Chicken Teriyaki — Ad-Free Recipe, Ingredients First

At heart teriyaki is a two-ingredient glaze, soy and a sweetener, which means good soy and honey are doing all the work. Reduce the sauce right in the pan until it goes syrupy and clings to the chicken; a bottled glaze poured over the top just slides off and pools on the plate.

The Ingredients — and where to get them

Cook for 4 servings

Chicken thighs

Bone-in or boneless thighs stay juicy where breast dries; skin-on gives you something to crisp.

1.5 lb

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Soy sauce

The savory base of the glaze; reduce it with the sweetener until it thickens.

1/4 cup

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Honey

Raw honey for the sweetness and shine that makes the glaze cling; balance it against the soy.

2 tbsp

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Rice

Steamed short-grain white rice to soak up the extra glaze.

2 cups

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Ginger and scallion

Grated ginger in the sauce, sliced scallion over the top.

to taste

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Using chicken thigh? It behaves the way it does for a reason — what this cut is for and how to cook it →

The Rundown

Greedometer ●●●●● Barely a splurge

A light hand — your arteries say thanks.

EffortEasy

Cook it with

One-pot

The Method

SearDry the thighs and sear skin-side down in a hot pan until the skin is deep golden and releases on its own, about 6 minutes.
Cook throughFlip and cook until done, then set the chicken aside to rest and pour off excess fat.
GlazeAdd soy, honey, mirin, and grated ginger to the pan. Simmer until it reduces to a syrup that drags behind the spoon.
CoatSlide the chicken back in, turning to coat in the glaze. Slice and serve over rice with the pan sauce spooned over and scallion on top.

The Toolkit

Cast iron skillet · Rice cooker

Straight Answers

Can you make Chicken Teriyaki in an air fryer? — Sometimes

Sometimes — if the pieces are small and cooked dry, an air fryer can handle it in a single layer; anything saucy or liquid needs a pan. When in doubt, the stovetop or oven is the safe call.

Can you freeze Chicken Teriyaki? — Yes

Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.

Can you make Chicken Teriyaki ahead of time? — Partly

The components hold — prep the parts ahead and finish it close to serving for the best texture.

Is Chicken Teriyaki gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in tamari instead of soy sauce (check the other labels too).

Is Chicken Teriyaki vegan? — No

No — it contains meat, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

Community Notes

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© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.59

Chicken Teriyaki, and where to source it