This healthy chicken teriyaki rice cooker bowl is effortless but delivers on every level: difficulty level (easy!), comfort, and nutrition. Everything cooks together in one pot, allowing the rice to soak up all the teriyaki flavors while the chicken stays tender and juicy. It’s one of those recipes that proves you don’t need complicated steps or multiple pans to create something really satisfying. And yummy!
What makes this dish especially great is how balanced it is. You’ve got protein from the chicken, vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and peas mixed right into the rice, and a flavorful marinade that ties everything together. As it cooks, the juices from the marinated chicken drip go into the rice, seasoning it from the inside out. The drippings are good, but we want them to mainly stay on the chicken. This is why I recommend marinating the chicken, so that most of the flavors stay on the chicken!
This dish is perfect for busy days. You can marinate the chicken ahead of time for deeper flavor, or throw everything together last minute and still end up with a delicious meal. You could even prep all the ingredients in bulk bag them up, freeze them, and just pop into the rice cooker when you’re ready to eat.
Once the bowl is done cooking, give everything a mix, add an extra drizzle of teriyaki sauce, and finish with sesame seeds and green onions for that final touch. It’s exactly the kind of recipe you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again.
Ingredients:
- Rice: The base of the dish that absorbs all the savory, slightly sweet flavors as it cooks.
- Chicken Thighs: Juicy and flavorful, they stay tender during cooking and infuse the rice with richness.
- Broccoli: Adds a fresh, slightly crisp texture and balances out the dish with a mild earthiness.
- Carrots: Bring a subtle sweetness and color that complements the savory elements.
- Peas: Small but impactful, they add pops of sweetness and a soft texture throughout the rice.
- Teriyaki Sauce: Ties everything together with its sweet and savory glaze, adding depth and umami.
- Soy Sauce: Forms the savory base of the marinade and enhances the overall umami flavor.
- Mirin: Adds a gentle sweetness and helps balance the saltiness of the soy sauce.
- Ginger: Brings a slightly zesty note that brightens the dish. Use fresh ginger, don’t skimp and use powdered!
- Garlic: Adds a rich, aromatic depth that enhances all the other flavors.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Provide a subtle heat that can be adjusted to taste.
What Type of Rice to Use
Choosing the right type of rice can be confusing, especially with so many varieties available. In Korean and Japanese cooking, however, Japanese short-grain or medium-grain rice is almost always the go-to choice.
Short-grain rice, often labeled as sushi rice, is particularly prized for its soft and chewy texture, which pairs beautifully with traditional Japanese dishes. Medium-grain rice is a great alternative if short-grain isn’t available (I actually almost always use medium-grain myself because it’s generally cheaper where I live!). Both are ideal for recipes like this one, where the rice’s stickiness helps meld the flavors into every bite.
Recommended Rice Cookers
Do I need to have a fancy rice cooker? NO! Just like anything, generally, the higher the quality, the better. But you can make great rice in a cheap rice cooker, too!
5.5 cups or 10 cups
2 cups
Click the rice cooker photos to see my favorite rice cookers. I included a budget-friendly rice cooker I love! I use the Tiger 5.5-cup model shown. About 1/2 cup of Japanese short- or medium-grain rice makes 1 serving.
Key Features to Look For in a Rice Cooker:
- Timer and Keep Warm Function: Useful for planning meals ahead of time and keeping them warm until you’re ready to eat.
- Steaming Basket or Tray: Allows you to steam vegetables or cook other ingredients while the rice cooks.
- Multiple Cooking Functions: Ensure it has settings for steaming, slow cooking, and possibly even baking.
- Non-Stick Inner Pot: Makes cleaning easier and prevents sticking.
Chicken Teriyaki Bowl with Veggies in a Rice Cooker
- Total Time: 60 minutes
Description
A cozy, all-in-one rice cooker meal with juicy teriyaki chicken, seasoned rice, and vegetables cooked together for an easy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice (I recommend Japanese short-grain or medium grain rice for the most authentic Japanese experience!)
- 1 lb chicken thighs, diced
- 6 oz broccoli (about 1 cup)
- 1.5 oz carrots, julienned (about 1/2 cup
- 1/4 cup peas
- Teriyaki sauce
- Optional garnishes: chopped green onions, roasted sesame seeds, additional teriyaki sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce (or light soy sauce; I mainly like dark for the color)
- 1 tbsp mirin
- 1/2 tbsp ginger, grated
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to spice preference)
Instructions
- Begin by giving your rice a good rinse to clean it. Then pour it into the rice cooker, along with the appropriate amount of water. Be sure to follow the instructions for the correct water amount depending on the type of rice you are using.
- Remove 3 tbsp of the water from the rice cooker (this is because you are pouring in more liquids later and you don’t want your rice to be too soggy). If you are doubling the recipe, double the amount of water you remove.
- In a bowl, add the diced chicken thighs followed by all the marinade ingredients. Marinate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for best flavor (if you’re short on time, you can skip marinating and add everything directly).
- Add rice to your rice cooker with your usual amount of water, then remove about 3 tablespoons of the water to account for moisture from the other ingredients.
- Add the peas, carrots, and broccoli on top of the rice, followed by the marinated chicken. Drizzle the chicken with 1 tablespoon of teriyaki sauce.
- Cook according to your rice cooker’s standard setting.
- Once done, mix everything together. Drizzle with more teriyaki sauce and garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
0 Comments