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Easy Bento Box Chicken Teriyaki Lunch for Kids

easy bento box chicken teriyaki - featured image
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This homemade chicken teriyaki is quick, easy, and perfect for lunchboxes. With a glossy, caramelized sauce and juicy chicken thighs, it’s a kid-friendly meal that comes together in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons mirin
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • Sesame seeds for garnish
  • Cooked rice for serving
  • Steamed broccoli for serving

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Cut into bite-sized pieces, about 1-inch cubes. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, mirin, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Set aside. In another small bowl, mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water until smooth.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add sesame oil. When shimmering, add chicken pieces in a single layer. Cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until golden brown, then flip and cook another 3-4 minutes until cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
  4. Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour sauce mixture into the same skillet and simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir cornstarch slurry and drizzle into sauce while whisking constantly until thickened.
  5. Return chicken to skillet and toss to coat. Cook for 1 minute until sauce caramelizes onto the chicken.
  6. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before packing. Arrange chicken, rice, and steamed broccoli in a bento box. Sprinkle sesame seeds over chicken.

Notes

Don’t skip the cooling step before packing to prevent soggy rice. The sauce will look thin at first but thickens as it simmers. Watch heat carefully to prevent burning the honey. For extra sauce, multiply sauce ingredients by 1.5.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken teriyaki, bento box, kid-friendly lunch, easy lunch recipe, Japanese lunch

Find it online: https://grubella.com/easy-bento-box-chicken-teriyaki-lunch-for-kids/