I just whipped up a mouthwatering hibachi chicken feast, and I’m feeling like a culinary rockstar! This recipe tastes exactly like the famous hibachi chicken at Benihana.
Tender, juicy meat is cooked to perfection with garlic, soy sauce, and a touch of brown sugar.
But let me tell you, the real MVP of this dish is the homemade yum yum sauce. It makes the experience so authentic!
Who needs a night out when you can create this deliciousness at home?
Why You’ll Love This Hibachi Chicken
Restaurant Quality: Recreate the exciting Japanese steakhouse experience at home. This recipe has perfectly cooked chicken, crisp-tender vegetables, and flavorful fried rice, all without the hefty price tag.
Full of Flavor: This recipe includes chicken, vegetables, fried rice, and a unique yum yum sauce for a distinct flavor profile.
Sweet and Savory: The combination of soy sauce, garlic, and brown sugar creates a savory and slightly sweet profile. Lemon juice adds a refreshing tang, making every bite delicious.
Creamy and Spicy Finish: The homemade yum yum sauce elevates the entire dish, providing a creamy, slightly spicy taste.
Ingredients
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: The star of the show. They’re cut into bite-sized pieces for quick cooking and easy eating.
- Butter: It adds richness and helps create a golden-brown sear on the chicken and vegetables.
- Sesame Oil: It brings an Asian-inspired flavor to the dish, enhancing the overall taste.
- Garlic: It provides a pungent, aromatic flavor to complement the chicken and vegetables perfectly.
- Soy Sauce: It brings a salty, umami flavor to the dish, essential for an authentic hibachi taste.
- Brown Sugar: It balances the saltiness of the soy sauce with a touch of sweetness, creating a well-rounded flavor profile.
- Lemon Juice: It adds a bright, citrusy note to cut through the richness of the dish.
- Salt and Pepper: The classic seasoning duo enhances all the flavors.
- Veggies: Zucchini, mushrooms, onion, and carrots add color, texture, and nutritional value.
- Fried Rice: Cooked white rice, eggs, frozen peas and carrots, and green onions create a satisfying, flavorful side.
- Yum Yum Sauce: It’s made with mayonnaise, melted butter, Sriracha sauce or ketchup, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, sugar, and mirin (optional).
How to Make Hibachi Chicken
You won’t believe how easy this hibachi chicken is to whip up at home!
1. MIX the sauce ingredients in a bowl. Stir until smooth and refrigerate for at least 1 hour for the best flavor.
2. COOK the seasoned chicken in 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon sesame oil in a hot skillet or wok until browned.
3. ADD the garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, and remaining butter. Squeeze lemon juice over the chicken, simmer for 2–3 minutes, and let the sauce thicken.
4. STIR-FRY the zucchini, mushrooms, onion, and carrots until tender-crisp (5–7 minutes) in a separate skillet. Season with salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon soy sauce.
5. PUSH the veggies to one side and scramble the eggs. Then mix in the cooked rice, peas, carrots, soy sauce, sesame oil, and butter. Add the minced garlic and chopped green onions. Stir well and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
6. SERVE HOT with hibachi chicken, vegetables, and fried rice. Drizzle with sesame oil and serve with yum yum sauce. Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Hibachi Chicken
For the most authentic Benihana-esque experience, follow these tips.
- Put your leftovers to work. Use cold, preferably day-old rice for making fried rice, as it’s drier and less sticky.
- Get a step ahead. Make yum yum sauce and ginger sauce in advance to allow flavors to meld.
- Give it a garlic boost. Finish the dish with a dollop of garlic butter for added richness and flavor.
- Make it fun! Create the iconic hibachi egg volcano for a fun and interactive cooking experience.
- Give it a pretty presentation. Arrange components separately on the plate for an authentic hibachi restaurant look.
- Complete the meal. For the full restaurant experience, serve the chicken with miso soup and a light salad with ginger dressing.
How to Store
This chicken is great for enjoying leftovers throughout the week!
To Store: Place the hibachi chicken, fried rice, and vegetables in separate air-tight containers. Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking and consume within 3-4 days for best quality.
To Freeze: Cool the components completely, then transfer to freezer-safe containers or bags. Freeze for up to 3 months, ensuring to label with the date.
To Reheat: Microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through. Or, reheat in a skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally until heated through.
Hibachi Chicken
4
servings20
minutes25
minutes499
kcalGet the taste of Benihana at home with this easy hibachi chicken! It’s sweet, savory, and full of the signature Japanese-style flavor you love.
Ingredients
- For the Yum Yum Sauce
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 tablespoon Sriracha sauce or ketchup
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon mirin, optional
1-2 tablespoons water
- For the Chicken
1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 tablespoons butter, divided
2 tablespoons sesame oil, divided
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Juice of 1/2 lemon
salt and pepper to taste
- For the Vegetables
1 cup zucchini, sliced into half-moons
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 cup onion, sliced
1 cup carrots, julienned
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
salt and pepper to taste
- For the Fried Rice
3 cups cooked white rice (preferably day-old)
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl. Stir well until smooth and set aside. For best results, refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
- Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Allow the butter to melt and start to bubble.
- Add the chicken pieces to the hot skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, turning occasionally, until the chicken is browned on all sides and cooked through, about 5-8 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Then, add the soy sauce, brown sugar, and the remaining butter. Stir to coat the chicken evenly.
- Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the chicken and give it a final stir. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
- In a separate skillet or the same wok after cooking the chicken, heat 1 tablespoon of sesame oil over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini, mushrooms, onion, and carrots. Season with salt and pepper. Stir-fry for about 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are tender but still crisp. Add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and stir to coat the vegetables evenly. Cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- In the same skillet or wok, push the vegetables to one side and add the beaten eggs. Scramble the eggs until fully cooked, then mix them with the vegetables. Add the cooked rice, thawed peas, and carrots to the skillet. Stir well to combine.
- Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, and butter. Stir to coat the rice evenly. Cook for another 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rice is heated through. Add the minced garlic and chopped green onions. Stir well and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Enjoy the hibachi chicken, accompanied by cooked vegetables and fried rice. For an extra burst of flavor, drizzle with the remaining sesame oil if you like. Serve alongside the prepared Yum Yum Sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Ensure your skillet or wok is very hot before adding the chicken and vegetables to achieve a nice sear.
- Have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you start cooking, as the process moves quickly.
- Feel free to substitute chicken breasts with boneless chicken thighs for a juicier result.
- Try using different proteins like shrimp, steak, or tofu. Add other veggies like bell peppers, broccoli, or snap peas. Sprinkle sesame seeds or drizzle sriracha for garnish.
