Panda Express Teriyaki Chicken Recipe Made Easy

This Panda Express Teriyaki Chicken Recipe is an easy copycat recipe made with juicy grilled chicken thighs and a sweet homemade teriyaki sauce. It tastes just like the restaurant version but is easy to make at home with simple pantry ingredients.

We love making this family-tested recipe for busy weeknights because it is budget-friendly, packed with flavor, and perfect served with rice or vegetables.

Teriyaki Chicken Thighs on a plate topped with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.

Get My Easy Grilling Cookbook Bundle for 75% OFF

Buy now

Why You’ll Love This Recipe!

Carrie, the owner, with long dark hair, wearing earrings and a purple top, smiles at the camera in front of a textured, beige background.

We make this copycat teriyaki chicken often because it tastes like takeout without the extra cost. The homemade teriyaki sauce is sweet, savory, and easy to customize, and the grilled chicken stays juicy and flavorful every time.

Better than takeout at a lower cost
Easy homemade teriyaki sauce
Great for meal prep and leftovers
Family-friendly recipe
Delicious with rice, noodles, or vegetables
Easy to customize with different proteins
Perfect for grilling season or indoor cooking

If you love teriyaki sauce as much as I do, make this Blackstone Teriyaki Chicken Recipe. You also might like Grilled Hoisin Chicken or Grilled Teriyaki Chicken. For even more juicy chicken recipes, check out 9 Juicy Chicken Recipes That Never Dry Out on the Grill.

Ingredients

Boneless Chicken Thighs – Chicken thighs stay juicy and flavorful on the grill and closely match the texture of Panda Express teriyaki chicken. You can substitute chicken breasts or chicken tenders if preferred.
Vegetable Oil – A light coating of vegetable oil helps keep the chicken moist while grilling and prevents sticking. Olive oil or avocado oil also work well.
Salt – Salt helps enhance the flavor of the chicken before grilling. Adjust to taste depending on the sodium level of your soy sauce.
Pepper – Black pepper adds simple seasoning and balances the sweetness of the teriyaki sauce.
Sugar – Sugar gives the teriyaki sauce its signature sweet flavor and helps create the sticky glaze on the chicken. Brown sugar can also be used for a deeper flavor.
Soy Sauce – Soy sauce adds the savory umami flavor that makes teriyaki sauce so delicious. Low sodium soy sauce works best to keep the sauce from being overly salty.
Lemon – Fresh lemon juice adds brightness and helps balance the sweet and savory flavors in the sauce.
Garlic Powder – Garlic powder adds rich flavor to the teriyaki sauce. Fresh minced garlic can also be used if preferred.
Ground Ginger – Ground ginger gives the sauce warm flavor with a hint of spice. Fresh grated ginger works great for even more flavor.
Water – Water helps combine the sauce ingredients and creates the perfect consistency for simmering.
Cornstarch – Cornstarch thickens the sauce so it coats the chicken perfectly. Mix with cold water first to prevent lumps.

How to Make Panda Express Teriyaki Chicken

Uncooked chicken thighs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Step 1 – Coat the chicken thighs with vegetable oil. Then season them with salt and pepper (both sides). The marinated chicken is ready to grill.

Grilled Chicken thighs topped with sauce, sesame seeds and chopped green onions.

Step 2 – Preheat a grill over medium high heat (approximately 350 degrees Fahrenheit). Add the chicken on the grill over direct heat. Grill for 3-5 minutes per side until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook time will vary.

Step 3 – While the chicken is grilling, in a saucepan, mix together sauce ingredients on low heat. Mix the sugar, soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic powder, pound ginger and water. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to a lower temperature.

Mix in the cornstarch slurry into the teriyaki sauce in the sauce pan.

Step 4 – In a small bowl, whisk together the tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water. Stir this cornstarch slurry into the saucepan and heat for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened.

Step 5 – Brush the sauce onto the cooked chicken.

Step 6 – Serve and enjoy with a side of white rice.

Chicken sliced on white rice topped with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.

Recipe Tips

Prepare Chicken – Makes sure coat chicken with oil and season both sides. This allows the chicken taste amazing.
Grilling Chicken – Grill chicken directly on the grill or you can place in a grill pan. You can also cook the chicken in a skillet.
Rest Chicken – Before adding the sauce to the chicken, make sure to allows the chicken to rest.
Chicken is Cooking – While the chicken is cooking, combine the sauce ingredients in a mixing bowl or saucepan. Add in the cornstarch to thicken the sauce.
Make Ahead – Feel free to make ahead the sauce ahead of time which will save time. You can also marinade the chicken the night before. This would be a great meal to meal prep with for the week.
Checking Chicken for doneness – We use an meat thermometer to make sure that the chicken is cooked to a safe temperature.
Adding Teriyaki Sauce – Once the chicken is done cooking, rub the sauce on the chicken. Then cook the chicken for a minute to caramelize the sauce.

Variations Ideas

Change the Meat – We used chicken thighs in this recipe but you can also grill chicken breasts or chicken tenders. You can also use this sauce to cook shrimp, beef or steak.
Teriyaki Sauce – The ingredients for the teriyaki sauce can be changed to what you prefer. Feel free to add in honey, brown sugar, and more.
Serving of Food – This teriyaki chicken is great served with many different sides. You can make a noodles, fried rice, vegetables and mushrooms. We love to garnish the recipe with chopped green onions and pineapple.
Soy Sauce – If you prefer a gluten free option, you can also use coconut aminos as a variation for low-sodium soy sauce.
Add Vegetables – We love to add in vegetables when mixing the sauce on the chicken.
Fresh Garlic – We used garlic powder in this recipe, but fresh garlic works great too.

Chicken thighs on a plate topped with teriyaki sauce, green onions and sesame seeds.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5-7 days. You can reheat the leftover in the microwave for a quick lunch the next day.

If you prefer, you can freeze Grilled Teriyaki Chicken by placing in a freezer-safe container. If stored properly, the chicken will last about 3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Teriyaki Sauce Made of?

We love making Teriyaki Sauce out of pantry ingredients. They can easily be changed to what you prefer. The sauce heats quick and easy on the stovetop to be used for many different cuts of meats.

Does Chicken Need to Be Marinated before Grilling?

For this recipe, you will add the sauce after this chicken thighs are finished cooking. It depends on your preference and your marinade.
We usually do marinade the chicken before, but we also think it taste absolute delicious.

Can I cook this without a grill?

Yes, cook the chicken in a grill pan, cast iron skillet, or air fryer.

Is Grilled Teriyaki Chicken from Panda Express healthy?

Yes, grilled teriyaki chicken at Panda Express is a healthy choice. Since the chicken is grilled it helps to save on calories. Add a side of veggies to complete the meal.