This is the best Copycat Benihana Chicken recipe around! It’s packed with bold flavors, buttery garlic richness, and restaurant-style quality. This Benihana Chicken Copycat recipe can be made in a matter of minutes with simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
What is this chicken recipe made of?
Missing the sizzling sound, high-heat cooking, and rich aroma from Benihana’s open hibachi grill? Then this copycat recipe is perfect to try in your own kitchen.
I wanted something that tastes like the real thing. But, it also has to work for busy people with only everyday tools available, and most importantly, they are short in time. This hibachi-style chicken recipe hits all the right notes: it has tender and juicy chicken that’s perfectly seared over medium-high heat. It’s then coated with soy glaze and finished with unsalted butter. Not only is this so good, but also, it might even outshine the original.
From the garlic butter to the tender chicken and perfectly balanced glaze, Benihana’s easy hibachi chicken recipe is easy to replicate at home. As a matter of fact, it's pure comfort food with a Japanese steakhouse twist. Visiting a teppanyaki restaurant regularly may not always be achievable for a lot of us, thus this easy recipe. You can recreate Benihana’s flavors in a non-stick skillet, without needing a flat top griddle.
What’s more, this dish is totally customizable. You can use what you have on hand. Whether you have boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or even tofu, this is going to be your go-to on a busy work week. It’s fantastic as a meal prep recipe or even just a special dinner recipe on days when you want something special.
This Benihana Chicken copycat recipe has easily become one of our favorites at home. It’s as amazing as my take on Panda Express’ Bourbon Chicken.
Ingredients You’ll Need for The Best Copycat Benihana Chicken
Here are the ingredients you’ll need for The Best Copycat Benihana Chicken. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for the full detailed ingredient measurements.
- Skinless boneless chicken breasts (diced): is what I highly recommend. However, chicken thighs work just as well. In fact, it's tastier than the breast part.
- Soy sauce: is essential to achieve that classic umami base flavor.
- Hoisin sauce or teriyaki sauce: will add a hint of sweetness and complexity to the glaze.
- Garlic cloves (minced): that are fresh are the best ones to use in this recipe.
- Ginger or ginger paste: balances the flavors and will enhance the umami notes from the soy sauce.
- Garlic butter: gives this delicious Japanese-inspired dish that signature Benihana taste. It’s easy to make your own with unsalted butter and garlic.
Pro-tip: You can add veggies to this dish! Simply toss in your favorites. In my case, I love this homemade hibachi chicken recipe with green onions, white button mushrooms, and zucchini.
How to Make The Best Copycat Benihana Chicken
Here’s how to make the best Copycat Benihana Chicken. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post for the detailed instructions..
- Marinate the Chicken: Mix diced chicken with soy sauce, hoisin or teriyaki sauce, garlic, and ginger in a medium bowl to begin with. Let it sit at room temperature while prepping your sides.
- Preheat a Nonstick Skillet: Thereafter, heat the skillet over medium-high heat. If you prefer, you can use olive oil, avocado oil, or grapeseed oil to prevent sticking.
- Sear the Chicken: Melt 2 tbsp of garlic butter, then add the marinated chicken in a single layer. Let it sear undisturbed for 6–8 minutes. Next, melt about 2 tbsp of garlic butter, then add the chicken that's been marinated earlier. Make sure the chicken is laid out on a single layer, then season with black pepper.
- Finish With Butter: Finally, once the chicken is golden and fully cooked, add the remaining garlic butter, while tossing the chicken to coat simultaneously.
Serve it hot on a dinner plate with hibachi noodles, jasmine rice, or benihana fried rice for a complete hibachi meal. To serve, pour cooked chicken on a hot dinner plate with hibachi noodles, jasmine rice, or Benihana fried rice copycat for a full hibachi meal.
Tips and Tricks for The Best Copycat Benihana Chicken
- Use a heavy-duty skillet. If you can find it, blackstone griddle also works for maximum sear.
- Do not overcrowd the pan. You want to achieve that beautiful golden crust, not steamed chicken.
- In case of leftovers, store them in an airtight container. Then, reheat on the stove for the best texture.
- Want it like a “TikTok make”? Top it with a tbsp of sesame seeds, a drizzle of sesame oil, and serve it over white rice with magic mustard sauce.
Why You Need to Make This Recipe
This Copycat Benihana Chicken is the perfect copycat recipe that’s everything you love about Benihana. It’s made with love in your own kitchen, with ingredients you can easily find in your nearest grocery store. It’s quick-to-make, affordable, flexible, and packed with flavor. If you want a dish that delivers big flavor, this Benihana Hibachi Chicken recipe is it. It’s also one of those healthy meal prep recipes that’s affordable to make.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Absolutely! In fact, boneless skinless chicken thighs are more forgiving and flavorful.
A non-stick skillet or heavy-duty skillet works well. On the other hand, cast iron is perfect for a crisp sear. Use the latter if you have it.
This Copycat Benihana Chicken can be kept in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Keep your leftovers in an airtight container.
Yes, you can. In fact, if you want to use less oil, this method works just as well. Just spread out the marinated chicken evenly into a baking sheet. Then, bake the chicken for 20-25minutes at 400°F (200°C).
Yes, it does! As long as you store individual servings in separate containers and pair them with rice or veggies. This is perfect to grab-and-go when you have a busy work week.
The chicken dish in itself is already low-carb. But you can skip the rice and serve this over cooked veggies like broccoli, zucchini, or mushrooms instead.
Yes, you can. The marinade for this recipe works with strip steaks, shrimp, or tofu, for example. You can even serve it with ginger sauce on the side. Even if you don't have Benihana’s cooking equipment at home, you can achieve a good Benihana steak or Benihana shrimp with some creativity.
Making the garlic butter is easy. Simply mix unsalted butter with minced garlic cloves and a pinch of black pepper. Then, store it in the fridge for up to a week. Use it to cook chicken, vegetables and fried rice.
Homemade Benihana Chicken Copycat Recipe
Easy Copycat Benihana Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
🧄Benihana Garlic Butter- Make this first (can be stored in fridge for up to 1 week)
- 3 heads garlic
- ½ cup unsalted butter room temp
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp lemon juice optional
Hibachi Chicken
- 1 lb chicken breast diced
- 1 & 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce or teriyaki sauce for sweeter flavor
- 1 tsp garlic minced
- 1 tsp ginger minced or paste
- 3 tbsp garlic butter from above
Hibachi Vegetables
- 1 zucchini cut into half moons or matchsticks
- 1 onion thickly sliced
- 1 cup mushrooms halved
- 1 tbsp garlic butter from above
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- Salt & pepper to taste
Fried Rice
- 2 cups cold cooked day old white rice
- 3 tbsp garlic butter from above
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 medium carrot peeled, and chopped into very small pieces
- 1/4 medium onion chopped finely
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 green onions sliced
Benihana Mustard Sauce (Magic Mustard)
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
Garlic butter
- Cut tops off garlic heads, wrap in foil, and roast at 375°F for 35–40 minutes until soft. You can also do thi sin the airfryer for a shorter cook time.3 heads garlic
- Squeeze out the roasted garlic and mash. Let it cool.
- Mix garlic with butter, soy sauce, pepper, and lemon juice. Set aside.½ cup unsalted butter, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp lemon juice
Hibachi chicken
- Toss diced chicken with soy sauce, hoisin, garlic, and ginger.1 lb chicken breast, 1 & 1/2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp hoisin sauce, 1 tsp garlic, 1 tsp ginger
- Allow the chicken to marinate in the sauce while you chop and dice the veggies before heating up a skillet over high heat to cook the chicken. Add garlic butter.3 tbsp garlic butter
- Sear chicken in a single layer. Cook for 6–8 minutes until golden and fully cooked.
- Toss in more garlic butter at the end for flavor.
Hibachi Vegetables
- In the same pan (no need to clean), add garlic butter and veggies.1 zucchini, 1 onion, 1 cup mushrooms, 1 tbsp garlic butter
- Stir-fry over medium-high heat for 5–7 minutes until just tender.
- Add soy sauce, season with salt & pepper, and toss.1 tbsp soy sauce, Salt & pepper to taste
Fried Rice
- Heat garlic butter in pan. Add the carrots, onions, and garlic and sauté a few minutes.3 tbsp garlic butter, 2 cloves garlic, 1/4 medium carrot
- Add rice and break up with a spatula. Stir-fry for 2–3 minutes.2 cups cold
- Push rice aside, crack egg in, scramble, then mix with rice.1 egg
- Add soy sauce and green onions. Stir to combine.2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 green onions
Benihana Mustard Sauce (Magic Mustard)
- Blend or whisk all ingredients until smooth.1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds, ¼ tsp garlic powder
- Warm slightly before serving if desired.
- Plate fried rice, hibachi chicken, and veggies. Drizzle extra garlic butter over top. Serve with mustard sauce on the side.
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