I’ve always been a fan of Panda Express, especially their grilled teriyaki chicken. I mean, who can resist that sweet and savory goodness? So, I decided to try and recreate it at home. It was a challenge I happily took on.
First, I gathered the ingredients. Now, the heart of this dish is the teriyaki sauce. I found that it’s mostly soy sauce, sugar, some mirin, ginger, and garlic. But hey, I like to keep things simple, so I just grabbed a bottle of pre-made teriyaki sauce from the grocery store. Don’t judge, it works just as well! Oh, and of course, I got some boneless, skinless chicken thighs. That’s what they use, right?
The next step was marinating the chicken. I’d read somewhere that you should marinate it in egg whites and cornstarch. It sounds weird, I know, but I guess it’s supposed to make the chicken tender. I mixed one egg white with a spoonful of cornstarch and added a splash of that teriyaki sauce for good measure. I tossed the chicken in this mixture and let it sit in the fridge for a couple of hours. The longer, the better, I figured.
Grilling Time
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When it was time to cook, I fired up my trusty old grill. You can use a grill pan too, but there’s something about that smoky flavor from a real grill that I love.
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I placed the chicken on the hot grill and watched it sizzle. The smell was amazing, just like walking into a Panda Express. I cooked it for about 5-7 minutes on each side, until it was cooked through and had those nice grill marks.
While the chicken was grilling, I took some of that leftover teriyaki sauce and heated it up in a small saucepan. I figured I’d brush it on the chicken for extra flavor. Once the chicken was done, I took it off the grill and let it rest for a bit. Then, I sliced it up, just like they do at Panda Express. I brushed those slices with the warm teriyaki sauce, making sure each piece was generously coated.
Finally, it was time to taste my creation. I served it over some steamed rice, and, man, it was pretty darn close to the real thing! The chicken was tender and juicy, and that teriyaki sauce was spot on. The grilling gave it that slightly charred, smoky flavor that I love. It was a bit of work, but totally worth it. I felt like a master chef, bringing a bit of Panda Express into my own kitchen!
All in all, it was a fun experiment. I might not have nailed it perfectly, but it was a delicious meal nonetheless. It’s not every day you get to play restaurant at home, right? If you’re a fan of Panda Express’ grilled teriyaki chicken, give this a try. It’s a tasty adventure, and you might just surprise yourself with what you can create in your own kitchen!
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