How to Cook Hibachi Chicken at Home

Hibachi chicken is a fun and delicious Japanese-inspired dish typically made with chicken, veggies, and rice. It’s cooked over high heat on a large flat-top grill called a hibachi. While hibachi restaurants put on an entertaining show while cooking, you can easily make this meal yourself at home with similar flavors and textures.

In this detailed guide I’ll walk you through exactly how to cook hibachi chicken, step-by-step. By the end you’ll be able to recreate those restaurant flavors in your own kitchen. Let’s get cooking!

Overview of Hibachi Chicken

Hibachi chicken consists of tender sliced chicken and fresh mixed veggies like zucchini, carrots, onions and mushrooms served over white or fried rice. It’s flavored with a sweet and salty hibachi sauce as well as sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. A creamy mustard or yum yum sauce is often served on the side for dipping.

The chicken and veggies are cooked over very high heat in a skillet or grill to mimic the textures you would get from an actual hibachi grill. This allows the exterior to get nice and crispy.

Hibachi chicken makes for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. The prep is minimal and it cooks in just 30 minutes start to finish. Let’s go over the simple ingredients you’ll need.

Ingredients for Hibachi Chicken

• Chicken breast or thighs
• Sesame oil
• Soy sauce
• Rice vinegar
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Onion
• Carrots
• Zucchini
• Mushrooms
• Cooked white or fried rice
• Butter or oil for cooking

For the dipping sauce:

• Mayonnaise
• Ketchup
• Rice vinegar
• Paprika
• Garlic powder

That’s it! Now let’s go step-by-step through the easy cooking process.

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken

First, we’ll marinate the raw chicken in a quick homemade hibachi sauce. This infuses flavor and tenderizes the meat.

• In a bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and grated ginger.
• Chop 1-1.5 lbs chicken breasts or thighs into 1-inch cubes. Add the chicken to the bowl and toss to coat evenly in the marinade.
• Allow to marinate at room temperature for 10-30 minutes while you prep the remaining ingredients.

Step 2: Cook the Chicken

Next, we’ll cook the chicken over high heat to mimic a hibachi grill.

• Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
• Once hot, add the marinated chicken in a single layer. Spread into one even layer.
• Cook for 4-6 minutes without stirring, until the bottom develops a nice golden brown char.
• Flip and cook 2-3 more minutes until the chicken is just cooked through.
• Transfer the cooked chicken to a clean plate and tent with foil to keep warm.

Step 3: Cook the Vegetables

Using the same skillet, we’ll cook the mixed veggies.

• Add another drizzle of oil and sauté the sliced onions for 1 minute.
• Next, add the carrots, zucchini, and mushrooms. Sauté for 3-4 more minutes.
• Season with a splash of soy sauce and toss to coat the veggies.
• Cook just until the veggies reach your desired tenderness.
• Remove the veggies from the pan and tent to keep warm.

Step 4: Make the Dipping Sauce

While the chicken and veggies cook, you can quickly mix up the dipping sauce.

• In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, ketchup, rice vinegar, paprika, and garlic powder.
• Taste and adjust any seasonings as desired.
• Transfer to a serving bowl and set aside.

Step 5: Cook the Rice

Lastly, either warm up leftover rice or cook fresh rice to serve the dish over.

For simple white rice:

• In a small pot, combine rice and water per package instructions. Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until tender.

For fried rice:

• Heat oil in a wok or skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add cooked rice, soy sauce, garlic, and frozen peas and carrots. Fry for 5-7 minutes, tossing frequently.
• Scramble an egg into the rice, if desired.

Step 6: Assemble the Dish

Now we’re ready to serve!

• Scoop the cooked rice into bowls.
• Top with the hibachi chicken and veggies.
• Drizzle with a bit of sesame oil if desired.
• Serve with the creamy dipping sauce on the side.

Dig in and enjoy your homemade hibachi chicken!

Tips for the Best Hibachi Chicken

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you nail this recipe:

• Use day-old rice instead of freshly cooked for the best fried rice texture. The grains separate better when sautéing.

• Cut the chicken and veggies into uniform sizes so they cook evenly.

• Get the wok or skillet very hot before cooking the chicken and veggies. This helps replicate the flavors from a hibachi grill.

• Add other veggies you enjoy like broccoli, snap peas, bell peppers or water chestnuts.

• Swap the chicken for steak, shrimp or tofu.

• Customize the dipping sauce to your tastes. Popular options are yum yum sauce, ginger dressing, or spicy mayo.

• Cook the rice and prep ingredients ahead of time for quicker weeknight meals.

Serving Suggestions

Hibachi chicken is pretty versatile. Here are some serving ideas:

• Serve over brown rice or cauliflower rice for a lower carb option.

• Turn it into a bowl with quinoa or mixed greens instead of rice.

• Stuff into a pita or wrap up in a flour tortilla.

• Enjoy alongside miso soup and edamame for a Japanese-style meal.

• Meal prep your chicken, rice and veggies for easy lunches all week long.

FAQs

What’s the difference between hibachi and teppanyaki?

Hibachi and teppanyaki refer to two different styles of Japanese grilling. Hibachi is typically cooked over a charcoal grill, while teppanyaki is cooked on a solid flat griddle. At many restaurants in North America, the terms are used interchangeably.

Can you make hibachi chicken without a grill?

Absolutely! As you saw in this recipe, all you need is a regular skillet or wok to achieve similar results. Cranking up the heat and cutting the meat into smaller pieces helps mimic the textures of hibachi.

How long does hibachi chicken stay good in the fridge?

The cooked chicken and rice will keep fresh in the fridge for 3-5 days. You can also freeze the components separately for longer storage. Just thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

What’s the best oil to use for hibachi chicken?

I recommend using a neutral oil with a high smoke point, like vegetable, canola or avocado oil. Sesame oil adds great flavor, but use just a small amount since it can burn quickly.

Enjoy Restaurant Flavors at Home

Cooking up hibachi chicken is an easy way to recreate those fun restaurant flavors at home for a fraction of the cost. In less than 30 minutes, you can whip up crispy chicken and veggies sauteéd in authentic Japanese seasonings. It makes for a fast, budget-friendly dinner the whole family will devour.