How to Make Teriyaki Chicken + Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Chicken teriyaki is one of the most popular dishes in Japan and is usually served as a main dish at home for dinner. The sweet and savory sauce, known as teriyaki, is made using soy sauce and sweetened with mirin or honey. When chicken is grilled along with the teriyaki sauce ingredients, the sauce becomes thick and glossy and coats the chicken nicely.

While teriyaki sauce is a well-known sauce that can be bought in supermarkets overseas, in Japan, it is not usually sold in supermarkets. This is because the term 'teriyaki' refers to the method in which the protein is cooked, with the ingredients for the sauce being added directly into the pan.

Usually, chicken thigh meat is used for teriyaki, as its moderate fat content complements the sweet teriyaki sauce, but recently, more health-conscious people are using chicken breast instead. Alternatively, chicken wings, yellowtail, and salmon are common protein choices for teriyaki.

Teriyaki chicken is often served with vegetables such as broccoli or tomatoes, as well as white rice and miso soup. It is a very popular dish with children and adults.

Outside of home cooking, teriyaki chicken is also commonly found in Japanese restaurants and in the deli section of supermarkets.

Today we will share a recipe of how to cook chicken using the teriyaki cooking method and make teriyaki sauce from scratch. Now, you can easily make teriyaki sauce with pantry staples you have at home.