Perfectly Cooked Teriyaki Chicken Noodles Recipe

Any meat that marinates in teriyaki sauce tastes remarkable. Pairing it with vegetables of your choice and serving it over noodles creates a nutritious and utterly mouthwatering dish.

While chicken is the star of this recipe, feel free to substitute it with beef, pork, or even tofu.

Most of the ingredients are readily available. For instance, you can find sake and mirin in most Japanese grocery stores or online.

The Chicken Teriyaki Noodles Recipe – Step-by-Step Instructions

Here is a detailed explanation of preparing chicken teriyaki noodles, using soba (Japanese noodles) as an example. Feel free to substitute the soba with other noodles such as udon, ramen, or pasta.

1. Use Chicken Thigh Meat for the Best Result

Chicken thigh meat offers better flavor and juiciness compared to chicken breast, which is why it is my preferred choice. If you opt for breast meat, cook it over low to medium heat to ensure tenderness.

Ask your chicken vendor to debone the chicken thigh to save time on this easy recipe. You can also swap it with beef or pork for a different take, but remember to reduce the cooking time for beef to avoid overcooking. For a vegan option, firm tofu is a great substitute; avoid soft tofu as it can break easily.

Remove the skin and any attached bones, then cut the meat into one-inch pieces.

Marinate the chicken with teriyaki sauce and a pinch of salt for half to one hour. Teriyaki sauce is a simple blend of Japanese soy sauce, sake, and mirin.

To ensure the flavor penetrates the meat, let it marinate for at least half an hour.

2. Make Your Teriyaki Sauce at Home

The easiest method is to marinate the chicken with store-bought teriyaki sauce.

Alternatively, you can add each seasoning (soy sauce, sake, mirin, sugar) separately to the chicken. I also sauté the vegetables with garlic and ginger to enhance the flavors that will be included in the teriyaki chicken.

If you use teriyaki sauce frequently, consider making a batch at home. It’s quicker than a trip to the grocery store. Simply combine Japanese soy sauce, sake, mirin, sugar, ginger, and garlic in boiling water and cook for 5 minutes. Refer to the note section in the recipe below for detailed instructions.

3. What Noodles Should I Choose for the Teriyaki Chicken Noodles Recipe?

The teriyaki flavor pairs well with any type of noodles. Besides soba, ramen noodles, udon, and spaghetti are also excellent choices. This means you don’t need to search for specific noodles to prepare chicken teriyaki noodles.

Be sure to follow the cooking instructions on the packaging, as they can vary by noodle type.

4. Tips to Make Chicken Teriyaki Noodles

Here is a step-by-step guide to preparing chicken teriyaki noodles.

A. Cook the Chicken Separately

Marinate the Chicken

• Remove the skin and any bones from the boneless chicken thighs.
• Cut the chicken into small pieces, about one inch in length.
• Add Japanese soy sauce, mirin, sake, salt, and sugar to the chicken. Rub the seasonings into the meat.
• Let it rest to marinate for one hour or longer.

Stir-Fry the Teriyaki Chicken

• Heat some oil in a large skillet. I prefer cast iron or non-stick pans that require less oil.
• Pan-fry over low to medium heat, flipping the chicken occasionally. Low heat will keep the meat tender and prevent it from drying out.
• The teriyaki marinade will gradually reduce. Remove from heat when the chicken is fully cooked and golden brown.

B. Cook the Noodles

I use fresh soba (buckwheat noodles), which only requires boiling for one minute. Dried soba takes about 3 to 4 minutes until al dente, according to the package instructions.

• Stir gently to loosen the noodles.
• Remove the cooked noodles from boiling water and rinse with cold water immediately to stop the cooking process.
• For serving cold with a dipping sauce (zaru soba), transfer the soba to ice water for 15 seconds, then drain by gently tapping the strainer.
• Since I will serve the soba hot, drain the water after rinsing and reheat in boiling water for 20 seconds before serving.

C. Prepare the Vegetables

What vegetables do you like to serve with the noodles? The choices are abundant and not limited to what I use. Here are the ingredients I typically choose and why:

• Bell pepper adds a crunchy texture, contrasting nicely with the soft noodles and meaty mushrooms and chicken.
• Carrots are optional but add vibrant color to the dish.
• Dried shiitake mushrooms are packed with flavor. I prefer them for their taste and texture, which align with the Japanese theme. Soak the dry mushrooms in water until soft, about an hour, then squeeze out the water and cut them in half.
• Sesame seeds and scallions are common in Japanese cuisine. Sesame seeds add another layer of texture, while chopped scallions provide a refreshing topping.
• Other favorite vegetables that I sometimes include are snap peas, broccoli florets, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and edamame. Feel free to add any of these to your recipe.

D. Pan-Fry the Vegetables

Once the noodles and chicken are cooked, you’re just minutes away from enjoying your teriyaki noodles.

• Sauté the garlic and fresh ginger in some oil.
• When aromatic, add the carrots and shiitake mushrooms. Add a bit of water to cook them for two minutes.
• Include the bell peppers, then season with Japanese soy sauce, sesame oil, and salt. The vegetables will mix with the unsalted noodles to create a slightly salty dish.
• Add red pepper flakes if you prefer a spicy kick.
• Finally, mix cornstarch with cold water and add it to the vegetables. This will thicken the liquid in the pan into a gravy.

E. Put It All Together

Now, there’s just one step left: combine all the ingredients, garnish, and serve.

Since soba is delicate and can break easily, I place it at the bottom of the bowl, pour the vegetables with gravy over it, and top it with the chicken. If using other noodles, you can mix everything in the pan. For udon or spaghetti, you can also stir-fry them without worrying about breaking.

Regardless of the method, generously sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top and garnish with chopped scallions.

Other Recipes You Might Want to Try

If you enjoyed this chicken teriyaki noodles recipe, you might also like other teriyaki and Japanese dishes. Here are some related recipes to consider:

This easy teriyaki salmon recipe is surprisingly delicious, combining sweet, salty, and savory flavors. It’s made with homemade authentic teriyaki sauce and requires no lengthy marinating. Serve it with rice and vegetables of your choice for a complete meal.

This easy chicken teriyaki stir-fry fuses Japanese flavors with popular vegetables like portobello mushrooms and asparagus. The crunchy vegetables and mushrooms create a perfect one-pot meal.

Miso soup is a warm and comforting Japanese soup made with a dashi stock and miso paste. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make it from scratch.