This amazing Honey Teriyaki Chicken {30 minutes} is perfect for a super tasty and fast dinner! It is so easy to make and the taste just can’t be beat especially since it can be on the table in under 30 minutes flat!
I made this easy teriyaki recipe at home because it is healthier and less expensive than the restaurant versions. When you make it at home, you are in control of what you put into it. Plus, it’s effortless to make! Cheap, easy and delicious – my favorite ingredients in a recipe! So the next Friday night when you are scouring Asian takeout menus, don’t forget that you can make your own in less time and it tastes a million times better. You may as well just print it now for your recipe binder because you are going to fall in love with this one.
🐔Why This Recipe Works
Cheap – Look at the ingredients alone, this is not an expensive recipe and it’s super cheap to make in comparison to takeout teriyaki.
Easy – There are no complicated steps here. You are sautéing a little, making some sauce and rice and you are done. This recipe is great for new cooks and even teens who are just learning as there isn’t too much difficulty and the reward is pretty high.
Delicious – Take-out can be a hit or miss at best, and now you don’t have to worry. Simply make your own teriyaki at home without even thinking which restaurant to call your order in. This is hands-down one of our most flavorful meals and you won’t be disappointed.
🥖 Ingredients
My stomach is rumbling just thinking about this honey teriyaki! The flavor is out of this world and something I crave often.
Chicken: I recommend using boneless skinless chicken breast for this recipe. It cooks up into a juicy and fantastic texture. If you don’t want to use chicken breast, go for the boneless skinless chicken thighs. Buy the chicken on sale and stock up in the freezer and then this can be one of those “pull out of the freezer” meals.
Sauce: The sauce is made of a combination of honey, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, garlic, pepper, and salt. It also has a few sesame seeds. Besides teriyaki sauce, we have all of the ingredients in our pantry, right? This meal is always something you have “on hand” and don’t need to think too much.
🥢 Instructions
This is a quick and simple dinner idea that you can literally cook in 20 minutes. It doesn’t get any better than that, if you ask me. Here are the easy steps:
Step One: Slice the chicken, so you have varying sizes and shapes. Make sure they aren’t any larger than one inch to allow them to cook evenly.
Step Two: Place teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add the chicken and mix well. Rub the sauce into the chicken so that it absorbs all the flavor.
Step Three: Add some oil to a skillet and heat it up. After it’s hot, add the chicken and teriyaki sauce to the pan and cook for five minutes.
Step Four: You’ll need to increase the heat so the sauce can reduce, which will take around 10-15 minutes. Once the sauce begins to thicken up, add in the sesame seeds.
Step Five: After you remove the chicken from heat, allow it to rest for five minutes then serve.
If anything, it is a bit sweeter than soy sauce and is much less salty. Definitely give it a try!
🍴 Substitutions
I loved the way this recipe turned out, but there are other options you can try as well. Here are a few ideas to get you inspired for your next dinner:
- Stir Fry – Add some veggies and make a stir fry for a complete meal. Add onions, peppers, mushrooms, carrots, zucchini, or any other veggies you enjoy. The flavor is out of this world, and you’ll get lots of new nutrients.
- Chicken Wings – Thankfully, you can use this sauce to make chicken wings, too, and every bite is succulent and tasty.
- Cauliflower Rice – Add the homemade teriyaki chicken to a bed of fluffy cauliflower rice. It’s a healthy alternative to traditional rice and positively amazing.
- Shrimp – Skip the chicken all together and go with some shrimp instead. This sauce is a complement to both proteins!
- Grilled Chicken – You can actually use the teriyaki sauce as a marinade and add the chicken to skewers. Then, place the skewers on a hot grill until it is cooked. It’s beyond amazing.
🍛 Alternative Ingredients
For a little extra “tang,” I will add a tablespoon or two of Rice Wine Vinegar to the homemade teriyaki sauce. It doesn’t take much to make a big difference, and the taste of the vinegar complements the honey quite nicely.
Additionally, a teaspoon of Sesame Oil will add a toasted, smoky taste to the sauce. Using it reminds me of the grilled teriyaki cooked over hibachis in Japan. It is so good! I top it with toasted sesame seeds as a fun and pretty garnish.
📌 Expert Tips
Because you cut the chicken into one inch pieces, it’s not going to take much time to cook. It’s best to take the temperature to make sure it is full cooked.
First, the temperature needs to be at least 160 degrees F. when you remove it from the stove. It will continue warming up as it rests to 165 degrees F. This allows the chicken to stay super moist and juicy.
You should be able to pierce the chicken with a fork, and it should go in without any issues. The center of the meat should be white when it’s done. If you see bright pink, then it’s not finished cooking yet.
🍱 Meal Prep Lunches
Make this recipe and serve it throughout the week. It makes a lovely lunch and is ideal for meal prepping. Just allow the chicken time to cool off, then place it in a sealed container. It will last around 3-4 days in the fridge.
If you are planning on making it part of meal prep, place it into individual serving containers with some veggies or rice, and you’ll have a complete meal.
The fastest and easiest way to reheat this is by warming it up in the microwave. It will heat up rather quickly in just a minute or two.
If you are at home, heat the chicken in a skillet with some olive oil. Just heat the oil and warm the chicken until it’s hot all the way through.
Freeze it in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to three months. When you want to serve it, place it in the fridge to thaw, then reheat and eat. It’s so easy and tastes just as good as when you first made it.
Related Asian Recipes
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Honey Teriyaki Chicken Recipe {Instant Pot + Ninja Foodi Options}
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Tenders
- ⅓ cup Honey
- ⅓ cup Teriyaki Sauce
- 1 tbsp Soy Sauce low sodium, if desired
- 1 tbsp Minced Garlic
- ½ tsp Black Pepper or to taste
- ¼ tsp Salt or to taste
- 2 tbsp Sesame Seeds
Instructions
- Chop the boneless, skinless chicken into one inch pieces. I think it looks prettier when you vary the shapes between rectangular chunks and triangles. It just gives it a more "restaurant" look.
- Transfer chicken into a large bowl. Add the teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Massage into the chicken.
- Transfer the chicken (liquid and all) into an oiled and heated pan over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, for about five minutes.
- Crank the heat up to high, stirring occasionally. Cook until sauce has reduced. This process can take between 10 and 15 minutes. When the sauce thickens up and starts sticking to the chicken, add sesame seeds. Stir.
- Remove from heat. Let sit for five minutes before serving.
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Nutrition
Thanks for sharing this, It is really helpful.
Perfect! Enjoy!
Good recipe! can’t wait to try this recipe
Thanks, Lucas! Hope you enjoy it! 🙂