From chicken teriyaki to yakitori to chicken katsu, here are our best Japanese chicken recipes—approved by kids and adults alike. With so many delicious options, you’re sure to find something you’ll want to make for dinner tonight.
When it comes to weeknight dinners, chicken is always the ingredient that comes to mind. In my household, we have chicken dinner at least once a week. They are always dependable and crowd-pleasing. Here, I’ve pulled together a list of Japanese chicken recipes that have been thoroughly approved by our readers and my family, including my two self-acclaimed food critic kiddos.
With easy ingredients and fail-proof methods, each of these recipes is the workhorse of Japanese home cooks. You’ll find sweet and sour chicken meatballs, teriyaki chicken, butter shoyu chicken, crispy bite-size karaage fried chicken, and more on the menu. I hope they will be your favorites too!
20 Best Japanese Chicken Recipes for Dinner Tonight
1. Chicken Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Sauce
You can always count on meatballs when you need a winning dinner recipe that will please every palate. What makes this chicken recipe stands out is its irresistibly sweet and sour sauce. It goes so well with steamed rice or noodles like slippery udon. They also freeze well so you can reach for these babies anytime!
2. Miso Chicken
This miso chicken is one of the most popular chicken recipes among our readers! Marinated in a homemade all-purpose miso sauce and pan-fried till crispy, you’ll get chicken so moist and full of umami that you’d want to make it regularly.
3. Chicken Teriyaki
Chicken teriyaki doesn’t require any introduction since every household outside of Japan is also making the famous chicken dish for dinner. But if you’ve been using the bottled teriyaki sauce, it’s time to ditch it for an easy homemade sauce. My recipe shows you how to prepare the classic chicken teriyaki in the authentic Japanese cooking method. Not only does it taste better, but you’d also be surprised how easy it is to make your own sauce!
4. Garlic Onion Chicken
Succulent pan-fried chicken smothered in a flavorful and robust garlic onion sauce, this is a weeknight winner! It’s quick and easy, and utterly satisfying.
5. Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken)
Karaage is a very popular home cook dish in Japan. Because they are cut in bite-size pieces, it makes deep frying so much easier. Thanks to the potato starch, the chicken is fried to perfection with a crisp texture on the outside and super juicy and tender on the inside. It’s so good that you may want to fry up extra pieces for your bento lunch box.
6. Chicken Katsu
Consider this a Japanese version of chicken schnitzel. We use panko breadcrumbs for a lighter yet ultra-crispy exterior, and drizzle the chicken cutlet in tonkatsu sauce. Serve it with a simple salad or in a rice bowl!
7. Gluten-Free Baked Chicken Katsu
This gluten-free chicken katsu is coated with panko made with rice flour that yields a really crunchy texture. It is also oven-baked, which makes it a healthier option than the original deep-fried katsu. Serve with homemade ponzu and grated daikon, it is easily a favorite chicken recipe you want to make frequently.
8. Chicken Karaage with Sweet Chili Sauce
Coated in a delightful sweet chili sauce, you’d be smitten by this sweet and spicy version of Japanese fried chicken. No take-out dinner can beat a homemade chicken dinner like this!
9. Oyakodon (Chicken & Egg Bowl)
Oyakodon is cooked in one pan where onions, chicken, and egg are simmered in a dashi-based sauce. It is then poured over a bowl of fluffy steamed rice to make up a comforting donburi rice bowl. You can pull this off in 30 minutes!
10. Chicken Tempura
While chicken is not a common ingredient for tempura, it is actually a regional favorite in Oita Prefecture of the Kyushu region in Japan. Thanks to the tempura batter, you can use chicken breast for this recipe. The meat stays juicy and tender inside while the batter stays crispy and fluffy. It makes such a special treat for a weekend dinner!
11. Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs
These teriyaki chicken meatballs are so juicy and fluffy, and my kids love them! The savory homemade teriyaki sauce adds a whole layer of deliciousness to the meatballs.
12. Shio Koji Chicken
With Shio Koji, a natural seasoning used in Japanese cooking, you can make easy and delicious Shio Koji Chicken in no time with just 4 ingredients!
13. Butter Shoyu Chicken
Glazed with a simple soy-butter sauce, this butter shoyu chicken will easily win your family’s heart! 30 minutes is what you need to dish up a chicken dish that is big on flavor.
14. Soboro Don (Ground Chicken Bowl)
This colorful rice bowl follows the grain-protein-veggie formula – featuring ground chicken, scrambled eggs, and sweet peas atop of fluffy rice. It’s almost a no-brainer but highly dependable. If you have the rice cooked in a rice cooker in advance, everything else comes together so quickly that you’d be happy if you make dinner at home instead of taking it out.
15. Teba Shio (Salted Chicken Wings)
Wings are a favorite for parties and game day, but I like to serve them on Friday night family dinners too. They are economical, fun, and so easy to make. Can you believe you only need salt, sake, and black pepper to make these salted chicken wings?
16. Mizutaki (Chicken Hot Pot)
Mizutaki is a Japanese Chicken Hot Pot in which chicken, assorted vegetables, mushrooms, and tofu are cooked in a light kombu dashi broth. Dip the freshly cooked ingredients in the savory and citrusy ponzu sauce. It’s one of the best comfort foods to enjoy!
17. Japanese Chicken Curry
Tender pieces of chicken, carrots, and potatoes cooked in a rich savory curry sauce, this Japanese version of curry is a must-have for your family meal.
18. Yakitori (Grilled Chicken Skewers)
Glazed in a homemade sauce, these Japanese chicken skewers are hard to resist. You’d love this simple Yakitori recipe with delicious savory-sweet sauce! It’s great for grilling outdoors or under the broiler.
19. Japanese Cream Stew (White Stew)
Japanese Cream Stew, also known as White Stew, is rich and creamy without being heavy. It’s a classic Yoshoku meal packed with tender chicken, bite-size vegetables, and served with steamed rice or crusty bread. If you have a pressure cooker, you can make my Instant Pot Cream Stew recipe.
20. Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatball Skewers)
Drizzled with sweet soy sauce, these Japanese chicken meatball skewers called Tsukune are absolutely delicious. They are best on the grill but you can bake them in the oven too.
More Delicious Chicken Recipes?
I hope you enjoy making these chicken recipes. Browse here for more recipes and ideas!
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