Teriyaki chicken rice bowl

The Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl is a crowd-pleaser that is sweet, savory, and filled with umami. Like many other cuisine in the world, this dish originated in Japanese cuisine but left a mark on the culinary landscape internationally for its ease, taste and adaptability. Therefore, whether it’s a hasty weeknight dinner or a meal prep session for the week, the teriyaki chicken rice bowl is an ideal choice.

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It usually contains tender meat pieces comprising either thigh or breast, which are grilled and slightly glazed or soaked in teriyaki sauce on a bed of rice, and some vegetables are either raw or sautéed. The dish is wholesome, filling and healthy at the same time.

What is a Teriyaki chicken rice bowl?

Today’s recipe is one of the first ones I learned to make when I moved out of my parents’ house; Teriyaki Chicken Bowl is one of the easy meals that are so good due to its combination of tender chicken, crunchy vegetables, rice, and homemade sweet-salty Teriyaki sauce.

This healthy dinner is a great meal that comes as a family favorite! The meat is simply soaked in the teriyaki sauce marinade and then grilled or fried. After it is cooked, it is applied with teriyaki sauce.

The meat is served on rice inside the mounted beef stew while the rice is skirted with broccoli, carrot, and bell peppers, which have been fried. The thick and dark till cut, sweet and salty sauce makes it easy to incorporate chicken, rice, fried tofu, and many other dishes typical in most households of Asian Americans. It is also a quick and easy-to-make pack lunch or dinner for people on the go.

History and Culture of Teriyaki

The word teriyaki is derived from the traditional Japanese culinary art, which refers to the cooking skill of grilling, barbecuing, or broiling seafood and other foodstuffs with hot soy sauce and cooked with sugar and mirin. The term teriyaki is derived from Teri, meaning shine, and yaki, referring to grill or broil in Japanese. The word glossy used here indicates the shiny surface enhancement of the food after adding the sauce.

However, in Japan, the still dominant style of making teriyaki would include some type of fish, most commonly mackerel or yellowtail, as it got included in the world’s cuisines, particularly in the USA, chicken and beef came into prominence as the meats used in the cuisines of teriyaki. Likewise the introduction of ready to use teriyaki sauces in the Western markets also added to its easy usability in the kitchen level increasing its level of acceptance.

At present, teriyaki sauce or glaze is primarily applied in stir-fried vegetables and meats, grilled or marinated meats, while Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl is still in a class of its own because it brings gustatory satisfaction and a balanced proportion of carbohydrates, protein, and vegetables.

Key Ingredients in Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl

To perfectly construct the Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl, it’s crucial to highlight most of the essential elements of this dish-

1. Chicken

Top Pick: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs (commercially available, but also one that our testers found to be juicy and flavorful) But it can also be made with chicken breasts, like in this recipe While they are a bit less juicy and flavorful than the thighs IF COOKED PROPERLY they turn out pretty good.

Marination: In order to allow the flavor to penetrate deep into the chicken, it is important that chicken should be marinated in the teriyaki sauce before cooking. This kind of improvement can be achieved with even 15-30 minutes of marination.

2. Teriyaki Sauce

This sauce is the soul of this dish. Store-bought teriyaki sauces are convenient, but nothing beats making your own; this way, you can adjust the flavor and ingredients.

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Ingredients

Soy Sauce: This ingredient is a salty umami basic.

Mirin or Rice Wine: For sweetness and just the right amount of tang.
Sugar or Honey: Sweetens the sauce and makes it sticky so that it clings to the meat.
Fresh Garlic and Ginger: Provide a flavorful, aromatic background to the sauce.
Cornstarch Slurry: A little cornstarch whisked with water to give the sauce a shiny finish.

3. Rice

Rice is the staple of this bowl.

Best Rice Options: In addition to the traditional steamed white rice, you can also get sushi, brown rice, or jasmine rice, depending on your tastes.
More Whole Grains: Swap in some quinoa, cauliflower rice, or farro for added fiber and nutrients.

4. Vegetables

The more bright and colorful, the better, as it adds some texture and nutrients from adding vegetables.

Basic options: Broccoli, bell peppers, carrots and snap peas are perfect for stir-frying with teriyaki fowl. Add spinach, zucchini, or edamame for some variation.
How to Cook: You can steam or stir fry the vegetables. Stir frying in some sesame oil gives taste and crisp and tender vegetables retaining their nutritional value.

How to Make Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl

Cook the rice

Prepare the rice following the instructions provided on the package. Alternatively, for those using a rice cooker, use the right proportions of rice and water and set the meal to cook as you prepare the other requirements. Those using brown rice or quinoa may need to start the cooking process earlier because these foods take a little longer to cook.

Marinate the chicken

Take a bowl and combine soy sauce, mirin, sugar or honey, garlic and ginger. Then add the chicken breasts or thighs and coat. Let chicken sit for at least 15 minutes prior to cooking. That being said, cooking in the marinade produces a tastier meat so I recommend letting it sit for at least 2 hours.

Cook the chicken

Heat a skillet or a grill pan on medium heat. Drizzle some oil then toss the chicken pieces in it. Cook on each side for 6-7 minutes or until chicken is completely cooked and browned. But if you are using thighs, make sure the temperature reaches 165°F to cook through thoroughly. Alternatively if you feel like firing up the BBQ, it can also be barbecued.

Prepare the Teriyaki sauce

In a saucepan, combine soy sauce, mirin, sugar, garlic and ginger. Turn heat to medium stirring always until the sugar has dissolved. In a small bowl, mix the slurry of cornstarch and water together. Whisk well while adding the slurry you should get glossy thick sauce. Remove from the stove.

Cook the vegetables

In a wok or skillet, add just a little sesame oil and heat on medium high. Add any veg or vet combo that makes you happy – Stir fry for 3-5 minutes or when they will start to become tender but still have a slight crunch. Blanch in rapidly bubbling salted water if boiled, steam until both bright and tender.

Assembly

Structure the rice bowls with a layer of rice on the bottom, sliced and cut teriyaki chicken thighs and breasts on top. Sprinkle teriyaki sauce on the bottom of this bowl side and place vegetables. Garnish with additional sesame seeds, and chopped green onions.

Variations and Customizations

This Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl is super versatile and can be easily adapted based on what you have available. Here are some fun variations:

Teriyaki Tofu Rice Bowls (Vegetarian/Vegan Option)

Swap chicken with pressed firm tofu. Squeeze out the moisture from the tofu, and toss in teriyaki sauce, then fry until crispy. Alternating to plant-based food to obtain rice and vegetables.

Low-Carb Teriyaki Bowl

If you want less carbs,, use cauliflower rice instead of the rice. The idea keeps the remainder of the home plate, so use all those teriyaki-tastes without the extra carbs.

Seafood Teriyaki Bowl

Shrimp or salmon instead of chicken. The more you enjoy with teriyaki sauce. Just adjust the cooking time for perfectly cooked seafood.

Spicy Teriyaki Chicken Bowl

If you want something spicier, feel free to add a pinch of chili flakes into the sauce or dab some sriracha in there! I like to sprinkle a few thinly sliced jalapeños into the bowl for an extra dose of flavor.

Hawaiian Chicken Teriyaki Bowl

Want To Make It A Little Bit Tropical you can add Pineapple Chunks! So if you are grilling, grill the pineapples alongside the chicken or for stir-fried dishes, saute in with veggies. Teriyaki sauce has always been and will continue to be, one of the most popular marinades because it works so great every time. The pineapple in my house used beforehand as well in the teriyaki sauces stands out, and you get that burst of sweetness as well, which just adds magic between sweet & savory.

International Variations

You can make the Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl have a different international flavor by changing the spice adding different toppings/sides:

Korean Twist

Mix gochujang (Korean chili paste) into the teriyaki sauce for a kick and prepare with kimchi for some heat and tang!

Chinese Fusion

Add a drizzle of hoisin or oyster sauce for a quick Chinese crossover, which would be great to serve this up with some stir-fried bok choy or Chinese broccoli.

Add a bit of Mexico

Replace sushi rice with cilantro-lime rice and add pico de gallo or guacamole. This way, you will mix Japanese and Mexican techniques.

Health Benefits of Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl

This dish tastes too good but has some health benefits too:-

High in protein: Chicken is an excellent source of low-fat protein, which is very important for muscle growth and repair and is involved in weight loss.

Balanced Nutrients: When served along with vegetables and rice, this dish gives a perfect calorie balance where you can find the macronutrients- proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
Plenty of Antioxidants: Various plants such as Broccoli, Capsicum, and Spinach are an excellent source of antioxidants that help in attacking inflammation & leading to better health.

Low in Fat: If you include chicken breast to prepare curry, you take it as a low-saturated fat meal, which includes a healthy option.

FAQ about this Recipe

Is the Teriyaki Sauce store-bought?

Sure, yes, use readymade teriyaki sauce to save time. But, if you make your sauce, you can control how much sugar and sodium goes into it. Homemade teriyaki sauce to taste it you want, or buy the premade stuff.

How should I save the leftovers, and how do I reheat them?

Remaining food can be kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days if it is sealed tightly. To reheat, just microwave it until nice and hot or heat it up in a skillet with a little water (or more soy sauce) if the sauce has thickened too much.

And for the gluten-averse, how do I make it a gluten-free delight?

For a gluten-free version of the recipe use gluten-free soy sauce instead of regular soy sauce. Make sure that any other ingredient, such as the rice or a topping are without gluten.

Is it okay to make this in advance for meal prep?

The answer is ANOTHER GREAT MEAL PREP RECIPE. The chicken, vegetables, and rice can be cooked ahead of time and kept in separate container. When you are ready to eat, combine the bowls and reheat in the stovetop or microwave.

If you are looking for a quick and customizable meal that is full of Japanese inspired flavors, then this Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl will hit the spot! This dish is the perfect answer for cooking a delicious meal to yourself, your family, or meal prep for the week.

This is such a classic in our house, it has a beautiful balance of juicy chicken, the sticky sweet-savory teriyaki sauce and fresh vegetables all over fluffy rice. Play around with it, make it your own — but you will continue to crave more once you get started!