Panda Express Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Recipe

This copycat Panda Express grilled teriyaki chicken recipe is as close to the real thing as it gets! The chicken turns out incredibly tender and juicy on the inside and perfectly crisp on the outside. Then, it's coated in the most delicious Panda Express inspired teriyaki sauce. Honestly, once you get a taste of this recipe you'll have a tough time believing this chicken teriyaki isn't from Panda Express itself!

The Best Teriyaki Chicken Recipe

If you've ever been to Panada Express - or walked by it at the mall - odds are you either ordered or tried a sample of their iconic grilled teriyaki chicken or the Panda Express honey sesame chicken.

And if you've ever wanted to recreate all of that deliciousness at home, this recipe will show you how to do just that!

This Panda Express copycat recipe pairs some perfectly cooked juicy grilled chicken and savory teriyaki sauce together to blow you - and your taste buds - away.

Plus, the ingredients are so common that you might even have everything you need to make it at home right this second. Not to mention, in just a few easy steps you'll have a delicious show-stopping meal that's ready to serve. 

By the way, this chicken teriyaki recipe is a crowd-pleaser every time I make it - atleast it is my house. So don't hesitate to double or triple the recipe. Your guest will be happy that you did, and the homemade sauce is always the talk of the party.

Anyway, let's not waste another second. Let's jump right into the ingredient list to see what you need to make this Panda Express grilled teriyaki chicken.

Ingredients

As I said before, you’re probably going to have a majority of the ingredients in your pantry, especially if you often make Asian-inspired dishes.

But, if you don't, these are really common items to find at your local grocery store. So, picking these up shouldn't be a problem.

Anyway, here's what you'll need to make Panda Express Teriyaki chicken:

• 1 pound of skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 tbsp. canola oil
• ⅔ cup sugar
• ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1 tsp.lemon juice
• ½ tsp. garlic powder
• ¼ tsp. ground ginger
• ⅓ cup water
• 2 tbsp. cornstarch & 2 tbsp. of water mixed together 

As you may have noticed, I used skinless chicken thighs to make this recipe. I like the extra flavor that it gives the dish, but if you want, you can totally use chicken breasts and it will turn out just as delicious. Either way, pick up some extra chicken so you can use it to make this teriyaki chicken casserole or mar far chicken next!

Also, I like to cook the chicken on a grill pan. But, if you don't have one, you can use a regular grill or even just a skillet. Just keep in mind, if you use a regular grill, you'll want to cut the chicken into strips instead of pieces.

Now, I love serving this dish with a side of rice, and we have a few rice recipes on the blog that pair perfectly. I suggest you either make this sushi rice, egg fried rice, or, my favorite, this coconut rice to go along with it.

Now, let's move along with the process of making this delicious grilled teriyaki chicken!

How to Make Teriyaki Chicken

Ok, as I've talked about a few times now, this recipe is honestly a breeze to make. And it doesn't take long at all - about 30 minutes tops is all you need and a large portion of that is just cooking time.

Now, let’s get started on the steps you'll need to follow to make the dish.

Step 1: Grilling the Chicken

First, put the grill pan over medium-high heat.

Next, put the chicken pieces in a bowl and drizzle them with the canola oil. Then, give it a stir to coat each piece of chicken evenly in the oil. 

Once the pan is hot, add the chicken to it and cook for about 3-5 minutes. Then, give it a flip and cook for another 3-5 minutes on the other side - or until the internal temperature reaches 165°. Oh, and be careful not to overcrowd the pan - you may need to cook the chicken in batches.

Anyway, while the chicken is cooking, you can prepare the teriyaki sauce.

Step 2: Make the Teriyaki Sauce

Now, it’s time to make the star of this dish, the homemade teriyaki sauce. Before you start, add the 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and water to a bowl and mix them together, then set aside.

To make the sauce, add the sugar, soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic powder, ground ginger, and ⅓ cup of water to a small pot and whisk everything together. 

Now, bring the sauce ingredients to a boil over high heat. Then, lower the temperature to medium-low and cook for 2-3 minutes and combine. 

Next, add the cornstarch and water mixture to the pot and cook over low heat until the sauce just thickens. 

Step 3: Serving 

So, now that the chicken is cooked to perfection and the sauce is made, it's time to bring everything together.

Add the chicken to a plate with rice and spoon the teriyaki sauce over the grilled chicken.

Or, if you want, you can mix the chicken and rice in a bowl with the sauce. You can even just dip the chicken in the sauce - there's no wrong way to enjoy this dish!

Enjoy!

How to Store Teriyaki Chicken

This Panda Express recipe will make 4 large servings, so there will be plenty for a big family dinner!

And don't be afraid to double or triple the recipe because it's delicious the next day!

Having said that, the best way to store this dish is by putting the chicken and teriyaki sauce in an airtight container. Everything will last in the fridge for up to 4 days if you store it that way.

How to Reheat Teriyaki Chicken

For the best leftover experience, you'll want to reheat this Panda Express teriyaki chicken. The best way to do that is to put the chicken and sauce in a pan - or wok - over medium heat.

Then, heat the chicken and sauce, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes or until it reaches your desired temperature. And if the sauce is too thick, just add a splash of water to thin it out.

Or, if you want, you can reheat the chicken in the oven too.

Wrapping It All Up

Well, there you have it! That's how to make Panda Express grilled teriyaki chicken at home.

It's a super simple recipe that's even easier to make than it is to order out. Not only that, but once you try this recipe I think you'll actually prefer the homemade version better.

As always I hope you like this recipe as much as I do!

If you make it, leave a comment below and let me know what you think. 

More Copycat Recipes

If you want to recreate some more restaurant dishes, we have a ton of recipes on the blog that you can try next!

Check out all of these delicious recipes:

• Panda Express honey walnut shrimp
• Panda Express cream cheese rangoon
• Panda Express black pepper angus steak
• Panda Express beijing beef
• Cheesecake Factory miso salmon

And as always be sure to give our YouTube Channel and Instagram a look too. We post new recipes on them daily!

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