Looking for a Simple & Easy Japanese Recipe? Check out our top 25 Japanese recipes that are both delicious and require minimal effort to prepare. These dishes include juicy chicken, tender fish, umami-flavored veggies, ramen, sushi, and more.
We eat Japanese food almost every day. We often eat light Japanese lunches like a tamago sando, teriyaki chicken donburi, or onigiri. We also enjoy more complete Japanese dinners like chicken katsu or furikake salmon with veggies like furikake and lemon shishito peppers or miso eggplant.
Below we've rounded up 25 of our favorite simple and easy Japanese recipes so you know exactly what to make the next time you are in the mood for Japanese food. All of these recipes are flavor packed, have a short cook and prep time, and easy cleanup.
1. Teriyaki Chicken Donburi
Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl (Donburi)
Teriyaki Chicken Bowl features succulent teriyaki chicken thighs over fluffy Japanese white rice. This restaurant quality donburi takes just 30 minutes to make and only requires a handful of ingredients.
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2. Baked Furikake Salmon with Kewpie Mayo
Baked Furikake Salmon with Kewpie Mayo
Baked Furikake Salmon is a tender salmon recipe made with Kewpie mayo, soy sauce, garlic powder, and furikake. This umami-packed salmon dish takes less than 15 minutes to make and requires minimal cleanup. Serve it with Japanese rice and a vegetable for a well-rounded weeknight meal.
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3. Furikake and Lemon Shishito Peppers
Furikake and Lemon Shishito Peppers
Furikake and Lemon Shishito Peppers are spicy, sweet, and a nice kick to any dinner. The garlic adds a tasty aroma, the furikake adds savory ocean flavor, and the lemon brightens everything up. The best part is that these uniquely flavored peppers are so easy to make!
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4. Chicken Katsu (Japanese Chicken Cutlet)
Chicken Katsu
Chicken Katsu (Japanese Chicken Cutlet)Â is a crispy, crunchy chicken cutlet that makes a filling meal. This classic Japanese dish is commonly served with rice, vegetables, and tonkatsu sauce for extra flavor. Make it ahead of time for meal prep and enjoy for a Japanese restaurant experience at home!
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5. Spicy Tuna Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls)
Spicy Tuna Onigiri
Spicy Tuna Onigiri are Japanese rice balls that are the perfect on-the-go lunch or satisfying side. Japanese sticky rice is stuffed with spicy tuna and wrapped in savory nori. Check out our easy steps to assemble a batch for your next Japanese meal.
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6. Miso Glazed Eggplant
Miso Glazed Eggplant
Miso Glazed Japanese Eggplant is an umami-rich side that comes together in just 20 minutes with a handful of ingredients. It features tender Japanese eggplant caramelized in a miso glaze. This zesty eggplant dish is perfect for a weeknight meal or entertaining.
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7. Ajitama (Soft-Boiled Ramen Eggs)
Ajitama
Ajitama, also known as ramen eggs or ajitsuke tamago, are soft-boiled and marinated overnight in a soy sauce mixture. Ramen eggs have a rich umami flavor and are a quintessential ramen topping. They are also delicious on their own or over a bowl of white rice.
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8. Spicy Ahi Poke
Spicy Ahi Poke (Spicy Tuna Bowl)
Spicy Ahi Poke is a light and refreshing recipe made with chunks of fresh sashimi grade ahi tuna and a spicy mayo sauce. Serve it on a bed of cooled Japanese rice and garnish with furikake and scallions for a light and flavorful meal or side.
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9. Soft and Chewy Matcha Cookies
Soft and Chewy Matcha Cookies
Matcha Cookies are tender sugar cookies with a beautiful bright matcha green tea flavor. These light, fluffy cookies are made with real matcha powder and take just 10 minutes to bake. Freeze a batch for future enjoyment!
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10. Spam Musubi
Teriyaki Spam Musubi
Teriyaki Spam Musubi is a Hawaii local favorite (Japanese influenced) filled with fried teriyaki Spam, white rice, and furikake, wrapped in nori. It's the perfect low-effort snack or side for a beach day, potluck, or picnic.
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11. Spicy Kani Salad
Spicy Kani Salad
Spicy Kani Salad is a rich umami flavored salad featuring imitation crab, crunchy cucumbers, crispy panko, and spicy mayo. Enjoy this 10-minute, flavor-packed salad as an appetizer or side for any Japanese meal. See the recipe card for steps on how to make a mild non-spicy version.
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12. Unagi Hand Roll
Unagi Hand Roll
Unagi Hand Roll features Japanese eel cooked in a rich unagi sauce, then rolled in seasoned sushi rice and nori. This simple hand roll comes together in just a few minutes and is perfect for beginner sushi makers. Enjoy it as a hearty snack or as a tasty side.
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13. Vanilla Matcha Latte
Vanilla Matcha Latte
Vanilla Matcha Latte is the perfect way to enjoy a cup of matcha. It has a rich matcha flavor made creamy with vanilla and honey-infused milk. Enjoy it hot during the winter or cold during the summer. Either way it takes just 5 minutes to make!
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14. Tamago Sando (Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich)
Tamago Sando (Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich)
Tamago Sando features rich and creamy egg salad served on shokupan (soft white bread). It's a Japanese convenience store favorite and is made with Kewpie mayo and a jammy soft boiled egg in the center. Make it with a few ingredients and minimal effort for a light lunch.
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15. Crunchy Spicy California Roll
Crunchy Spicy California Roll
Crunchy Spicy California Roll is a crispy upgrade from a standard California Roll. It features imitation crab tossed in spicy mayo, cucumber, and avocado rolled in seasoned rice and nori, with a crispy golden panko crust.
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16. Uni Pasta (Sea Urchin Cacio e Pepe)
Uni Pasta
Uni Pasta (Sea Urchin Cacio e Pepe)Â is a rich and creamy twist on traditional cacio e pepe. This uni pasta recipe features cheesy noodles, buttery sea urchin, and strips of nori (salty seaweed). It's an opulent seafood pasta perfect for entertaining or a date night at home.
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17. Gluten Free Mochi Waffles (Simple & Easy)
Gluten Free Mochi Waffles
Gluten Free Mochi Waffles have the crispy exterior of a Belgian waffle with the chewy interior of Japanese mochi. These crispy, chewy waffles require minimal effort and just a handful of pantry staples. Top them with butter, powdered sugar, maple syrup, and fruit for a delicious brunch!
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18. Hamachi Crudo (Yellowtail Carpaccio)
Hamachi Crudo (Yellowtail Carpaccio)
Hamachi Crudo is a richly falvored sashimi appetizer dressed with a citrusy yuzu ponzu sauce and topped with fresh jalapeño and ikura. This bright and robustly flavored appetizer comes together is guaranteed to impress.
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19. Teriyaki Tofu & Eggplant
Teriyaki Tofu & Eggplant
Teriyaki Tofu and Eggplant is a flavor-rich Japanese dish featuring crispy tofu and tender eggplant smothered in a homemade teriyaki sauce. Make this delicious dish in a few easy steps in 30 minutes and enjoy it as a side or main course donburi-style!
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20. Ikura Donburi
Ikura Donburi
Ikura Donburi is a deliciously decadent rice bowl featuring marinated ikura (salmon roe) and fragrant shiso on a bed of Japanese white rice. Serve it with wasabi for extra spice and top it with crunchy nori for extra flavor!
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21. Hamachi Kama (Broiled Yellowtail Collars)
Broiled Yellowtail Collar
Hamachi Kama are broiled to perfection with a crispy exterior and tender, fall apart interior. Add a squeeze of lemon for brightness then dip each bite in soy sauce or yuzu ponzu. The best part is this restaurant-quality dish only takes 15 minutes to make!
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22. Shrimp Tempura Udon
Shrimp Tempura Udon
Shrimp Tempura Udon is a Japanese noodle soup featuring a rich broth (dashi), thick udon noodles, and crispy golden shrimp tempura. The combination of ingredients are filling, flavorful, and perfect for a cozy night in. Make this dish from scratch or use store-bought shrimp tempura to create it in under 20 minutes.
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23. Miso Salmon Crudo (Carpaccio)
Miso Salmon Crudo
Miso Salmon Crudo (Carpaccio) is a robustly flavored appetizer that features fresh salmon dressed in miso-shoyu sauce. We top the buttery salmon with sesame seeds, micro greens, scallions, and ikura for extra texture and flavor. The best part? It takes just 10 minutes of prep.
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24. Chocolate Truffle Mochi
Chocolate Truffle Mochi
Chocolate Truffle Mochi feature mochi stuffed with a rich chocolate truffles and rolled in cocoa powder. Make these delicious Japanese sweet treats as a gift for your friends and family or just enjoy them on your own at home!
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25. Teriyaki Salmon Don
Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowl (Donburi)
Teriyaki Salmon Donburi is a delicious Japanese rice bowl topped with tender salmon dressed in a homemade teriyaki sauce. It comes together in 40 minutes with just a handful of ingredients, a perfect low-effort weeknight dinner!
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📖 Recipe
25 Simple & Easy Japanese Recipes
Looking for a Simple & Easy Japanese Recipe? Check out our top 25 Japanese recipes that are both delicious and require minimal effort to prepare. These dishes include juicy chicken, tender fish, umami-flavored veggies, ramen, sushi, and more.
Servings: 4
Calories: 486kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cup short grain Japanese rice or calrose rice
- 4 cup filtered water
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sake
- 4 tablespoon mirin
- 2 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 small ginger knob
- 4 boneless, skin-on chicken thighs about 1 pound, see notes*
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil
- 2 green onions sliced
- sesame seeds
Instructions
Rice
- Stovetop instructions - Place rice in a saucepan and rinse the rice in the sink until the water runs clear, then drain. Combine washed rice and filtered water in a medium saucepan. Bring the rice to a low boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer for 20 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Remove from the heat and let sit covered for 10 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork.3 cup short grain Japanese rice or calrose rice, 4 cup filtered water
- Rice cooker instructions - Place rice in the electric rice cooker pot and rinse the rice in the sink until the water runs clear, then drain. Combine rice and filtered water in the pot and cook per the rice cooker directions.
Chicken Teriyaki Bowl
- Mix teriyaki sauce - Add soy sauce, sake, mirin, and sugar in a bowl. Use a grater to grate the ginger into the mixture and whisk until well mixed. Set aside.3 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sake, 4 tablespoon mirin, 2 teaspoon brown sugar, 1 small ginger knob
- Tenderize and season chicken - Tenderize the chicken so they are the same thickness. Generously season on both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.4 boneless, skin-on chicken thighs, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- Cook chicken - In a large skillet over medium heat, add oil. Once the oil is hot, use tongs to place the chicken skin side down. Use the tongs to gently push down on the meat so all of the skin comes into contact with the pan and cooks evenly. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the skin turns golden. Then turn the chicken thighs over, add a tablespoon of water to the pan, and cover with a lid. Cook for an additional 8-10 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F in the thickest part.1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil
- Simmer in sauce - Reduce the heat to low, then pour the teriyaki marinade over the chicken. Cook for an additional 2 minutes to reduce the sauce, baste the chicken with the sauce, then remove from heat.
- Cut chicken and assemble - Place the chicken on a cutting board and slice into strips. Divide rice into bowls, place the chicken on top of the rice, and drizzle with the teriyaki sauce from the pan. Sprinkle the chicken with sesame seeds and green onions.sesame seeds, 2 green onions
Nutrition
Calories: 486kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 987mg | Potassium: 346mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 148IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2mg
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