28 Easy Japanese Recipes

Japanese cuisine has become very popular throughout the world due to its delicious flavors and healthy ingredients.

Thankfully, even some of the most delicious Japanese dishes can be made at home and often with standard ingredients that you’ll find in any western kitchen.

Many of the recipes are simple to make as well, needing only a few moments and utensils to make. If you’re looking to bring some Japanese flavor to your cooking, then this is the article for you.

We have 28 easy Japanese recipes for you that cover a wide range of dishes, from appetizers to main courses, to desserts.

1. Baked Tonkatsu

Tonkatsu is a pork cutlet that has been breaded and deep fried. It’s typically served with shredded green cabbage and served with a tonkatsu sauce that is made from vegetables, fruits, and soy sauce.

Deep frying isn’t always the easiest way to cook at home and isn’t the healthiest either, so this recipe gives you instructions on how to bake it. Tonkatsu is also an excellent accompaniment with Japanese style curry, too.

2. Egg And Shiitake Ramen

Ramen is one of the most popular comfort foods in Japan and is available in a wide variety of different flavors. If you ever take a trip to Japan, you will find ramen restaurants in every city and town across the country.

We have two very different ramen recipes in this recipe and this first one uses vegetable stock and miso paste for the broth.

The ramen is full of shiitake mushrooms, ramen noodles, pak choi, and spring onions. As is common with ramen, boiled and marinated eggs top the broth.

3. Green Tea Ice Cream

Green tea, or matcha, is one of the flavors that is most closely associated with Japanese cuisine. It’s commonly sold as a powder that can be used to make a drink but is also frequently used in a wide variety of Japanese desserts.

In this recipe, it’s used to make some delicious ice cream. Although the ice cream is best made in an ice cream maker, you can still make it with just a regular food processor. Serve the ice cream with tropical fruits or eat it on its own.

4. Japanese Cheesecake

The type of cheesecake that we’re used to in the US is very popular in Japan but so is this Japanese variation of cheesecake. It’s lighter and bouncier than western cheesecake and has a texture that is similar to a souffle.

This cheesecake has no crust and is made in a slightly different manner but is still easy to make. You don’t need to add any fruit to this cheesecake, simply dust it with confectioners’ sugar when it is cool and set.

5. Kaki Fry

Kaki is Japanese for oysters and they’re commonly eaten in Japan while breaded and fried.

Although in many places around the world oysters are eaten all year round, Japan still likes to eat according to seasons and oysters are typically in season around Japan from mid-fall through winter.

You can use any type of oysters for this recipe, whether they’re canned, jarred, fresh, or frozen. Kaki fry tastes great when dipped into tartar or tonkatsu sauce.

6. Kare Pan

Curry, or kare, is very popular in Japan. Although Japan has many restaurants that serve Indian-style curry, there is also a plainer, Japanese-style of curry and it’s this curry used for this recipe.

Curry is used as a filling for a type of bread (pan) and then deep fried. They can be eaten as part of a main course or even as a snack on the go.

7. Kani Salad

If you’re looking for a healthy Japanese-style side salad, then this kani salad is the perfect choice. It’s made with crab (kani) meat and although it’s usually made with crab sticks, you can make it with fresh crab as well.

The salad dressing includes sriracha sauce so you can add a little more to make it spicier if you wish. The salad gets its crunch from cucumber and carrots and it also includes kelp noodles.

8. Miso Chicken

Miso paste is used in a lot of different Japanese dishes outside of the famous miso soup. In this recipe, it’s used as marinade for some skinless chicken breasts.

As well as the miso paste, the marinade alsu uses chopped ginger, garlic, light sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. You will need to marinade the chicken for a couple of hours before cooking but it will only take a few minutes to cook.

9. Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is known as a Japanese savory pancake but it’s so much more than that. There are many different variations of okonomiyaki and it can vary from region to region in Japan.

It originated after the war when people had to make filling meals with the few ingredients they had. For the best results, you should try to use Osaka-style okonomiyaki flour as this will produce the perfect type of batter.

You can use different fillings but this recipe uses green cabbage, scallions, and bean sprouts.

10. Omurice

Omurice is a portmanteau of omelet and rice and this is a good description of what the dish is. It’s a simple dish that graces the plates of many families in Japan and is served at a large number of restaurants and cafes.

The filling is cooked with a sauce of ketchup, chicken broth, and soy sauce to give the rice an interesting but delicious flavor. Cook the omelet separately and once it’s done, fold it around your filling.

11. Onigiri

Japanese rice balls are a versatile dish that can be used as a side for main courses, as snacks, or as part of a filling and healthy lunch. They’re usually shaped into triangles or balls and can be plain or have a variety of different fillings.

Onigiri is best made with Japanese short-grain rice as this will stick together better than most other types of rice. Once you’ve placed your filling inside, you can shape the onigiri by hand and wrap it in a sheet of nori if you want.

12. Oshitashi

Oshitashi is boiled spinach that is dressed with some soy sauce and sesame oil to make a healthy and delicious side dish. It can be used as a side for main courses or it can be included in a bento lunch box.

The recipe is simple to make and can be finished in under 10 minutes. It uses only spinach, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and soy sauce to make this tasty dish.

13. Potato Korokke

Korokke is a mashed potato cake that has a breaded, panko exterior and a filling of potato inside. As well as potato, it can also be flavored with a variety of additional ingredients such as curry, pumpkin, or meat.

The filling should have a creamy consistency and feel smooth on your tongue. This recipe for korokke combines potato, ground beef and onion. Once made, deep fry them until they are golden brown and serve.

14. Salmon Teriyaki

You will find many recipes that use teriyaki sauce as it is a great way to add an umami flavor to any dish. It especially works well with salmon because of the delicate taste of the fish.

The teriyaki sauce in this recipe is made with soy sauce, mirin, and sugar. You can make your own sauce or buy it from a store. You may be able to find teriyaki sauce more easily than mirin (sweet rice wine) depending on your local stores.

15. Shoyu Ramen

Our second ramen recipe doesn’t use miso for the broth but is instead based on shoyu, or in English, soy sauce. For the broth, mix soy sauce, dashi, mirin, sake with some of your ramen water, ginger, and garlic.

As well as ramen noodles, you can load your bowl with pickled bamboo, scallions, and nori sheets. For the finishing touch, add some ramen eggs on top.

16. Spam Onigirazu

Spam is surprisingly popular in Japan. Most convenience stores will sell sandwiches with a version of spam as the filling and you will also find it on the menu at many sushi restaurants, too.

Spam served on a layer of rice is a popular dish in Hawaii, which might explain its popularity in Japan as well. For this dish, you layer spam with eggs, and rice to make something that resembles a sandwich and then wrap it in nori.

17. Spicy Edamame

If you’ve been to any Japanese restaurant you will have probably eaten edamame at some point. It is one of the most popular snacks and appetizers in Japanese cuisine and is regularly offered in restaurants and bars across the country.

This take on edamame is made with a topping that is spicier than normal and you can increase the spice levels even more by adding more chili sauce and red pepper flakes.

18. Spicy Tuna Donburi Rice Bowl

A donburi, or don, is a rice dish that is served in a bowl and topped with a variety of ingredients. One of the most popular types of donburi is tuna donburi so this recipe is sure to go down a treat with your family and friends.

The spicy aspect of the recipe comes from chili pepper and sriracha chili sauce, which can be adjusted to the level of spice that you prefer. For the tuna, use sashimi-grade tuna that is diced. It needs to be sashimi-grade as the tuna is served raw.

19. Spicy Udon Noodles

This is another staple Japanese dish that has a spicy twist. Udon noodles differ from ramen or somen noodles as they are thicker but they’re just as delicious.

The recipe calls for either chicken or turkey and this is also mixed with bell peppers to give a filling meal. The flavors come from a mix of soy sauce and hoisin sauce and the noodles are topped with sesame seeds and green onions.

20. Sticky Teriyaki Chicken Wings

For this recipe, we’re back to teriyaki sauce. The recipe does include all of the directions you need to make your own teriyaki sauce from scratch but you can also buy it if that is easier.

The chicken wings are coated with flour and then fried until golden brown. Coat the wings in your teriyaki sauce and bake for 30 to 45 minutes. You will need to baste the wings with more sauce throughout the cooking time.

21. Tamagoyaki

Tamagoyaki gets its name from the Japanese words for egg (tamago) and grilled (yaki.)

This dish is ideal for breakfast, as a side dish, or as part of a boxed lunch. It can be made with a variety of additional ingredients and fillings but this recipe details a straightforward tamagoyaki that only requires four ingredients.

These are eggs, dashi, sugar, and vegetable oil. Once cooked and rolled, you can cut off as many slices as you need.

22. Takikomi Gohan

This rice dish mixes in vegetables to give a hearty and healthy dish. It’s made with white rice and this recipe also includes shiitake mushrooms, tofu, carrot, gobo, and chicken thigh.

You can remove any of these ingredients or add your own if you wish. Everything can be cooked together in a rice cooker, making this an easy and convenient recipe.

23. Teriyaki Chicken

It’s time for another teriyaki flavored dish. This recipe works best with chicken that is boneless and skinless. Chicken breasts will cook quicker but chicken thighs are suitable too.

The entire dish can be made in around 15 minutes as while the chicken is cooking, you can begin to prepare the sauce. Teriyaki sauce is best served with vegetables and rice.

24. Vegetable Tempura

Tempura refers to any food, usually vegetables or fish, that are dipped in a batter and then fried.

Virtually any vegetable can be made into tempura but some popular vegetables to use include eggplant, pumpkin, shiitake mushrooms, and zucchinis.

When you have fried your tempura, make sure you allow it to drain on paper towels to remove the excess oil.

25. Wafu Spaghetti

Italian food is very popular in Japan but Japan has also made its own version of many popular dishes such as spaghetti and pizza.

You will find many different toppings and varieties that are typical of Italian restaurants in the US and this is what makes wafu spaghetti so interesting. In the case of this recipe, you will need avocado, tuna, Asian mustard, and ketchup.

26. Yakimeshi

This is another rice dish that is similar to takikomi gohan, but uses some different ingredients. One of the main differences is the inclusion of eggs and that it is best cooked in a frying pan.

Your rice should already be cooked before making this and you will get the best results with rice that is a little stale and has hardened slightly. Scramble your eggs first and then add your rice.

You can then add the other ingredients in the order of how much time they need to cook, so any meats, such as ham, should be next. To make that perfect yakimeshi, press it into a bowl so that when it is served, it forms a neat dome shape.

27. Yakisoba

If you spend any time in Japan, you will see yakisoba everywhere. It’s one of the standard ready meals sold in convenience stores and no outdoor festival would be complete without several stalls selling freshly made yakisoba.

It’s a very easy recipe to make and will only take you around 15 minutes to prepare. The main ingredient is yakisoba noodles, which are Chinese-style noodles that are made with wheat flour.

This recipe also includes shrimp, carrot, shiitake mushrooms, and green cabbage. The best yakisoba combines the softness of the noodles with the crunchiness of vegetables.

28. Zosui

For our final easy Japanese recipe, we’ve chosen a soup. Miso is the most commonly known Japanese soup but we’ve chosen zosui as it is more filling and has more interesting ingredients.

Much like chicken broth in the US, zosui is commonly served to those who are feeling ill as it is a comfort food that is full of healthy ingredients.

It uses dashi broth as the base of the soup and adds cooked rice, a variety of vegetables, mushrooms, eggs, and chicken.

Final Thoughts

In this article, we listed 28 easy Japanese recipes. There are appetizers, side dishes, mains, and desserts so you can make delicious Japanese food at any time of the day.

As well as including some well known Japanese dishes such as ramen, udon, and yakisoba, we included a few lesser known dishes. We hope you enjoy making all of these delicious easy Japanese recipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Japanese food and recipes.