serving)
Notes
Unfortunately, there isn’t a non-alcoholic substitute for mirin in our books :( We highly encourage you to stock your kitchen with it as it is inexpensive, we will link the one we use below
If you don’t have mirin, go for sake! If not, rice vinegar is said to be a good substitute but we have not tried it
I know sesame oil is uncommon in traditional teriyaki sauce, but the flavour of sesame oil on its own is negligible yet it adds to the total balance of flavours
Method
Cut chicken thigh into bite-sized pieces and prepare marinade at least 30 minutes before cooking by combining all the ingredients in a fridge-safe container
Mix all the sauces well and let the chicken rest in the fridge
After at least 30 minutes, heat pan on medium-high heat and add chicken in to stir fry
Let chicken pieces have an opportunity to brown because that gives the teriyaki sauce deeper flavours
Serve with rice sprinkled with furikake and toagrashi if you like!
Notes
This recipe gives a non-saucey result. It’s meant for very quick, non-gourmet dinners.
We have a separate recipe that is more effortful to make teriyaki sauce that can be drizzled over rice and meat - here is the link
You can absolutely marinate your chicken before you leave for work or the night before. Do note that because the marinade is sitting for 12-24 hours, the flavour might be quite salty, so you can tone down the proportions if you feel you need to.
Tips for Success:
Don’t overcrowd the pan to ensure the chicken pieces gets a nice sear
Adjust salt & sugar to taste — teriyaki should have a balanced sweet-savory profile
Will highly recommend not to skip on the addition of furikake/seaweed before serving!
Balance your plate - Serve with steamed veggies like broccoli, snap peas, or carrots to add a crunchy contrast to the chicken
This 10-minute chicken teriyaki is proof that cooking doesn’t have to be stressful or time-consuming. Give it a try, and I promise it’ll become a weeknight favourite in your home!
