Panda Express teriyaki chicken is one of our favorite take out meals. Since we all love its signature sweet and savory taste, today I'll share my easy copycat recipe that's sure to bring the delicious flavors of this popular Asian inspired dish to your kitchen.
It's meal prep friendly, ready in less than 30 mins and perfect for a quick meal or a family dinner served over fluffy rice with a side of veggies like broccoli, green beans or asparagus.
Easy Teriyaki chicken thighs recipe
Craving the delicious taste of Panda Express teriyaki chicken but don’t want to leave home? Great! Let me show you how to recreate their tender, juicy chicken thighs coated in a sweet and savory teriyaki glaze that you'll make over and over.
This copycat recipe is so simple to make that you'll have it on a weekly rotation. It will bring the mouthwatering umami flavors of this famous teriyaki chicken thighs right to comforts of your home.
Recipe Highlights
- Rich Flavor: Talk about restaurant quality at home. This Panda Express teriyaki chicken recipe captures the exact flavors you love, making it a perfect copycat.
- Simple Ingredients: With easy-to-find ingredients, you can whip up this dish without any hassle.
- Quick to Make: This teriyaki chicken thighs recipe comes together in under 30 minutes, ideal for busy weeknights.
- Family Favorite: Both kids and adults will love the sweet and savory taste, making it a hit at dinner time. The best part is that it's a healthier option since you are in control of the ingredients that go into it.
Ingredients
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Low sodium soy sauce
- Brown sugar
- Garlic paste
- Ginger paste
- Water
- Oil
- Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- Cornstarch
- Black pepper
- Salt
* Need to print out this recipe? You’ll find a printable recipe card at the end of this post. Enjoy!
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- Skillet
How to make Panda Express teriyaki chicken
Pat the chicken thighs dry, season with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat up oil over medium heat, sear the chicken thighs, cooking for 6 to 7 mins per side. Remove from heat and set aside in a plate.
Make a slurry with cornstarch and water. Mix all the sauce ingredients in a bowl then add the slurry and mix again.
Transfer the sauce into the same saucepan you cooked the chicken in, cook the sauce on low heat for 2 mins, stirring frequently.
Next put the chicken back into the skillet coat it with the sauce, let it simmer for about 5 mins so that it thickens. Keep an eye on it so it doesn't thicken too much.
What to serve with Panda Express chicken teriyaki
Pair your teriyaki chicken with boiled white rice, brown rice, fried rice or cauliflower rice with a side of stir fried or steamed veggies like broccoli, carrots.
We sometimes serve our Panda Express chicken teriyaki with green beans almondine or coleslaw.
How to store and reheat
Store leftover teriyaki chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until heated through.
Alternatively, reheat in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water as needed to prevent it from drying out.
Helpful Tips
- Use chicken thighs for more flavor and tenderness.
- If you've got time on your hands, marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes to add more flavor.
- Don't overcook the chicken to keep it juicy.
- If you find that the sauce is too thick, add some water about a tablespoon at a time to lighten it up.
FAQs
Yes, you can use chicken breast, but be careful not to overcook it as it can dry out more easily than thighs.
If you are looking to swap out soy sauce in this recipe, try any of the following soy sauce substitutes; Coconut aminos, Liquid aminos and Tamari or Kikkoman for gluten free. While Worcestershire sauce isn't very close in flavor, it can be used in a pinch.
You can leave out the brown sugar completely or swap out with honey or a sugar free sweetener of choice.
More copycat recipes to try
- Raising Cane's chicken fingers
- KFC coleslaw
- Raising Cane's sauce
- Check out all our Home Cooked Recipes
Now that you have all the tips and tricks to make this mouthwatering copycat Panda Express teriyaki chicken, it's time to head to the kitchen and give it a try!
With a few simple ingredients and our easy-to-follow steps, you'll be enjoying restaurant-quality teriyaki chicken in no time.
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Panda Express teriyaki chicken recipe
Ingredients
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (washed and trimmed)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
For Teriyaki sauce
- ½ cup soy sauce (low sodium)
- 1 teaspoon garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoon water
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
- Sear seasoned thighs in hot olive oil for approximately 6 to 7 minutes per side. Set aside on a separate dish.
Prepare teriyaki sauce:
- In a separate bowl, create a slurry by mixing cornstarch and water.
- Combine all sauce ingredients before adding the slurry. Stir well to combine.
- In the same pan used for chicken, heat the teriyaki sauce on low heat for 2 minutes, stirring continuously.
- Add the chicken thighs back into the pan, coating them thoroughly with sauce. Continue cooking on simmer for 5 minutes, monitoring sauce consistency to avoid over-reduction.
- Serve with fluffy white rice and steamed broccoli
Notes
- While you can use chicken breasts, i recommend chicken thighs for more flavor and tenderness.
- If you've got time on your hands, marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes to add more flavor.
- Don't overcook the chicken to keep it juicy.
- If you find that the sauce is too thick, add some water about a tablespoon at a time to lighten it up.
Dora says
Incredibly delicious copycat, the sauce is perfect!
Chi & Kel says
Hi Dora! Thank you for your feedback!
Sherry says
My mom used to make us a teriyaki chicken recipe like this growing up. After she passed away her recipe was lost and I have been so hungry for this recipe. I made your Panda Express Teriyaki Chicken and it turned out AMAZING!! Thank you for bringing back my great food memories of my mom!