Teriyaki Chicken (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker Meal Prep)
on Jul 02, 2026
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This easy Teriyaki Chicken is one of my favorite high-protein meal prep recipes. Made in the Instant Pot or slow cooker, the chicken turns out tender, flavorful, and coated in a sweet and savory homemade teriyaki sauce that’s perfect for rice bowls, meal prep containers, lettuce wraps, and more.
If you’re looking for a meal prep recipe that the whole family will actually eat, this Teriyaki Chicken is it.
The chicken cooks low and slow in a simple homemade teriyaki sauce made with soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger. Once it’s tender enough to shred, the sauce is thickened and mixed back into the chicken for maximum flavor.
I love making a batch at the beginning of the week because it’s incredibly versatile. Serve it over rice, alongside vegetables, in lettuce wraps, or even on sandwiches for a quick lunch.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Macros Per Serving
- How to Log It
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ingredient Substitutions
- Why This Recipe Works So Well for Meal Prep
- Multiple Ways to Serve It
- Instant Pot Instructions
- Slow Cooker Instructions
- Storage & Freezing
- You Might Also Like
- Teriyaki Chicken (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker Meal Prep) Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- High in protein
- Perfect for meal prep
- Instant Pot and slow cooker friendly
- Family-approved
- Freezer friendly
- Simple ingredients
- Great for busy weeknights
- Easy to customize
Macros Per Serving
Makes: 7 servings
Serving Size: 170g
- 239 Calories
- 29.3g Protein
- 13.2g Carbohydrates
- 6.2g Fat
- 0g Fiber
Macros do not include rice or vegetables.
How to Log It
Search the food database in either app for “Stay Fit Mom Teriyaki Chicken” to easily log in MyFitnessPal or MacrosFirst.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken Thighs
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs stay tender and juicy during cooking. They’re ideal for shredding and absorb the teriyaki flavor beautifully.
- Soy Sauce
- Provides the salty, savory base of the sauce.
- Honey
- Adds natural sweetness and helps create that classic teriyaki flavor.
- Rice Vinegar
- Balances the sweetness and adds a subtle tang.
- Garlic
- Fresh garlic adds incredible flavor and depth.
- Ground Ginger
- A little goes a long way in giving the sauce that traditional teriyaki taste.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- Adds just a touch of heat without making the dish spicy.
- Cornstarch Slurry
- A mixture of cornstarch and cold water thickens the sauce at the end and helps it cling to the chicken.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Chicken Breasts: Can be substituted for chicken thighs, though the finished chicken may be slightly less tender.
- Honey: Maple syrup can be used if preferred.
- Fresh Ginger: Substitute 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger for even more flavor.
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce: Works great if you’re watching sodium intake.
- Rice Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar can be used in a pinch.
Why This Recipe Works So Well for Meal Prep
This is one of those recipes that tastes just as good on day four as it does on day one.
The shredded chicken continues to absorb the teriyaki sauce as it sits, making leftovers incredibly flavorful.
I like to portion the chicken into meal prep containers with rice and vegetables for easy lunches throughout the week.
Some of my favorite pairings include:
- Jasmine rice
- Brown rice
- Steamed broccoli
- Green beans
- Stir-fried vegetables
- Edamame
- Cucumber salad
Multiple Ways to Serve It
One batch of this chicken can become several completely different meals.
Try serving it:
- Over rice bowls
- In lettuce wraps
- In meal prep bowls
- On slider buns
- In wraps
- Over cauliflower rice
- On top of a salad
- Inside baked potatoes
Instant Pot Instructions
- Combine the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, water, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes in the pressure cooker.
- Add the chicken and coat well in the sauce.
- Cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes. Perform a quick release or allow the pressure to release naturally.
- Remove the chicken and shred.
- Mix the cornstarch and water together. Add to the cooking liquid and turn on Sauté mode. Simmer for 5–7 minutes until thickened.
- Return the shredded chicken to the sauce and stir well.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Combine all ingredients except the cornstarch and cold water in the slow cooker.
- Cook on High for 4 hours or Low for 6–8 hours.
- Remove the chicken and shred.
- Transfer the cooking liquid to a saucepan. Add the cornstarch slurry and simmer until thickened.
- Return the chicken to the sauce and stir to coat.
Storage & Freezing
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
For longer storage, freeze in individual portions for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
You Might Also Like
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Teriyaki Chicken (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker Meal Prep)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons cold water
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, honey, vinegar, water, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Pour in the pressure cooker or slow cooker.
- Add the chicken and make sure it all gets coated well in the liquid.
- Pressure cook on high for 15 minutes and quick or naturally release the pressure when finished. If using the slow cooker, cook on high for 4 hours or low 6-8 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the pot, leaving behind the liquid. Shred the chicken and set aside.
- In a small bowl mix the cornstarch and cold water. Add it to the liquid in the pressure cooker and turn on the saute mode. Simmer 5-7 minutes until it thickens up. If you used a c slow cooker just do this in a pan over the stove.
- Add the shredded chicken back to the liquid and mix well. Serve with rice and/or veggies.
Notes
- Macros do not include rice or vegetables.
- Find in the MyFitnessPal and MacrosFirst apps by searching, “Stay Fit Mom Teriyaki Chicken” for quick and easy logging.
