Hibachi chicken is a flavorful Japanese-inspired dish of tender chicken and crisp vegetables cooked over high heat. It’s often associated with teppanyaki restaurants where skilled chefs entertain while cooking on large steel griddles. But with the right ingredients and techniques, you can easily recreate this restaurant favorite at home.
In this detailed guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to make authentic hibachi chicken yourself. From choosing the right ingredients to proper cooking methods we’ve got you covered with tips and tricks for hibachi chicken success. Let’s get cooking!
Overview of Hibachi Chicken
The term “hibachi” refers to a traditional Japanese heating device that produces an open flame. In cooking, it describes the style of quickly searing ingredients at high temperatures to seal in flavor and texture.
Key characteristics of hibachi chicken include:
- Tender, juicy chicken cut into bite-sized pieces
- Smoky, caramelized sear from high heat
- Bright, slightly crunchy vegetables
- Savory and sweet flavor profile
While elaborate tableside cooking isn’t required, creating those trademark hibachi flavors at home is easy when you follow a few simple steps.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Hibachi chicken requires just a handful of ingredients most of which are likely already in your pantry and fridge.
Main Ingredients
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
- Soy sauce: For flavoring the chicken and vegetables
- Rice vinegar: Provides tanginess and tenderizes the chicken
- Vegetable oil: Used for cooking; sesame oil adds authentic flavor
- Garlic: Minced or grated for marinade and cooking
- Ginger: Grated fresh for optimal flavor
- Onion: Thin slices or diced
- Carrots: Julienned or cut into thin strips
- Broccoli: Chopped into small florets
- Bell peppers: Thin strips add crunch and color
- Butter: Optional but adds richness
For Serving
- White or brown rice
- Lo mein or soba noodles
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
Follow these simple steps for restaurant-worthy hibachi chicken.
1. Make the Marinade
- In a bowl, combine 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp grated ginger, and 1 minced garlic clove.
- Add chicken and toss to coat evenly. Let marinate 15-30 minutes.
2. Prep the Vegetables
- While chicken marinates, prep your veggies by slicing onions, julienning carrots, chopping broccoli, etc.
3. Cook the Chicken
- Heat 1-2 tbsp oil in a large skillet or grill pan over high heat.
- Cook chicken in a single layer for 4-5 minutes per side until browned and cooked through.
- Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.
4. Cook the Vegetables
- If needed, add a bit more oil to skillet.
- Add vegetables and a pinch of salt. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- For extra flavor, add 1-2 tbsp butter at the end.
5. Bring It All Together
- Return chicken to skillet and toss with vegetables.
- Cook for 1 final minute to let flavors blend.
- Serve immediately with rice or noodles. Enjoy!
Tips for Perfectly Cooked Chicken
Achieving tender, juicy hibachi chicken relies on a few simple strategies:
- Pound chicken to an even thickness so it cooks evenly.
- Marinate to infuse flavor and prevent drying out.
- Use a hot skillet and cook over high heat to sear the outside while keeping the inside moist.
- Avoid overcrowding so chicken gets direct contact with the cooking surface.
- Rest chicken after cooking so juices redistribute evenly.
Adding Flavor Boosts
Don’t be afraid to add extra flavor to take your hibachi chicken to the next level:
- Mix in a tablespoon of hoisin or oyster sauce into the marinade.
- Add a teaspoon of sesame oil for nutty aroma.
- Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
- Drizzle with Korean chili paste like sambal oelek or gochujang.
- Serve with a side of yum yum or teriyaki sauce.
Hibachi Chicken Rice Bowl
For a complete meal in one bowl, serve your chicken and veggies over steamy white or brown rice. Top with sliced avocado, a fried egg, and sprinkle of furikake for extra yum factor.
Switch Up the Protein
While chicken is traditional, you can easily swap in other proteins like:
- Shrimp: Sear tail-on or peeled shrimp for 2 minutes per side.
- Beef: Thinly sliced flank steak only needs about 1 minute of cooking.
- Tofu: Choose extra firm and pat dry before cooking 4-6 minutes.
Make-Ahead & Storage Tips
Since hibachi chicken comes together quickly, it’s best to prep ingredients right before cooking. However, here are some storage tips:
- Store marinated raw chicken in the fridge up to 24 hours before cooking.
- Cooked chicken and vegetables keep refrigerated 3-4 days.
- Freeze cooked chicken up to 2 months; thaw in fridge before reheating.
When reheating, use medium-low heat on the stovetop or microwave at 50% power. Add a splash of water to prevent drying out.
Bring the Hibachi Flavor Home
Cooking up flavorful hibachi chicken is easier than you think. With tender, juicy chicken, crisp-tender vegetables, and smoky, sweet flavors, you can re-create the Japanese steakhouse experience right in your own kitchen.
The beauty of this dish is that it comes together quickly and only requires pantry staples. Use this step-by-step guide to learn the signature cooking methods for awesome results. From rice bowls to noodle dishes, customize it to your liking. Now get cooking and enjoy!
What is Yum Yum Sauce?
If you’ve never had yum yum sauce, or shrimp sauce as it’s sometimes called, you are missing out! It’s a yummy white sauce that is served with shrimp, steak, and chicken at Hibachi restaurants. I also love ginger sauce and plan to get that recipe on the blog soon, but when I asked on instagram, you guys seem to LOVE your Yum Yum Sauce. So, a healthier homemade yum yum sauce is here!
It’s the perfect thing to use for any hibachi-style meals! It’s a form of sweet sauce that goes perfect with just about everything in traditional hibachi-cooked meals.
Why this hibachi dinner rocks
- This recipe has become a family favorite over the past year and I am so excited to finally bring it to you.
- With this easy weeknight dinner, you’ll bring the delicious flavors of the restaurant right into your own kitchen, no special equipment needed.
- While it tastes like traditional hibachi, my version is certainly healthier! Made with simple ingredients like tender chicken breast and fresh hibachi vegetables like mushrooms and zucchini, this entree is packed with nutrients and protein.
- My husband’s favorite part? The homemade Yum Yum sauce! It’s made with all natural ingredients, so you’ll love drizzling (or dipping) your hibachi chicken and veggies with that seriously addictive sauce.
- All that’s missing, honestly, are the hibachi chefs cooking in front of the guest from the Japanese restaurant(although nobody is stopping you from becoming a hibachi chef!).
- chicken breasts – Tenderloins also work! I love the organic, free range chicken from Butcher Box. As long as your choice of chicken is boneless and skinless, it’ll be perfect for this recipe. Want to switch it up? This recipe is awesome with steak, shrimp, or even a combo of proteins!
- olive oil – I used olive oil, but avocado oil is also delish in this recipe.
- sesame oil – This ingredient isn’t just a good addition to this recipe for taste, it’s also a healthy fat!
- butter – Use an unsalted butter to avoid excess sodium or dairy free butter if you avoid milk products.
- onion – White onion or yellow onion are the best in this hibachi recipe, but use what you have
- baby bella mushrooms – Mushrooms are rich in vitamin B! But if you aren’t a fan, you can sub a different veggie like sugar snap peas, broccoli, or red peppers.
- zucchini – Zucchini has a TON of vitamins! It’s especially rich in vitamin A. Again, you can sub this for your favorite veggie
- garlic – Garlic is extremely flavorful and delicious, all while being incredibly low in calories. Toss some extra garlic in there if you love the flavor it provides or garlic powder.
- coconut aminos – This is the BEST healthy alternative for soy sauce out there.
- lemon juice – This is optional, but highly recommended for more natural flavor.
- salt and pepper – Just a sprinkle of Himalayan salt and a crack of fresh black pepper is all you need to season this fresh dinner.
- garnish – feel free to garnish with some green onions and sesame seeds if that’s your thing (my kids are a no-go for this!)
Hibachi Chicken At Home Better Than Benihana
FAQ
What seasoning do you use for hibachi?
Hibachi chefs typically use a combination of simple, flavorful seasonings. Soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger are staples. Other common additions include sesame seeds, black pepper, and even a touch of rice vinegar.
How is hibachi chicken made?
Hibachi chicken are bite-sized chicken seared over high heat in butter, garlic, an Asian stir-fry sauce and finished with a drizzle of sesame oil. To make this at home, you don’t need a flat surface like the fancy hibachi grill. A good wok or cast iron pan will work just as well to achieve the same level of sear.
What ingredients do I need for hibachi?
To prepare hibachi, you’ll need ingredients for the main dishes (like steak, chicken, or seafood), vegetables, and fried rice. Key ingredients include soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and butter for flavor. You’ll also need vegetables like onions, carrots, zucchini, and mushrooms.
What makes the hibachi flavor?
One of the key flavorings in hibachi cuisine is soy sauce. This savory condiment adds a rich umami taste to dishes, enhancing their overall flavor.
Can you make hibachi chicken at home?
This Easy Hibachi Chicken is amazingly easy to make at home! Just cook the chicken with soy sauce, saute vegetables and make fried rice, all in just one pan! I serve this dish with Yum Yum Sauce and fried or plain rice. All of the sides can be made ahead of time to save on prep!
How do you cook hibachi chicken with soy sauce?
Add vegetables and cook on high for 1 minutes. Add ½ Tbsp butter, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, and salt and pepper then sauté just until tender. Make Sauce: Combine all sauce ingredients in a bowl. Serve hibachi chicken and vegetables over white rice or fried rice, with yum yum sauce on the side for dipping.
How do you cook hibachi chicken?
Combine ingredients. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced chicken breast, butter, and coconut aminos or soy sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Cook. Stir and cook until the hibachi chicken is cooked through. Transfer. Move chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm.