Easy Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Recipe

Dive into the ease of making succulent teriyaki chicken in your crockpot. This straightforward recipe pairs perfectly with aromatic brown rice and fresh vegetables for a wholesome meal.

With just two main ingredients, boneless skinless chicken thighs and a good quality teriyaki sauce, you can have a flavorful meal that everyone will love. Let’s get started!

Ingredients

The Star of the Show: Chicken Thighs

For this recipe, we’re using a 3.14-pound package of boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They are not only budget-friendly but also incredibly flavorful. Chicken thighs are a great choice for crockpot recipes because they stay tender and juicy, unlike chicken breasts, which can turn out dry. You can usually find them fairly cheap, and if you’re lucky, you might pick them up for around $1.77 a pound.

The Sauce: Mr. Yoshida’s Sweet Teriyaki Sauce

The second ingredient you’ll need is Mr. Yoshida’s sweet teriyaki sauce. This sauce is a perfect blend of sweet and savory, making it an excellent choice for this dish. If you have a preferred store-bought teriyaki sauce, feel free to use that instead. You’ll need about a cup of this sauce to coat the chicken thighs well.

Additional Side Dishes

While the teriyaki chicken is undoubtedly the star of the meal, you’ll want to round it out with some sides:

Brown Jasmine Rice

Brown jasmine rice is a healthy and flavorful option to serve alongside your teriyaki chicken. Follow the cooking instructions on the package. Typically, it involves boiling water, adding the rice, and letting it simmer until it’s tender.

Stir Fry Blend Vegetable Mix

To add some color and nutrition to your meal, cook up a stir fry blend vegetable mix. A blend of broccoli, carrots, and snow peas works wonderfully. This mix can often be cooked in the microwave, but for a fresher taste and better texture, steam them on the stove.

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions

Preparing the Chicken

First, rinse off the chicken thighs to ensure they are clean. This step is crucial for maintaining hygiene and removing any unwanted particles from the chicken.

Adding the Teriyaki Sauce

Next, place the chicken thighs into the crockpot. Pour about a cup of Mr. Yoshida’s sweet teriyaki sauce over the chicken. Mix well to make sure each piece of chicken is well-coated with the sauce. This will help to infuse the flavors throughout the meat as it cooks.

Cooking the Chicken

Set your crockpot to high. The chicken will take approximately three to four hours to cook thoroughly. You can check the doneness around the two-and-a-half-hour mark. The chicken is done when it’s tender and easily pulls apart but doesn’t necessarily need to be falling apart. Some people prefer their chicken to still maintain some firmness.

Cooking the Rice and Vegetables

While the chicken is cooking, prepare your sides. For the brown jasmine rice, follow the package instructions which usually involve simmering the rice until it’s tender.

For the vegetable stir fry mix, steam them on the stove for the best texture. This ensures the veggies are crisp-tender, retaining their vibrant colors and nutritional value. While microwaving is an option, stovetop steaming is often preferred for a fresher taste.

Serving the Meal

Once your chicken is cooked to perfection, it’s time to plate the meal. Serve the tender teriyaki chicken over a bed of brown jasmine rice and add a generous scoop of your steamed stir fry vegetables on the side.

The combination of juicy, flavorful chicken, nutty brown jasmine rice, and fresh, crisp vegetables is sure to please your taste buds. The sweet and savory teriyaki sauce brings everything together, making for a satisfying and well-rounded meal.

Final Thoughts

It’s been a while since I last made this dish, and I had almost forgotten how wonderfully simple and delicious it is. This crockpot teriyaki chicken is not only easy to make but also incredibly tasty. It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you don’t have the time or energy to spend hours in the kitchen.

I hope you give this recipe a try. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy a homemade meal without the hassle. Thanks for reading, and happy cooking!