Craving a delicious and satisfying meal that comes together quickly? Look no further than this incredible homemade Teriyaki Chicken Bowl! It’s the perfect solution for busy weeknights when you want something flavorful without the fuss. We’re talking tender, juicy chicken coated in a luscious, sweet, and savory homemade teriyaki sauce, served over fluffy rice with a medley of fresh, vibrant vegetables. This recipe proves that convenient home cooking can be utterly delicious.
Why You’ll Love This Teriyaki Chicken Bowl
This recipe truly elevates your weeknight dinner game. Here are a few reasons why it will become a family favorite:
- Quick and Easy: Prepare this entire Teriyaki Chicken Bowl in under 30 minutes, making it ideal for busy schedules.
- Better Than Takeout: Our homemade teriyaki sauce offers a fresh, balanced flavor that far surpasses store-bought options.
- Highly Versatile: Easily swap chicken for other proteins or customize with your favorite seasonal vegetables.
- Simple Ingredients: You likely have most of the pantry staples already on hand for this fantastic Teriyaki Chicken Bowl.
- Excellent for Meal Prep: Cook a larger batch and enjoy delicious, wholesome meals throughout the week.
Ingredients
Creating this amazing Teriyaki Chicken Bowl starts with a few simple, wholesome ingredients. This combination creates a sauce that is both deeply flavorful and perfectly balanced, making your chicken shine.
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 Tbsp. packed light brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
- 1/2 tsp. sesame oil (optional)
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 2 tsp. minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp. honey
- 3 tsp. cornstarch
- Sesame seeds and chopped green onions for garnish
- Rice for serving
- Steamed veggies for serving
Notes & Substitutions
You can easily adapt this Teriyaki Chicken Bowl recipe to your preferences or what you have available.
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a fantastic, juicy alternative to chicken breasts.
- Oil: Feel free to use avocado oil or any neutral cooking oil instead of olive oil.
- Soy Sauce: Using low sodium soy sauce helps control the overall saltiness of the dish.
- Sugar: Both light and dark brown sugar work beautifully, or you can use maple syrup for a slightly different sweetness.
- Sesame Oil: If you don’t have sesame oil, you can omit it. Just add extra sesame seeds for that nutty flavor.
- Ginger/Garlic: Freshly grated ginger and minced garlic will give you the most vibrant flavor. Adjust the amounts to your taste.
- Rice: White rice is classic, but brown rice, jasmine rice, or even quinoa makes excellent alternatives.
- Veggies: Think broccoli florets, sliced carrots, snow peas, bell peppers, or even edamame for your perfect Teriyaki Chicken Bowl.
Equipment
You don’t need any special gadgets to make this fantastic Teriyaki Chicken Bowl. Just a few kitchen essentials will do the trick:
- Large skillet (or a wok)
- Medium mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cutting board and knife
Instructions
Let’s get cooking and create your flavorful Teriyaki Chicken Bowl! Follow these easy steps for a meal that’s bursting with flavor and comes together in a flash. You’ll love how simple it is to achieve such a delicious result.
- Prepare the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add your cubed chicken breasts to the hot skillet. Brown the chicken, stirring occasionally, until it’s cooked through and no longer pink inside. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes. Once cooked, set the chicken aside temporarily if your skillet is getting crowded, or keep it in the pan if you have enough space.
- Whisk the Sauce: While the chicken cooks, prepare your irresistible homemade teriyaki sauce. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the low sodium soy sauce, water, honey, light brown sugar, rice vinegar, optional sesame oil, ground ginger, minced garlic, and cornstarch. Whisk vigorously until the cornstarch is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth. This ensures a lump-free, perfectly thickened sauce for your Teriyaki Chicken Bowl.
- Combine and Thicken: Once your chicken is beautifully browned and fully cooked, return it to the skillet if you removed it. Pour the homemade teriyaki sauce directly into the skillet with the chicken. Continue to cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce begins to bubble and thicken to your desired consistency. This usually takes another 3-5 minutes as the cornstarch activates. The sauce should coat the chicken nicely.
- Serve and Garnish: Remove the skillet from the heat. Immediately serve your delicious teriyaki chicken over a bed of warm white or brown rice. Add your choice of steamed vegetables alongside the chicken and rice. For a final flourish, generously garnish your homemade Teriyaki Chicken Bowl with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds and freshly chopped green onions. Enjoy your incredible, flavorful meal!
Pro Tips for the Best Teriyaki Chicken Bowl
Elevate your homemade Teriyaki Chicken Bowl even further with these simple yet effective pro tips. They will help you achieve perfect results every time.
- Uniform Chicken: Cut your chicken into similarly sized cubes for even cooking. This prevents some pieces from drying out while others finish cooking.
- Hot Skillet: Ensure your skillet is properly heated before adding the chicken. This creates a nice sear and prevents sticking.
Following safe cooking guidelines, the USDA provides recommendations for internal chicken temperatures to ensure it is thoroughly cooked and safe to eat.
- Avoid Overcooking: Cook the chicken just until it’s no longer pink to keep it tender and juicy. Overcooked chicken can become tough.
- Season Smartly: Season the chicken with pepper before cooking. The soy sauce in the teriyaki provides plenty of salt.
- Adjust Ginger: If you love a stronger ginger flavor, feel free to add a bit more fresh or ground ginger to the sauce.
- Extra Sauce: Consider making a double batch of the teriyaki sauce to have extra for drizzling over your rice and veggies. This really enhances the Teriyaki Chicken Bowl.
Serving Suggestions, Storage, and Variations
This versatile Teriyaki Chicken Bowl offers endless possibilities for serving, storing, and customizing to your taste.
Serving Suggestions
- Classic Comfort: Pair your teriyaki chicken with perfectly steamed white or brown rice for a satisfying meal.
- Noodle Delight: Serve the flavorful chicken over ramen noodles or a bed of lo mein for a different texture.
- Fried Rice Fun: Transform your meal by serving the chicken with a side of homemade chicken fried rice.
- Vibrant Veggies: Enhance your bowl with steamed or lightly sautéed broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, or snap peas.
Storage & Meal Prep
- Optimal Storage: For the best texture, store the cooked teriyaki chicken and sauce separately from your rice and vegetables.
- Refrigerate Promptly: Place components in airtight containers and refrigerate them for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Gently reheat the chicken and sauce separately, then combine with freshly steamed rice and vegetables.
- Meal Prep Gem: This Teriyaki Chicken Bowl is an excellent choice for weekly meal prepping.
Flavor Variations & Additions
- Spicy Kick: Stir in a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes with the sauce ingredients for a touch of heat.
- Crunch Factor: Add toasted cashews or finely sliced water chestnuts for a delightful textural contrast.
- More Veggies: Sauté sliced bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms directly with the chicken for an extra nutrient boost.
- Sauce Exploration: Experiment by adding a tablespoon of hoisin sauce to the teriyaki mixture for added depth.
Nutrition Information
Making a homemade Teriyaki Chicken Bowl allows you to control the ingredients and portions. Here’s an estimate of the nutritional values for one serving:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | 1.5 cup |
| Calories | 214 kcal |
| Fat Content | 8.3 g |
| Saturated Fat Content | 1.3 g |
| Cholesterol Content | 29.5 mg |
| Sodium Content | 795 mg |
| Carbohydrate Content | 23.9 g |
| Fiber Content | 1.1 g |
| Sugar Content | 17.6 g |
| Protein Content | 12 g |
For more detailed information on nutrient composition, resources like the USDA FoodData Central database provide comprehensive data on various ingredients.
Please note: Nutritional facts are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients, preparation methods, and serving sizes. This information should not replace professional dietary advice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are answers to some common questions about making a delicious Teriyaki Chicken Bowl.
- Can I use frozen vegetables? Yes, you certainly can! Cook frozen vegetables according to package directions before adding them to your bowl.
- Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts? Absolutely! Chicken thighs are a fantastic option; they stay wonderfully juicy and flavorful in this recipe.
- Can I use grilled chicken for this recipe? Yes, you can! Grilled chicken or even leftover rotisserie chicken works well; just toss it with the prepared teriyaki sauce.
- How should I store leftovers of this Teriyaki Chicken Bowl? Store the cooked chicken and sauce in one airtight container, and the rice and vegetables separately in another.
- Can this recipe be frozen for later? While you can freeze cooked chicken, we don’t recommend freezing the complete dish as the sauce and rice texture can change upon thawing.
Conclusion
You now have all the tools and inspiration to create an amazing homemade Teriyaki Chicken Bowl that rivals any restaurant. This recipe is a testament to how simple, fresh ingredients can come together to form a truly memorable meal. We encourage you to try this incredibly easy and delicious version. Share your culinary creations, leave a rating, or tell us your favorite variations in the comments below! For more inspiring meal ideas, explore our other delightful Asian-inspired recipes.
Easy Homemade Teriyaki Chicken Bowl
Kitchen Equipment
- Large Skillet
- medium mixing bowl
- Whisk
Recipe Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts cubed
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 Tbsp. packed light brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
- 1/2 tsp. sesame oil optional
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 2 tsp. minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp. honey
- 3 tsp. cornstarch
For Serving & Garnish
- sesame seeds for garnish
- chopped green onions for garnish
- rice for serving
- steamed veggies for serving
Step-by-Step Instructions
Cooking Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the cubed chicken to the hot skillet and cook until browned and fully cooked through.
- While the chicken cooks, whisk together soy sauce, water, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch in a medium mixing bowl to make the teriyaki sauce.
- Once the chicken is cooked, pour the teriyaki sauce into the skillet and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens.
- Serve the teriyaki chicken immediately over rice and your preferred steamed vegetables, then garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
