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    The Heirloom Pantry » Recipe Index » Dinner

    Teriyaki Chicken Bowl (Donburi)

    Published: Sep 5, 2022 · Modified: Dec 6, 2022 by Kathleen Higashiyama · The following content may contain affiliate links. When you click and shop the links, we receive a commission.

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    Teriyaki chicken rice bowl (donburi) Pinterest pin.

    Teriyaki Chicken Bowl features juicy, tender teriyaki chicken thighs served over steamed Japanese rice. This restaurant-style donburi cooks in just 30 minutes with handful of ingredients. Serve it with your favorite vegetable for your next lunch or a weeknight dinner.

    Teriyaki chicken rice bowl (donburi) made with homemade teriyaki sauce and served with chopsticks.

    Authentic teriyaki chicken is one of our favorite ways to prepare chicken. We cook chicken thighs on the stove in just a few minutes, then simmer them in a thick homemade teriyaki sauce. The meat is tender, the skin is crispy, and the homemade glaze is sticky and scrumptious. Serve on top of a bowl of Japanese or Calrose rice to catch the leftover teriyaki sauce and cleanse your palate.

    If you want a more filling and nutritious meal, enjoy it with Furikake and Lemon Shishito Peppers, Miso Glazed Eggplant, Sautéed Green Beans with Furikake. Add this family-favorite meal to your weeknight dinner rotation and be ready to make enough for seconds!

    Jump to:
    • About Teriyaki Chicken Don
    • What is a donburi?
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Instructions
    • How to Enjoy This Teriyaki Chicken Donburi
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Cooking Tips
    • Related Recipes
    • Did You Like This Recipe?
    • Teriyaki Chicken Bowl (Donburi)

    About Teriyaki Chicken Don

    • Taste - The teriyaki chicken is savory and sweet and the rice is mild.
    • Texture - The chicken is perfectly glazed and tender and the rice is firm.
    • Effort - This rice and chicken recipe is straightforward. You just need to make the rice, teriyaki sauce, and chicken. You can also streamline the recipe by using store-bought bottled teriyaki sauce.
    • Time - It takes about 10 minutes of prep, about a half hour to cook the rice and chicken, then a few minutes to assemble the don.

    What is a donburi?

    Donburi translates to "bowl" in English. These Japanese rice bowls typically feature fish or meat over steamed Japanese rice. This chicken teriyaki don is one of our favorites because it is easy to make and delicious.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients to make chicken teriyaki thighs rice bowl (donburi), including homemade teriyaki sauce, garlic powder, chicken thighs, and rice.

    Chicken Bowl

    • Rice - Japanese short grain steamed rice is best for donburi because it is neutral and just lightly salted for flavor.
    • Chicken thighs - We love boneless, skin-on chicken thighs because they are tender and succulent. Ask your butcher to remove the bone from the thighs for easy preparation.
    • Garlic powder - Garlic powder adds the quintessential aroma to the bowl.
    • Neutral cooking oil - We recommend a neutral cooking oil like avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or vegetable oil because they all have a high smoke point and won't burn. They also have minimal flavor so they won't change the taste of the chicken.
    • Green onions - Chopped green onions add a mild finishing touch.
    • Sesame seeds - Toasted sesame seeds add a mild and nutty flavor.

    Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

    • Soy sauce - Soy sauce, or shoyu in Japanese, is an essential condiment in Japanese cooking that adds a rich umami flavor to the teriyaki sauce. We use low sodium shoyu because it is healthier without sacrificing the rich flavor.
    • Mirin - Mirin is a Japanese sweet rice wine that adds umami flavor and is the base of many Japanese sauces.
    • Sake -  Sake adds savoriness to the teriyaki sauce.
    • Brown sugar - Brown sugar provides sweetness.
    • Ginger - Grated fresh ginger adds a pungent spice.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Substitutions

    • Brown rice - If you want to make this don healthier, enjoy it with brown rice instead of white or a mix.
    • Chicken breasts - Replace chicken thighs with breasts for a healthier option.
    • Healthy Honey Teriyaki - Make with our Healthy Honey Teriyaki Sauce (Gluten-Free) for a healthier alternative.
    • Unagi sauce - Unagi sauce has a thick syrupy texture just like teriyaki sauce, but is a little more savory.
    • Salmon teriyaki donburi - Instead of chicken, a Teriyaki Salmon Bowl (Donburi)for a healthy fish alternative.
    • Boneless skinless chicken thighs - You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you don't like the skin.
    • Chicken katsu donburi - Make a Chicken Katsu or Chicken Katsu Curry don for a crunchy fried chicken alternative.

    Variations

    • Shredded Nori - Add shredded nori (kizami nori) for extra crunch and seaweed flavor.
    • Sansho pepper - Add a dash of sansho pepper for an aromatic, citrusy, peppery taste.
    • Furikake - Furikake is a Japanese seaweed seasoning commonly made of dried seaweed, sesame seeds, and salt. It adds an ocean-like flavor to this seafood dish.
    • Mitsuba - Mitsuba is a Japanese garnish that tastes similar to parsley.
    • Extra teriyaki flavor - If you want to add extra umami flavor to the donburi, drizzle extra teriyaki sauce over it.
    • Daikon sprouts (Kaiware Daikon) - Daikon sprouts add a light pepperiness.
    • Spicy - Drizzle some Sriracha on the bowl to make this donburi spicy.

    Instructions

    Steps to make teriyaki chicken donburi, including making the homemade teriyaki ginger sauce; seasoning the chicken thighs with pepper, salt, and garlic powder; adding oil to the hot pan; and searing the chicken skin.

    Rice

    • Make rice on stovetop or in rice cooker - 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 or in the pot and cook per 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. (Photo 1)
    • Tenderize and season chicken - Tenderize the chicken so they are the same thickness. Generously season on both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. (Photo 2)
    • 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. (Photo 3 and 4)
    Steps to make chicken teriyaki rice bowl, including cooking the chicken in the pan, simmering in teriyaki sauce, slicing the thighs, and serving on rice with sesame seeds and scallions.
    • Cook thighs - 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. (Photo 5)
    • Simmer thighs - 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. (Photo 6)
    • Cut chicken - Place the chicken on a cutting board and slice into strips. (Photo 7)
    • Assemble bowls - Divide rice into bowls, place the chicken on top of the rice, and drizzle with the teriyaki sauce from the pan. Then sprinkle the chicken with sesame seeds and green onions then enjoy! (Photo 8)

    Pro tip: Use tongs or a fish spatula to cook the chicken. A fish spatula is long and slotted, making it easier to pick up the chicken than it would be with a normal spatula.

    How to Enjoy This Teriyaki Chicken Donburi

    This chicken teriyaki bowl is best enjoyed by combining a little chicken and rice in each bite. The combination of neutral rice and rich teriyaki chicken is scrumptious and delicious. If you want to enjoy this teriyaki chicken don with a tasty side, it pairs deliciously with Spicy Kani Salad, Furikake and Lemon Shishito Peppers, Sautéed Broccolini, or Maple Roasted Kabocha Squash.

    Recipe FAQs

    What is teriyaki chicken made of?

    Teriyaki chicken is just chicken, preferably a chicken thigh, and a sauce consisting of soy sauce, sake, mirin, and brown sugar.

    Where does teriyaki chicken come from?

    Teriyaki chicken is a common Japanese dish. "Teriyaki" is a Japanese cooking method often used for meat and fish. It includes brushing or dipping the meat in sauce while it is broiled or grilled.

    What flavor is teriyaki sauce?

    Teriyaki is sweet, salty, and rich with some tanginess.

    Are teriyaki chicken bowls healthy?

    Yes! The chicken and rice are nutrient rich. If you want to make it healthier, serve it with brown rice instead of white rice and a veggie like Shishito Peppers or Kabocha Squash or Spicy Kani Salad.

    Which is better teriyaki or soy sauce?

    Both teriyaki and soy sauce are delicious umami flavored sauces. However, teriyaki has a sweet richness and thicker syrupy texture that make it perfect for cooking meat or fish in.

    Equipment

    This chicken teriyaki rice bowl requires kitchen essentials. For the rice, you will need a pot or rice cooker, and a rice paddle. For the sauce, you will need measuring spoons, a small saucepan, and whisk. To cook the chicken, you will need a non-stick pan or standard skillet, and silicone baking spatula or tongs, knife, and a cutting board.

    Storage

    Store the teriyaki chicken thighs and rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. After 3 days, you need to freeze the chicken. Frozen cooked chicken will last up to 3 to 4 months in the freezer. In order to reheat the chicken, heat the oven to 350°F, then heat it for 15 minutes or until warmed. If frozen, let the chicken thaw first before reheating it.

    Cooking Tips

    • Fewer steps - If you want to make this chicken recipe in fewer steps, use store-bought teriyaki sauce.
    • Use a large bowl - Serve this dish in a donburi bowl or large bowl to ensure all of the ingredients will fit.
    • If you are using a rice cooker and the outside of the rice gets hard or crispy, use a fork to fluff the rice and add moisture back into those crispy bits.
    • Be sure to tenderize the meat so the pieces to cook evenly.

    Related Recipes

    • Unagi Don (Unadon)
    • Salmon Sashimi Donburi (Rice Bowl)
    • Ikura Donburi (Salmon Roe bowl)
    • Chicken Katsu (Japanese Chicken Cutlet)

    Did You Like This Recipe?

    Love this easy teriyaki chicken recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & leave a comment below. Thanks!

    Sign up for THP's newsletter and keep in touch on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube. If you make this recipe, tag #theheirloompantry so we can see your creation!

    Teriyaki chicken rice bowl (donburi) made with homemade teriyaki sauce and served with chopsticks.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 5 votes

    Teriyaki Chicken Bowl (Donburi)

    Teriyaki Chicken Bowl features juicy, tender teriyaki chicken thighs served over steamed Japanese rice. This restaurant-style donburi cooks in just 30 minutes with handful of ingredients. Serve it with your favorite vegetable for your next lunch or a weeknight dinner. 
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Japanese
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 1331kcal
    Author: Kathleen Higashiyama

    Equipment

    • 1 pot
    • 1 Measuring spoons
    • 1 saucepan
    • 1 whisk
    • 1 non-stick pan
    • 1 Tongs
    • 1 knife
    • 1 cutting board

    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

    Video

    Notes

    Storage
    • Store leftover teriyaki chicken and rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. After 3 days, you need to freeze the chicken. Frozen cooked chicken can last up to 3 to 4 months in the freezer. In order to reheat the chicken, heat the oven to 350°F, then heat it for 15 min or until warmed. If frozen, let the chicken thaw first before reheating it.
    Top Tips
    • Use tongs or a fish spatula - A fish spatula is long and slotted, making it easier to pick up the chicken than it would be with a traditional spatula.
    • Fewer steps - If you want to make this chicken recipe in fewer steps, use store-bought teriyaki sauce.
    • Use a large bowl - Serve this dish in a donburi bowl or large bowl to ensure all of the ingredients will fit.
    • If you are using a rice cooker and the outside of the rice gets hard and crispy, use a fork to fluff the rice and add moisture back into those crispy bits.
    • Be sure to tenderize the meat so the pieces to cook evenly.
    • Gluten-free - Make with gluten-free soy sauce, tamari, or Healthy Honey Teriyaki Sauce.
    • *Bone-in, skin-on chicken - Ask your butcher to remove the bone from the thighs for easy preparation.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1331kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 81g | Fat: 89g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 23g | Monounsaturated Fat: 34g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 445mg | Sodium: 3921mg | Potassium: 1220mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 593IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 5mg
    Keyword: chicken bowl, chicken rice bowl recipe, chicken teriyaki bowl, chicken teriyaki bowl recipe, chicken teriyaki don, chicken teriyaki donburi, chicken teriyaki rice bowl, easy teriyaki chicken, easy teriyaki chicken recipe, recipe for chicken teriyaki bowl, teriyaki bowl, teriyaki chicken and rice, teriyaki chicken bowl, teriyaki chicken recipe, teriyaki donburi, teriyaki rice bowl
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theheirloompantry or tag #theheirloompantry!

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    About the Author

    Kat Higashiyama and Alec Totto are recipe developers, food photographers, and the authors behind The Heirloom Pantry. Since 2017, they have shared recipes inspired by their Japanese and Italian heritage and California and Hawaii roots. They reside in San Jose with their two dogs, Peeps and Paisley. Read More…

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michael Rybka

      January 25, 2023 at 3:19 pm

      5 stars
      Everyone who ate this asked for seconds!

      Reply
      • Kathleen Higashiyama

        February 07, 2023 at 8:20 am

        This made our day, Michael! We're happy to hear everyone enjoyed it. Thank you for trying our recipe!

        Reply

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