Chicken teriyaki and teriyaki chicken are very similar dishes, but there are some subtle differences between the two. In this article, we’ll break down what defines each dish and look at how they compare in terms of ingredients, preparation methods, and flavor profiles.
Defining Chicken Teriyaki
Chicken teriyaki refers to chicken that has been marinated and glazed with a teriyaki sauce before cooking. The chicken pieces used can be bone-in or boneless, skinless thighs or breast meat. The teriyaki marinade is typically made from soy sauce, mirin, sake or rice wine, ginger, and sugar.
The chicken is marinated anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight. This allows the teriyaki flavors to penetrate into the meat. Then the chicken is grilled, broiled, or pan-fried and during the last few minutes of cooking, the leftover marinade is simmered down into a glaze and brushed over the chicken to coat it.
So in summary, the key aspects of chicken teriyaki are:
- Chicken marinated in a teriyaki marinade
- Grilling, broiling, or pan-frying the chicken
- Glazing the cooked chicken with the teriyaki marinade reduxed into a sauce
Defining Teriyaki Chicken
Teriyaki chicken refers to chicken that has been cooked in a skillet or wok along with a teriyaki sauce. The preparation is more of a stir-fry method. The chicken is cut into bite-sized pieces, then stir-fried quickly over high heat with vegetables like onion, carrots, broccoli, and bell peppers.
The teriyaki sauce is added directly to the skillet or wok during cooking. It coats the chicken and vegetables. Common ingredients in the teriyaki sauce include soy sauce, honey or sugar, rice vinegar or mirin, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil or seeds.
The key aspects of teriyaki chicken are:
- Cutting the chicken into smaller pieces for fast, high-heat cooking
- Stir-frying the chicken with vegetables
- Adding prepared teriyaki sauce to the skillet/wok to create a quick glaze
Key Differences
While both dishes involve chicken and teriyaki sauce, here are the main differences:
| Chicken Teriyaki | Teriyaki Chicken |
|---|---|
| Chicken is marinated in the teriyaki sauce before cooking | Sauce is added during cooking |
| Teriyaki glaze is made by reducing the marinade | Ready-made teriyaki sauce is used |
| Chicken is grilled, broiled or pan-fried | Chicken is stir-fried |
| Doesn’t include vegetables usually | Stir-fried with vegetables |
| Served as main dish, meat focused | Can be served as main dish or rice topper, more veggies |
Ingredients
While the sauces are similar, here are some common ingredients in each:
Chicken Teriyaki Marinade
- Soy sauce
- Mirin (sweet rice wine)
- Sake (rice wine)
- Brown sugar or honey
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Sesame oil
- Black pepper
Teriyaki Chicken Sauce
- Soy sauce
- Honey or brown sugar
- Rice vinegar
- Toasted sesame oil
- Ground ginger
- Garlic
- Sesame seeds
- Cornstarch or water to thicken
As you can see, the core ingredients are similar – soy sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger. The teriyaki chicken sauce has more sticky, thick ingredients like honey and cornstarch to cling to the chicken and vegetables during stir-frying.
Cooking Methods
Chicken teriyaki relies on direct heat from grilling, broiling or pan-searing. This allows the marinade to caramelize onto the chicken, creating flavorful browning. The slower cooking gives the teriyaki glaze time to reduce down into an almost shinny lacquer on the chicken.
In contrast, teriyaki chicken is cooked very quickly via stir-frying over intense heat. This keeps the chicken tender while also cooking the vegetables. The ready-made thick and sticky sauce clings to the chicken and vegetables in the pan, coating them with lots of flavor.
Flavor Profiles
While both dishes are sweet, salty, and umami-rich from the teriyaki sauce, there are some subtle differences in flavor based on the cooking methods and other ingredients:
Chicken Teriyaki
- Deep, concentrated teriyaki flavor
- Moderate saltiness
- Substantial umami flavor
- Tender and juicy chicken
- Caramelized exterior
Teriyaki Chicken
- Bright, light teriyaki flavor
- Relatively salty from soy sauce in stir-fry
- Umami depth from sesame
- Very tender chicken
- Crisp-tender vegetables
Chicken teriyaki lets the teriyaki glaze take center stage, while vegetables play a supporting role in teriyaki chicken. But they both deliver food savory-sweet flavors.
Serving Suggestions
Chicken teriyaki is usually served as an entree with rice and a simple side salad or veggies:
- Chicken teriyaki with steamed rice
- Chicken teriyaki with roasted asparagus
- Chicken teriyaki bowl with rice and greens
Teriyaki chicken is more flexible – it can be served as either a main dish or simple rice topper:
- Teriyaki chicken with rice
- Teriyaki chicken stir fry over udon noodles
- Teriyaki chicken and veggie rice bowl
Both dishes work well in lunch bowls, over salads, stuffed into sandwiches or wraps, or served with noodles.
Nutritional Value
Chicken teriyaki and teriyaki chicken are both lean sources of protein, low in fat and carbs:
| Nutrition Facts Per Serving | Chicken Teriyaki | Teriyaki Chicken |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 290 | 260 |
| Total Fat | 3g | 7g |
| Protein | 43g | 32g |
| Carbs | 12g | 13g |
Teriyaki chicken offers a bit more fiber and vitamins from the added vegetables. But both provide high quality lean protein.
Cost Comparison
Chicken teriyaki costs slightly more to make at home since it requires more ingredients for the homemade marinade and glaze. Teriyaki chicken is fast and budget-friendly to whip up for dinner using pantry staples.
| Dish | Ingredient Cost | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken Teriyaki | $7-10 for 2-3 lbs chicken + $5-10 for specialty ingredients like mirin, sake, and sesame oil | $15-20 |
| Teriyaki Chicken | $5-7 for 1-2 lbs chicken + $3-5 for teriyaki sauce ingredients most people have on hand already | $10-15 |
When dining out, they cost about the same per meal, ranging from $12-18 at most restaurants.
Ease of Preparation
Teriyaki chicken is faster and easier to make than chicken teriyaki. Reasons for this include:
- No lengthy marinating time
- Quick, high-heat stir-frying method
- Use of ready-made teriyaki sauce
- Fewer recipe ingredients required
Chicken teriyaki requires more active cooking time to prepare the homemade marinade, monitor the glazing, and properly cook the chicken through. So teriyaki chicken is the quicker weeknight dinner option.
Conclusion
While the names sound nearly identical, there are some clear differences between chicken teriyaki and teriyaki chicken in terms of preparation methods, ingredients, flavor profiles, cost, and nutritional value. Chicken teriyaki relies on a sticky glaze atop grilled meat, while teriyaki chicken is a quicker veggie-packed stir-fry with ready-made sauce. Both provide the classic Japanese teriyaki flavor, but chicken teriyaki brings more depth and intensity from its reduced marinade while teriyaki chicken offers brighter flavors and flexibility as a one-pan meal. Depending on your time, budget, and taste preferences, you may find you strongly prefer one over the other.