Teriyaki Marinated Chicken

This amazing teriyaki chicken will make your whole family smile at dinner time! Anyone who loves juicy, flavorful chicken will absolutely love this recipe. Plus, it’s incredibly healthy with only 135 calories per serving!

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Cook Time: 10 minutes, Additional Time: 1 hour 20 minutes, Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes, Serves: 4 people.

Nutrition Profile: Low-Carb, Diabetes-Friendly, Dairy-Free, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Heart-Healthy, Gluten-Free, Low-Calorie.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 135 Calories, 3g Fat, 2g Carbs, 23g Protein.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Reduced-sodium soy sauce: You’ll need ½ cup, which creates the perfect salty base for your marinade. This gives you all that amazing umami flavor without too much sodium!

Sake or mirin: Just ¼ cup adds that sweet, authentic Japanese taste. If you can’t find either one, no worries – you can skip it or use a splash of rice vinegar instead.

Light brown sugar: 2 tablespoons will balance out the salty soy sauce beautifully. The sugar helps create that gorgeous caramelized color when you cook the chicken.

Garlic: 2 cloves minced will give you the perfect amount of savory flavor. Fresh garlic makes such a difference, but garlic powder works in a pinch too.

Fresh ginger: 1 tablespoon minced adds that warm, zesty kick that makes teriyaki so special. You can find fresh ginger in the produce section of any grocery store.

Boneless, skinless chicken breast: You’ll need 1 to 1¼ pounds for four people. Look for chicken breasts that are about 4-5 ounces each for the perfect portion size.

How to Make Teriyaki Marinated Chicken

Step 1: Grab a medium bowl and whisk together your soy sauce, sake, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. Keep whisking until that brown sugar completely dissolves – you don’t want any gritty bits!

Step 2: Put your chicken in a shallow dish or a gallon-sized zip bag. Pour that delicious marinade right over the chicken. Pop it in the fridge for at least 1 hour, but up to 12 hours is even better for maximum flavor.

Step 3: When you’re ready to cook, take the chicken out and pat it completely dry with paper towels. This step is super important for getting a nice golden color!

Step 4: Heat your grill to medium-high heat, or set your oven rack in the upper third and turn on the broiler.

Step 5: To grill: Oil your grill grates with a paper towel and tongs. Grill the chicken for 4-8 minutes per side until it reaches 165°F inside.

Step 6: To broil: Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. Broil for 10-15 minutes total, flipping once, until it hits 165°F.

Easy and Quick Teriyaki Marinated Chicken Version

Need dinner fast? You can absolutely make this work! Even just 30 minutes of marinating time will give you great flavor. Just pound your chicken breasts to about ½ inch thick first – this helps the marinade soak in faster and cooks more evenly too.

Serving Ideas

This teriyaki chicken is basically a complete meal on its own! Serve it over fluffy white rice or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. Grilled pineapple slices and crispy asparagus make perfect side dishes that cook right alongside your chicken.

Storage

Store your leftover chicken in the fridge for up to 3 days in a covered container. To reheat, just pop it in the microwave for 30-60 seconds or warm it up in a skillet over medium heat. The marinade can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days too!

Substitutions

No sake or mirin? Just leave it out or use a tablespoon of rice vinegar instead. You can swap the brown sugar for honey or maple syrup if that’s what you have. This marinade works amazing on pork chops or even firm tofu too!

Pro Tips

• Perfect portions: Remove the chicken tender from larger breasts to get the ideal 4-ounce serving size. Save those tenders in the freezer for stir-fries!
• Grill success: Always oil your grates with a paper towel and tongs – never use cooking spray on a hot grill!
• Gluten-free note: Make sure your soy sauce is labeled gluten-free if you need to avoid gluten completely.
• Temperature matters: Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure you hit exactly 165°F for perfectly cooked chicken every time.

FAQs

Can I use this marinade on other proteins?

You bet! This marinade is absolutely delicious on pork chops, salmon, or even thick slices of tofu. Just adjust your cooking times based on what protein you’re using.

What if I don’t have sake or mirin?

No worries at all! You can totally skip it, or substitute with a tablespoon of rice vinegar mixed with a pinch of sugar. The chicken will still taste amazing!

How long can I marinate the chicken?

You can marinate for as little as 30 minutes or as long as 12 hours. The longer you marinate, the more flavor you’ll get, but even a quick 30-minute soak will give you tasty results!

Can I make this ahead of time?

Sure! You can mix up the marinade up to 3 days ahead and store it in the fridge. You can also marinate the chicken overnight, which actually makes it even more flavorful.

I hope you and your family love this teriyaki chicken as much as mine does! Let me know in the comments how it turned out for you. Did you try any fun variations or serve it with something special? I love hearing about your cooking adventures!