Gluten-Free Teriyaki Chicken with Cornstarch Glaze
Quick-marinating gluten-free teriyaki chicken with tamari soy sauce, brown sugar, and sesame oil. Half the marinade flavors the chicken while the other half is thickened with cornstarch into a glossy glaze brushed on during grilling. Ready in under an hour with minimal prep.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup tamari gluten-free soy sauceregular soy sauce1:1removes wheat from soy sauce
3
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch
- 4 chicken breasts
Instructions
- 1
Whisk together brown sugar, tamari soy sauce, red pepper flakes, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, and ground ginger in a small bowl.
- 2
Pour half the mixture into a gallon-sized ziplock bag, add chicken, remove excess air, seal, and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes up to 1 hour.
- 3
Stir cornstarch into the remaining teriyaki marinade.
- 4
Heat the cornstarch mixture in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until thickened; alternatively heat in a saucepan while whisking.
- 5
Grill chicken on a hot grill or cast iron grill pan until cooked through.
- 6
When flipping chicken, brush the top with thickened teriyaki sauce.
- 7
Cook approximately 5-7 minutes per side depending on grill heat until cooked through.
Tips
Divide marinade before adding chicken to preserve half for the cooking glaze.
Use tamari specifically labeled gluten-free to maintain the gluten-free status of the dish.
If using a microwave to thicken the sauce, stir thoroughly between each increment to prevent lumps.
Good to Know
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently to avoid drying out the chicken.
Marinate chicken up to 1 hour in advance. Prepare the glaze thickening mixture up to 2 hours ahead and refrigerate; reheat before brushing on chicken.
Serve hot with steamed rice, roasted vegetables, or a fresh salad to balance the sweet-savory glaze.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip removing excess air from the marinade bag to ensure even coating and proper marinating.
Do not skip stirring the cornstarch mixture during heating to avoid lumpy glaze.
Do not brush sauce on chicken until flipping to prevent burning on the first side.
Substitutions
Gluten-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
3