Recipe by user david
Tender pan-seared chicken thighs glazed in a quick, classic four-ingredient teriyaki sauce in about 20 minutes.
Serves 1
This Chicken Teriyaki uses a traditional Japanese pan-searing method to keep boneless, skinless chicken thighs juicy while building a glossy, clingy glaze from soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar. It’s ideal for a fast weeknight dinner but still special enough for guests—serve it with steamed rice and a simple salad. Key tips: score and flatten the thighs for even cooking, press the chicken briefly to improve the sear, wipe excess grease before adding sauce for a clearer glaze, and stop reducing the sauce slightly early since residual heat will thicken it.
In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar.
Microwave until hot; stir well to dissolve the sugar. Set aside.
Place the chicken smooth side down on a cutting board. Score across the meat every 1/2 inch without cutting through; make deeper slits in thick parts, skip thin parts, and press open/flatten to an even thickness.
Lightly season both sides with salt and black pepper.
Heat a large frying pan over medium to medium-high heat. Add the oil; when hot, add the chicken smooth side down (presentation side). Cook for 5 minutes, pressing down hard with a spatula for 5–10 seconds right after placing it in the pan.
Flip the chicken and immediately press down again for 5–10 seconds. Reduce heat to low, cover, and steam for 3 minutes. Uncover and wipe excess grease/protein from the pan with a paper towel.
Increase heat to medium and add the teriyaki sauce. Tilt the pan and frequently spoon the sauce over the chicken until coated and cooked through; transfer chicken to a cutting board.
Continue cooking the sauce until thickened to your liking, stopping while slightly thin (it will thicken as it cools). For a thicker sauce, reduce 2–3 minutes longer; transfer sauce to a bowl.
Slice chicken into bite-sized pieces and transfer to a plate. Optional: sear briefly with a kitchen butane torch or use an oven broiler to enhance flavor. Drizzle sauce over the chicken and serve (optionally over steamed rice).
In Japan, boneless, skin-on chicken thighs are often used because the skin helps protect the meat, keeps it juicy, and helps the glaze adhere; this version uses boneless, skinless thighs as commonly sold in the US.
Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days or in the freezer for a month.
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