Rising up, a visit to Panda Categorical was all the time a particular deal with, and their Grilled Teriyaki Hen was my go-to order. After years of experimenting, I’ve lastly cracked the code to recreate that good steadiness of candy and savory flavors at residence. This recipe brings you that very same tender, juicy hen with its signature caramelized exterior and that impossible to resist home made teriyaki sauce.


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What makes Panda Categorical Grilled Teriyaki Hen so good?
Juicy boneless hen thighs smothered in savory and barely candy teriyaki sauce is hard to withstand, making Grilled Teriyaki Hen a preferred choice at Panda Categorical. The teriyaki sauce is the important thing to the dish, and this one is simple to make however nonetheless extremely tasty.
Serve this at residence, and your loved ones received’t consider you didn’t order take-out. They’ll be delighted with this copycat Panda Categorical teriyaki hen!
Why this recipe works
- Good Texture: The distinctive urgent technique ensures even cooking and creates that signature crispy exterior whereas conserving the within juicy
- Taste Improvement: Two-stage seasoning (marinade + sauce) builds deep, advanced flavors Foolproof Technique: Easy strategies that assure restaurant-quality outcomes
- Price-Efficient: Make 4-6 servings for the value of 1 restaurant portion
- Customizable: Straightforward to regulate sweetness and seasoning to your style
Panda Categorical Teriyaki Hen elements
For the hen, you’ll want:
- Soy sauce – Tenderizes meat and provides umami
- Water – Balances salt content material and helps distribute flavors
- White granulated sugar – Promotes browning and balances salt
- Garlic powder – Offers savory base taste
- White pepper – Provides refined warmth with out darkish specks
- Boneless skinless hen thighs – Major protein; thighs keep juicier than breast meat
- Canola oil – For cooking; excessive smoke level
It isn’t nearly look; white pepper is way much less pungent than black pepper, so use it in the event you can.
For the home made teriyaki sauce, you’ll want:
- Water – Creates the bottom liquid that enables correct sauce consistency
- White granulated sugar – Offers the sweetness and the shiny coating
- Common or low-sodium soy sauce – Provides the important umami taste and wealthy brown shade
- Sesame oil – Contributes distinctive nutty aroma
- Recent lemon juice – Balances sweetness with acidity
- Cornstarch – Thickens the sauce to the correct consistency
- Mild brown sugar – Provides molasses notes
- Garlic powder – Provides savory depth
- Ginger powder – Provides conventional Asian spice observe
- Salt – Enhances all different flavors and balances sweetness


Find out how to make Grilled Teriyaki Hen Panda Categorical fashion
To organize the hen:
- In a bowl, stir collectively the soy sauce, water, sugar, garlic powder, and white pepper. Switch to a sealable plastic bag.
- Add the boneless hen thighs to the bag with the marinade, seal it, and work the marinade into the hen along with your fingers.
- Place the bag with the hen within the fridge for half-hour to at least one hour to marinate. Flip the bag a number of instances.
To cook dinner the hen:
- Take away the hen from the marinade and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Warmth a cast-iron skillet or grill pan over medium-low warmth.
- Add the oil, and as soon as it begins to shimmer, add a single layer of hen thighs.
- Place a clear pan on prime of the hen. Press right down to flatten the meat.
- Prepare dinner the hen on the primary aspect for 3 to 4 minutes, then flip. Exchange the pan on prime of the hen and cook dinner for one more three to 4 minutes.
- Test the inner temperature within the thickest a part of the hen thigh is at the very least 170°F earlier than eradicating the hen from the pan. Reserve the hen for later.
To organize the home made teriyaki sauce:
- Whisk collectively all of the elements for the teriyaki sauce in a small saucepan. Be certain that there are not any lumps.
- Place the saucepan over medium warmth and simmer whereas repeatedly whisking.
- Simmer the sauce for a minute or two, and when it begins to thicken, take away it from the warmth.
- Toss the hen with the sauce and serve. Garnish with sliced inexperienced onions or sesame seeds if desired.


Professional Ideas for Success
- Pat hen additional dry for higher browning
- Don’t skip the urgent step – it’s essential for texture
- Hold sauce heat however not scorching whereas the hen cooks
- Let hen relaxation for 2-3 minutes earlier than chopping
Variations and Substitutions
Protein Choices:
- Hen breast (cut back cook dinner time by 1 minute)
- Turkey thighs
- Agency tofu (press and marinate 2 hours)
Sauce Variations:
- Spicy: Add sriracha or chili oil
- Additional Ginger: Double contemporary grated ginger
- Citrus: Add orange zest
- Pineapple: Add crushed pineapple to sauce
Dietary Modifications
Gluten-Free:
- Use tamari as an alternative of soy sauce
- Confirm cornstarch is GF licensed
Low-Sodium:
- Use low-sodium soy sauce
- Scale back soy sauce by half, substitute with water
- Add 1 tsp rice vinegar for taste
Sugar-Free:
- Exchange sugars with monk fruit sweetener
- Use sugar-free maple syrup
- Add additional ginger and garlic for taste
Keto:
- Exchange sugar with allulose
- Thicken with xanthan gum as an alternative of cornstarch
What to serve with it
A aspect of white rice or noodles is a should when you could have Hen Teriyaki, however why not embrace a number of extra dishes to fill out the meal? Listed below are a number of options:
- Bear in mind your veggies. Keep more healthy by together with loads of greens along with your meal. Crispy sauteed Blended Greens in a lightweight ginger-garlic sauce, or Panda Categorical Tremendous Greens in garlic sauce will provide you with the enhance you want.
- Fried Rice. White rice is sweet, however Fried Rice, nicely, that’s higher. This Vegetable Fried Rice recipe is sweet, however if in case you have some additional boneless, skinless hen thighs hanging round, chop them up and add to the rice.
- Shrimp Tempura. Shrimp Tempura is gentle and crispy. Overlook what you heard about tempura batter being finicky. Observe this recipe for Shrimp Tempura, and it’ll end up nice in your first strive!


Find out how to retailer the leftovers
Cool any additional Teriyaki Hen to room temperature earlier than transferring it to an hermetic container. Hold within the fridge for as much as three days.
Do you need to preserve Grilled Teriyaki Hen Panda Categorical fashion for longer than a number of days? Freeze it! It’s greatest to freeze the hen and sauce in separate hermetic containers, or higher but, solely save the hen and make the teriyaki sauce contemporary. It can final within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Thaw it within the fridge in a single day.
What’s the easiest way to reheat Hen Teriyaki?
It’s simple to heat up any additional Grilled Teriyaki Hen in a pan on the range. Add a number of tablespoons of water to skinny out the sauce and simmer over medium warmth. Stir the hen and sauce for a minute or two till heated by means of.
You’ll be able to microwave it in 20-second increments, however the hen might turn out to be rubbery.


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Panda Categorical Grilled Teriyaki Hen
You may make flavorful teriyaki hen like Panda Categorical with this copycat recipe.
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Servings: 4
Energy: 304kcal
Components
Hen
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 pound boneless skinless hen thighs
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
Teriyaki Sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 1/2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
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To make the hen, mix the soy sauce, water, sugar, garlic powder, and white pepper in a shallow dish. Add the hen thighs and switch to coat. Cowl the dish and marinate for half-hour to 1 hour within the fridge.
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Take away the hen from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels.
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Warmth the oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-low warmth. Don’t use a grill pan. When the oil is scorching and shimmering, add the hen thighs to the pan in a single layer. Prepare dinner the hen in batches; don’t overcrowd the pan. Place a second pan over the hen thighs, urgent down and flattening the meat. Prepare dinner for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the hen, substitute the burden, and cook dinner for one more 3 to 4 minutes, till the hen is browned and cooked by means of. A thermometer ought to measure 170°F within the thickest a part of the thigh.
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Whereas the hen is cooking, put together the teriyaki sauce: Mix all of the elements in a small saucepan. Whisk to take away any clumps. Deliver the combination to a simmer over medium warmth. Simmer till thickened, 1 to 2 minutes.
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Slice the hen and serve it with the sauce.
Vitamin
Energy: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 27g | Fats: 12g | Saturated Fats: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 4g | Monounsaturated Fats: 5g | Trans Fats: 0.04g | Ldl cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 2825mg | Potassium: 394mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 28IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 2mg