If you’re looking for a quick & easy meal packed with protein and veggies, my Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli is perfect for those busy weeknights when you want a wholesome meal without the fuss.
The best part: it’s all made in a rice cooker. The chicken, the broccoli, and the rice are all cooked together at the same time. So easy!
Using a rice cooker for this recipe simplifies the cooking process and ensures that everything is cooked perfectly in one pot. It saves you time and minimizes cleanup, making it an ideal solution for busy individuals and families.
I made my own teriyaki sauce for this dish and included a recipe for it below, but if you’d rather buy your own pre-made teriyaki sauce, be my guest!
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce vs. Store-bought
Homemade teriyaki sauce brings a fresh, rich flavor that’s often unmatched by store-bought options. Making it from scratch gives you full control over ingredients for a purer, more customized taste. Traditional Japanese teriyaki sauce combines soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar, simmered until it’s slightly thickened and glossy.
My homemade sauce uses more common household ingredients. Making it at home lets you adjust the flavors and thickness to suit your personal preferences.
Store-bought teriyaki sauce is convenient, however, many are thickened with cornstarch or other stabilizers to give them a longer shelf life, and they often include more sugar and artificial flavors. There are also high-quality store-bought brands that offer closer-to-homemade flavors.
What Type of Rice to Use
Choosing the right type of rice can be confusing, especially with so many varieties available. From long-grain basmati to aromatic jasmine rice, each type has its own texture and flavor. In 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 to make this meal? NO! Just like anything, generally, the higher the quality, the better. But you can make my rice cooker meals in a cheap rice cooker, too!
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:
- 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.
- Timer and Keep Warm Function: Useful for planning meals ahead of time and keeping them warm until you’re ready to eat.
5.5 cups or 10 cups
2 cups
Rice Cooker Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli
- Total Time: 25-35 minutes
Description
This quick Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli dish offers tender chicken and broccoli in a savory-sweet teriyaki sauce. The rice absorbs the flavorful sauce, and the dish is topped with sesame seeds and green onions for a satisfying meal.
*Cook time does not include prepping the teriyaki sauce, unless you have store-bought teriyaki sauce!
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice (I recommend Japanese short-grain or medium grain rice for the most authentic Japanese experience!), uncooked
- 1 lb chicken thighs
- 2 cup broccoli
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Toasted sesame seeds and green onions for garnishing (optional)
- 3/4 cup teriyaki sauce (you can use store-bought or make your own using the ingredients below)
Teriyaki Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ginger, grated
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (add more or less depending on thickness preference)
Instructions
- Rinse the rice thoroughly and place it in the rice cooker. Add water as you normally would for the rice you are using.
- Skip this step if you are using store-bought teriyaki sauce. To a small sauce pan over medium heat, combine soy sauce, water, brown sugar, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, and cornstarch. Let it cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened. Remove from heat.
- Place the chicken thighs over the rice and pour half of the teriyaki sauce over the chicken.
- Add the broccoli florets on top of the chicken and season with salt and pepper.
- Close the rice cooker lid and set it to the standard “Plain” or white rice setting.
- Once the rice cooker finishes cooking, pour the remaining teriyaki sauce over the chicken and rice mixture. Garnish with roasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions for an extra touch of flavor and crunch.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-30 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
So happy with how this turned out! I want all the rice cooker meals now. Honestly prefer it over a crock pot.
Agreed! I hardly use my crock pot now!
The chicken stayed tender and soaked up the sauce, while the broccoli didn’t get mushy. great timing tips.
Yum! So glad to hear 🙂 thanks, Miles!