These Chicken Teriyaki Sandwiches with Zesty Slaw are a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors. Juicy teriyaki-glazed chicken thighs are paired with a refreshing zesty slaw and a creamy teriyaki mayo, all sandwiched between toasted buns. They’re easy to make, packed with flavor, and perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a casual gathering.

Ingredients

For the Chicken Sandwiches:

• 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• ½ cup teriyaki sauce (or more, as needed)
• 6 hamburger buns
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Zesty Slaw:

• ¼ head of cabbage, shredded (about 3-4 cups)
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1 ½ teaspoons sugar (or honey)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Teriyaki Mayo:

• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup teriyaki sauce

How to Make Chicken Teriyaki Sandwiches with Zesty Slaw

1. Prepare the Chicken:
   • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
   • Place the chicken thighs between two sheets of plastic wrap and use a meat mallet (or rolling pin) to pound them to an even thickness, about ⅓ inch thick. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
   • Place the chicken thighs on a baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until fully cooked (internal temperature of 165°F/74°C).
2. Make the Zesty Slaw:
   • In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded cabbage and grated carrot.
   • Add the sugar and salt, then stir to combine. Pour in the white wine vinegar and vegetable oil and mix well. Stir in the cilantro, if using. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Set aside.
3. Glaze the Chicken:
   • Remove the chicken from the oven and brush each thigh generously with teriyaki sauce.
   • Return the chicken to the oven for an additional 5-8 minutes, allowing the sauce to warm through and caramelize slightly.
4. Prepare the Teriyaki Mayo:
   • In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise and teriyaki sauce until smooth. Set aside.
5. Toast the Buns:
   • While the chicken finishes cooking, lightly toast the hamburger buns in a toaster or under the broiler for added texture and flavor.
6. Assemble the Sandwiches:
   • Spread a layer of teriyaki mayo on the bottom half of each toasted bun.
   • Add a generous portion of the zesty slaw, followed by a glazed chicken thigh. Top with the other half of the bun.
7. Serve:
   • Serve the sandwiches immediately and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

• For extra flavor: Marinate the chicken thighs in teriyaki sauce for 1-2 hours before cooking.
• Customize the slaw: Add other crunchy veggies like thinly sliced radishes or bell peppers.
• Use homemade teriyaki sauce: For a richer flavor, make your own teriyaki sauce using soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and garlic.
• Grill option: Instead of baking, grill the chicken thighs for a smoky flavor.

Chicken Teriyaki Sandwiches with Zesty Slaw

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• Author: Andrea Buckett
• Yield: Makes 6 Sandwiches

Ingredients

For the chicken sandwiches

6 boneless skinless chicken thighs

1/2 cup Teriyaki sauce (or more)

6 Hamburger buns

For the slaw

1/4 head of cabbage, shredded (about 3-4 cups)

1 carrot, grated

1 1/2 teaspoon sugar (or honey)

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro (optional)

Salt and Pepper

For the Teriyaki Mayo

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup Teriyaki sauce

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F

1. Place the chicken thighs between two sheets of plastic wrap. Use a meat mallet (or a rolling pin) to pound the thighs out so that they are one even thickness, about ⅓-inch thick. Season with salt and pepper. Place them on a baking sheet and into the oven. Cook the thighs for about 15-18 minutes until cooked through.

2. In the meantime, mix together the cabbage, carrot. Add the sugar and salt and stir to combine.  Add the white wine vinegar and oil and stir to combine. Stir in the cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

3. Remove the chicken from the oven and slather each thigh with some Teriyaki sauce. Return the chicken to the oven and cook for another 5-8 minutes to warm the Teriyaki sauce through.

4. For the mayo, stir together the mayonnaise and teriyaki sauce.

5. Toast the hamburger buns

6. Remove the chicken from the oven.

7. Assemble the chicken sandwiches. Add some Teriyaki mayonnaise to the bottom of each bun. Top each with some slaw, a chicken thigh and top it with the bun.