Teriyaki Chicken Bento Bonanza Easy Weekday Lunch

Teriyaki Chicken Bento Bonanza: Your Easy Weekday Lunch Solution

Ever stared blankly into the fridge wondering what to take for lunch? I know I have. If you are racking your brain for some awesome bento box lunch ideas , let me introduce you to your new best friend.

This isn't just any lunch, it's a flavorful, portable, and totally customizable teriyaki chicken bento box.

Bento Box Bliss: A Taste of Japan in Your Lunchbox

Bento boxes are a staple in Japanese cuisine, dating back centuries as a convenient and visually appealing way to pack meals.

This easy bento recipes is perfect for those new to cooking. It takes about 45 minutes to make, including prep and cooking time.

This recipe yields one perfectly packed bento box. But it can easily scale to accommodate more!

Why You'll Love This Bento

This isn't just a tasty lunch; it's a healthy one too. Chicken is packed with lean protein. The colorful veggies provide essential vitamins and fiber.

Are you looking for some great packed supper ideas ? It's a vibrant and complete meal. The teriyaki chicken bento is fantastic to brighten any day.

You can even consider it for a special outing. It’s like a flavour party in your mouth.

Level Up Your Pack Healthy Lunch with Quality Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to kick things off and turn into a Packed School Lunch Ideas For Kids or a bento box for work .

• For the Teriyaki Chicken:
  • 170g boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 15ml low sodium soy sauce
  • 15ml mirin
  • 15ml sake or dry sherry
  • 12g granulated sugar
  • 5g grated fresh ginger
  • 2g minced garlic
  • 5ml sesame oil
  • 15ml vegetable oil
  • 3g cornstarch in 15ml water
  • Toasted sesame seeds
• For the Rice:
  • 200g cooked Japanese short grain rice
  • 5ml rice vinegar (optional)
• For the Veggies:
  • 50g steamed broccoli florets
  • 30g carrot sticks
  • 30g shelled edamame
  • Nori seaweed sheet (optional)

Making the Bento Box: Easy step-by-step

The adult bento box ideas and cute bento box ideas are here to give you inspiration!

First: Marinate the Chicken

Mix your chicken with a delicious blend of soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, ginger, and garlic. Let that chicken soak up all those flavors for at least 10 minutes.

Then: Cook the Rice

Use your favorite rice cooking method. Short grain rice is great but any rice will do.

Next: Steam the Veggies

Steam or boil until your veggies are tender. Remember to keep them crisp.

Cook the Chicken

Heat the vegetable oil and throw in the chicken. Cook until golden, make sure the chicken reach 74° C .

Thicken the Sauce

Mix cornstarch slurry into the pan and let it all thicken up.

Assemble

Place the rice, chicken, and veggies neatly in your bento box. Don't forget your sesame seeds! And the nori seaweed sheets to add some fun.

Let's dive into what you'll need for some awesome bento box lunch ideas , shall we? This isn't rocket science, I promise.

It's all about good ingredients and a few handy tools. Think of packing healthy lunch as a fun art project!

Ingredients & Equipment

Main Ingredients for Teriyaki Chicken Bento Bonanza!

Okay, so for the teriyaki chicken, you'll need 6 oz (170g) of boneless, skinless chicken breast. Make sure it's nice and fresh, you know? Nobody wants dodgy chicken.

Then, get ready with 1 tbsp (15ml) of soy sauce low sodium is my go-to. Add 1 tbsp (15ml) each of mirin and sake (or dry sherry if you're feeling fancy).

Don't forget 1 tbsp (12g) of sugar, 1 tsp (5g) grated ginger, and 1 clove (2g) minced garlic. A little 1 tsp (5ml) of sesame oil finishes it off.

Oh, and for thickening, have 1/2 tsp (3g) of cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp (15ml) of water ready. It's the magic slurry! For the rice, 1 cup (200g) of cooked Japanese short grain rice is perfect.

Add a little 1 tsp (5ml) rice vinegar if you're feeling extra. Finally, grab 1/2 cup (50g) of broccoli, 1/4 cup (30g) of carrot sticks, and 1/4 cup (30g) of edamame for your veggies.

Nori seaweed is optional, but makes some cute bento box ideas .

Seasoning Notes - Secret Weapon

For that essential teriyaki flavor, soy sauce, mirin, and sake are key. Ginger and garlic add that little something extra.

Sesame oil? It's the aromatic cherry on top! Don't have sake? Dry sherry works just fine. I have even used a splash of vodka once.

It still tasted great. For a bit of heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes will wake things up. These combinations will make your packed school lunch ideas for kids absolutely yummy.

Essential Kitchen Tools

You'll definitely need a small bowl for marinating the chicken. A large skillet or wok is perfect for cooking it.

A rice cooker makes life easier, but the hob works too. A steamer basket is great for veggies or use a microwave safe dish.

And obviously, you'll need a bento box container for your packed supper ideas . Cookie cutters for nori? Totally optional, but adorable.

Trust me, it gets those packed school lunch ideas for kids way more fun. If you are making it a bento box for work , the design may not be so important!

Honestly, the most important thing is just having fun. Cooking is not as hard as you may think! So grab your ingredients and get creative with your adult bento box ideas .

Alright, let's talk bento box lunch ideas ! Honestly, are you even adulting right if you don't have your lunch prepped and ready to go? This Teriyaki Chicken Bento Bonanza is about to change your Packed Supper Ideas game forever.

Prep Like a Pro: Teriyaki Chicken Bento

So, before we dive in, mise en place , people! Get all your ingredients prepped. Chop that chicken, measure out your sauces.

It's all about setting yourself up for success. And don't be like me that one time and forget the garlic.

Oh my gosh, the flavour was so bland. Also, a quick safety reminder. Wash those hands.

The Teriyaki Tango: step-by-step

Here is how to make the chicken, and how to assemble this healthy bento box:

1. Mix It Up: Whisk together the soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil. Add chicken.
2. Marinate: Let the chicken soak in all that flavor for at least 10 minutes .
3. Cook the Rice: Cook your rice while the chicken marinates. Perfect time to prep the veggies too.
4. Prep the Veggies: Steam or quickly boil broccoli. Cut up the carrots. Get the edamame ready.
5. Cook the Chicken: Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Throw in the chicken mixture. Cook until the chicken reaches 165° F/ 74° C .
6. Thicken: Stir in the cornstarch slurry. Cook until glossy, 1- 2 minutes .
7. Assemble: Load up your bento box! This is where the fun begins!

Bento Box Brainwaves: Pro Tips for Success

• Marinate that chicken for longer for the deepest flavour! You'll thank me later.
• Presentation is key. Use cookie cutters on your nori. It's the little things that make this cute bento box ideas a reality.
• Don't want to make this every morning? This works great as Pack Healthy Lunch option! This is also a great Packed School Lunch Ideas For Kids ! Cook the chicken and rice ahead of time.

This recipe is seriously great for a bento box for work , especially for those of us needing adult bento box ideas .

Quick, easy, and way better than another sad sandwich. Plus, the ingredients are easy to find for easy bento recipes .

So next time you are thinking food to take to school , remember this Japanese lunch box recipes !

Recipe Notes for Your Teriyaki Chicken Bento Bonanza!

Right then, let's chat about some extra bits to make your Teriyaki Chicken bento box lunch ideas a roaring success! Honestly, half the fun is in tweaking things, so don't be afraid to experiment!

It is worth noting a healthy bento box can make such a difference when trying to stay on top of your health at work or school.

Serving Suggestions: Presentation Power!

Okay, first things first, plating! Think about it we eat with our eyes too. To make it look super appealing think about how your mother used to make your Packed School Lunch Ideas For Kids , don't just chuck everything in, right? Colour is key.

Arrange your chicken nicely. Maybe use some cute cookie cutters on your nori for a bit of fun if you want cute bento box ideas .

If that sounds like too much effort just think about how the presentation can be just as impressive with out the extra work.

On the side, try some pickled ginger. Miso soup warms you right up. Bento box for work need to be practical so don't overfill it.

Storage Tips: Keep it Fresh!

Right, let’s talk storage. Pop your assembled bento box in the fridge. It'll keep for up to three days. That's a decent window for packed supper ideas , isn't it?

Freezing this one isn’t ideal, especially with the rice. It gets a bit weird and mushy. Reheating is easy a quick zap in the microwave will do the trick.

Make sure the chicken is piping hot throughout before you tuck in!

Variations: Let's Get Creative!

Fancy a change? To create the perfect adult bento box ideas why not try swapping out the chicken for tofu? It is a perfect pack healthy lunch .

For a gluten-free version, use tamari (gluten-free soy sauce). Easy peasy.

Seasonal swaps are awesome. In summer, add some fresh cucumber slices. In winter, some roasted sweet potato would be amazing and would ensure great food to take to school .

Nutrition Basics: Fuel Up!

Each box comes in at around 600 calories. You get a good dose of protein (about 40g) and healthy carbs (60g).

This is a good nutritional mix that will keep you feeling good.

Remember it is only an estimate, but it gives you a rough idea of what you are consuming in a Japanese lunch box recipes .

Ready to get cracking? This easy bento recipes won’t disappoint and will leave you feeling like a culinary superhero. Enjoy your bento bonanza, lovely!