Grilled dishes

Chicken Teriyaki

Pan-sear skin-on chicken thighs and coat them with a glossy mirin and soy glaze.

Cuisine
Japanese
Prep
10 min
Cook
18 min
Jump to the steps
Evenly sliced chicken thigh with a thin, brown soy glaze

Scale the recipe

Base quantities · 2 servings · Chicken thigh (Raw boneless thighs with the skin on) 360 g

Ingredients

Chicken thigh Raw boneless thighs with the skin on
360 g

Seasonings

Neutral cooking oil
1/3 T
Brewed soy sauce
1 T + 1/2 T
Hon-mirin Use mirin without added salt.
1 T + 1/2 T
Sugar
2/3 T

Level measures: 1 T (tablespoon) = 15 mL, 1 C (paper cup) = 180 mL. Household spoons and cups can vary in size.

Method

  1. Even out the thighs

    Pat the chicken 360 g dry with paper towels. Cut into just the thickest parts with the knife held flat, and spread the meat open.

    Raw skin-on chicken thigh spread on a dedicated board
  2. Mix the teriyaki sauce

    Combine the brewed soy sauce 1 T + 1/2 T, hon-mirin 1 T + 1/2 T and sugar 2/3 T in a small bowl to dissolve the sugar.

    Brown soy sauce stirred with a spoon
  3. Heat the pan

    Spread the oil 1/3 T thinly in a wide skillet and heat over medium. The pan is ready when the oil flows easily.

    Thin film of oil on the bottom of a black skillet
  4. Sear skin-side down

    Lay the thighs skin-side down and cook over medium heat for 4–6 minutes. Briefly press any curling edges with a spatula so the skin makes even contact.

    Chicken thigh cooking skin-side down
  5. Flip and cook through

    Once the skin is evenly golden, flip the thighs. Lower the heat, cover and cook for another 5–7 minutes.

    Turned chicken thigh with golden skin facing up
  6. Check the internal temperature

    Insert a food thermometer sideways into the thickest part. Cook over low heat until the center stays at 75°C for at least 1 minute.

    Thermometer inserted into the thick side of a boneless thigh
  7. Pour off excess fat

    Turn off the heat briefly. Move the chicken to a clean plate, then tilt the pan and carefully pour the pooled fat into a heatproof container.

    Fat being poured from the empty pan into a heatproof bowl
  8. Briefly reduce the sauce

    Return the pan to medium-low heat and add the prepared sauce. Simmer while stirring until small bubbles appear evenly and the sauce starts coating a spoon.

    Brown soy sauce bubbling gently in the skillet
  9. Glaze the chicken

    Return the chicken to the skillet and turn once to coat both sides. Spoon a thin layer of sauce over the skin. Turn off the heat when it looks glossy.

    Sauce spooned over chicken skin in the skillet
  10. Rest briefly and slice

    Rest the chicken on a clean board for about 2 minutes, then slice into serving pieces and plate. Serve with a little of the sauce left in the pan.

    Sliced teriyaki chicken thighs arranged skin-side up