20 Japanese Chicken Recipes For An Easy Dinner

Not only are Japanese dishes full of flavor and nutrients, they are often super easy to make and require very little time. 

In short, they are the perfect go-to for weeknight dinners when there just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day. 

20 Japanese Chicken Recipes For An Easy Dinner

With these 20 Japanese chicken recipes, you will be able to make tasty, healthy, nutritious dinners that the whole family will enjoy, no matter how busy your schedule is. 

1. Japanese Chicken Wings

More commonly known as Karaage chicken in Japan, these fried chicken wings are a sure fire winner for a family dinner.  The wings themselves are juicy and succulent while the coating is crispy and salted. 

However, it is the accompanying sauce made of soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and garlic that gives these wings a wonderfully tangy flavor that your family will love. 

2. Sticky Asian Glazed Chicken

This sticky asian glazed chicken recipe is so quick and simple that you’ll find yourself coming back to it again and again. 

Not only is this a great, time-friendly recipe, it is also bursting with flavor and will have everyone asking you for the recipe. Simply serve it with rice and steamed vegetables.

3. Asian-Inspired BBQ Chicken

Although this dish is a bit of asian fusion in terms of its flavors, the main base for this chicken is teriyaki.  You can either use chicken breast or thighs for this dish, but everyone would recommend using thighs if you can. 

The presence of some garam masala in this dish makes it a great taste adventure that will leave you craving more. 

4. Chicken Katsu

Chicken katsu is a very popular Japanese dish that is perfect for dinner time and something that the whole family can enjoy. 

It is also super easy to make and for the fussier, younger eaters in your house, it can be served without the sauce as essentially a giant crispy nugget. Simply serve with sticky rice for an authentic japanese dinner. 

5. Yakitori Grilled Skewers

Yakitori chicken is a great Japanese dish that is full of warm and sweet flavors and can be really fun to eat for younger family members. 

If you are making this dish for younger family members, you can swap the sake for rice wine vinegar if you prefer.  This dish can be served with rice or noodles and other steamed or stir fried veggies. 

6. Authentic Chicken Teriyaki

Another common Japanese dish is chicken teriyaki.  This recipe in particular is one of the quickest and easiest on this list and is perfect for busy households. 

The chicken and sauce are made in the same pan which reduces the amount of dishes to do after which is always appealing.  Again, the sake can be swapped for a non-alcoholic alternative if you prefer. 

7. Oyakodon

Oyakodon is a Japanese chicken and egg rice bowl.  This recipe provides a hearty, warming, healthy meal that the whole family will love. 

The dashi that is used to make this dish provides a slight kick akin to that of black pepper, however, if you want a bit more heat in your dish, you can add some sriracha sauce to the dish.  

8. Miso Glazed Chicken

Miso glazed chicken is the perfect weeknight dinner recipe that is kid friendly and easy to make. The miso flavors give a flavorful, japanese taste to the dish while keeping the palette mild enough for the whole family to enjoy. 

This dish is also incredibly nutritious which is always a good thing for a family dinner. 

9. Asian Jalapeno Chicken

Asian Jalapeno chicken is a dish that is probably not child friendly, but it is delicious and full of flavor and heat. Not only that, but it is really easy and quick to make which means that you can whip it up in no time after a long day at work. 

What’s more, it is much healthier than its takeout alternative which is great. 

10. Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These asian chicken lettuce wraps are not only delicious, but really healthy too.  They are low in fat, low in carbs, and gluten and dairy free. 

The flavors of this dish are layered and work really well together, so much so that you can guarantee that the whole family will love these wraps. You can serve them with rice or noodle dishes to make the meal more substantial. 

11. Simple Homemade Chicken Ramen

Ramen is a classic Japanese dish that we have all had at some point in our lives, however, this recipe is so much better than the instant ramen noodles you can buy from the grocery store. 

This simple homemade chicken ramen takes a dish that can be misleadingly complex and makes it simple enough to make on a weeknight in under an hour. 

12. BBQ Chicken Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is a traditional Japanese savory pancake that is a little more complex than some of the other dishes on this list but makes a filling and tasty dinner that can be enjoyed by the whole family. 

This recipe blends the tastes of traditional okonomiyaki with the wonderful flavors of barbecue. 

13. Chicken Gyoza

Chicken gyoza is another classic Japanese dish that can be enjoyed at dinner time for the whole family. Although gyoza is often used as a side dish or as one of many dishes for a meal, they can be very filling. 

Simply serve them with some stir fried vegetables and rice or noodles for a delicious and varied dinner. 

14. Buffalo Chicken Sushi Roll

This might be one of the most fiddly and technical recipes on this list, but if you have the time to put in, it is totally worth it. The flavors in this recipe are a beautiful mix of classic Japanese and American heat. 

If you are a fan of sushi and a fan of buffalo wings, this is the recipe for you. 

15. Chicken Yakisoba

Chicken yakisoba is a Japanese noodle dish that is cooked through stir frying. The tangy sauce in this recipe gives an authentic Japanese flavor that you will find yourself craving regularly. 

Simply serve this dish with some veggies or a bowl of miso soup for a filling healthy dinner. 

16. Hibachi Chicken

If you have ever been to a hibachi restaurant, you know that you get dinner and a show all rolled into one. However, this recipe doesn’t call for intense knife skills and flair while you are preparing it. 

Rather, hibachi refers to cooking on a barbecue type grill that is heated by a flame.  For this recipe you just need a skillet and some delicious chicken breast. The Yum Yum sauce quickly transports you to Japan with the first bite. 

17. Crispy Teriyaki Rice Balls

This is probably one of the least healthy recipes on this list, but as a treat dinner it truly is a winner. 

It may be a time consuming recipe that is better for a weekend dinner than a weeknight dinner, but once you try these teriyaki rice balls, you won’t look back. 

The trick to perfecting these balls is to freeze them for a few minutes before frying them to ensure they retain their shape. 

18. Okayu Rice Porridge

The name of this recipe might make it seem out of place here, but this chicken rice porridge is entirely savory and a common comfort food dish in Japan. 

More than a porridge consistency, this Okayu dish more closely resembles a chicken noodle soup but with rice instead. It is a perfect dinner for a dark winter’s evening. 

19. Takikomi Gohan

Takikomi gohan is a mixed rice dish that makes a very filling dinner that the whole family can enjoy. You can have free range to add whatever vegetables you and your family prefer, or whatever you have on hand on the day. 

It can be a great way to use up leftover vegetables or ones that are past their best. The dashi and shitake mushrooms give this dish a guaranteed Japanese feel. 

20. Chicken Soboro Onigiri

If you have never seen a chicken soboro onigiri in real life, you have probably seen it in emoji form. These large rice balls are a great choice for a dinner recipe as they are easy to make and fun to eat, especially for children.

All you need to make this into a filling and substantial meal is to serve it with stir fried veggies and some gyoza.  

Frequently Asked Question

Should You Use Breast Or Thigh?

You can use either chicken breast or chicken thigh for your Japanese recipes, whichever you prefer to eat. 

Some people love the juiciness that you get with thigh meat, whereas others have an aversion to the gristle that you can get in them and prefer breast meat. 

It doesn’t make much difference to the dishes which you use although if you are cooking thighs, boneless is better. Most people would recommend thigh meat to achieve a more authentic dish but it isn’t compulsory. 

Final Thoughts

Japanese cooking lends itself perfectly to weeknight dinners where you don’t have a lot of time but still want to prepare something nutritious for your family. 

There is also a lot of range within Japanese cuisine that allows you to pick dishes that suit your taste preferences easily. There are also more complicated dishes that make a great weekend dinner treat.

20 Japanese Chicken Recipes For An Easy Dinner

20 Japanese Chicken Recipes For An Easy Dinner

Recipe by Jenna
Course: Dinner
0 from 0 votes
Jenna
Follow Me
Latest posts by Jenna (see all)