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Chicken Teriyaki Yaki Udon (Stir-Fried Udon Noodles)

Published: • Modified: • Author: Joyce

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A quick and easy stir-fried chicken teriyaki yaki udon recipe, made with leftover chicken, vegetables, chewy udon noodles, and tossed with a sweet and sticky teriyaki sauce. Great for using up leftovers, or when you want a simple meal in less than 30 minutes!

A plate of Stir Fry Chicken Teriyaki yaki udon served on a plate with sesame seeds and some hot sauce on the side.

This is one of my favorite go-to recipes for easy weeknight dinners. It's easy, it's quick and it can basically use any kind of leftover meat or vegetables you have in the fridge. The idea for this recipe came to me when I was missing chicken teriyaki takeout - you know the food stalls you find in malls with a flattop griddle that looks like the guy behind the counter is making tepanyaki?

Chicken teriyaki to me as a kiddo was sliced up chicken on a bed of white rice and charred cabbage and carrots and drowning in the syrupy dark sweet teriyaki sauce and served in a styrofoam takeout box. Chicken Teriyaki is no different to me now, except I occasionally will replace the white rice with a chewy udon noodle.

Give this recipe a try if you have some leftovers you're looking to clear out. It's easy, quick, and satisfying.

 

Ingredients for Yaki Udon

Ingredients for Stir Fry Chicken Teriyaki Noodles recipe (udon noodkes, onions, carrots, cabbage, chicken, soy sauce, honey, corn starch, garlic ginger)

  • Chicken - I like to use leftover chicken for this recipe because it's easy and quick. Any type of leftover meat will work for this recipe, if you don't have chicken. If you don't have leftovers, you can also use raw chicken as well, just make sure you slice them very thin and cook it until it is fully cooked before you start adding the vegetables, noodles, and sauce in.
  • Udon Noodles - I like to use frozen udon noodles. I find them chewier than the dry and pre-packaged ones you find in the fridge.
  • Cabbage/Carrots/Onions - The standard vegetables for chicken teriyaki to me are cabbage, carrots, and onions but you can use any type of vegetables you like - but don't omit the onions. The onions provide a lot of flavor.
  • Soy Sauce - I like to use light soy sauce (also can be found as regular soy sauce).
  • Ginger/Garlic - Garlic and ginger provide a lot of flavor for the sauce, so don't omit them.
  • Honey - I like to use honey for this recipe because I find it gives the sauce a more sweet and sticky texture to the sauce.
  • Corn Starch - This is to thicken the sauce so that the sauce sticks to the thick chewy noodles better.

 

How to Make Yaki Udon

  1. Prepare the ingredients ahead of time. -  To make this dish super quickly, it's easiest to prepare and chop everything ahead of time so all the ingredients are right there ready for you near the stove.
    Carrots, onions, cabbage and garlic being sliced on a cutting board in preparation for Stir Fry Chicken Teriyaki Noodles
  2. Make the Sauce - This teriyaki sauce ahead of time as well. It is a quick and easy sauce and takes about 5 minutes to make.
    A bowl of Stir Fry Chicken Teriyaki Noodles sauce that has been cooked ahead of time and placed in a green bowl.
  3. Thaw the Udon Noodles - I highly recommend using the frozen sanuku udon noodles. They are chewier than the dried ones and they take a lot less time to prepare and cook. It is crucial that you do not boil the noodles. To thaw the udon noodles, I place a frozen brick of udon noodles into a colander and run it under cold water to melt the ice. Once the noodles are soft and pliable (it should take about 1-2 minutes), they are done. Set it aside
    A colander with udon noodles that have been defrosted by running hot tap water over it.
  4. Once everything is prepped, use a large frying pan and stir fry everything together on high heat - Add in the vegetables first, then once the vegetables are cooked (3-4 minutes), add in the leftover meat (1-2 minutes) and then add in the noodles and the sauce and cook it for another 1 minute and it's done.

A pan with Stir Fry Chicken Teriyaki yaki udon, being served on a plate with hot sauce and sesame seeds

FAQs and Tips

  • Can I use dried udon noodles? You can, but I highly recommend using the frozen ones because they are a lot quicker to cook and they have that fantastic chewiness which the dry noodles won't have. If you use the dried udon noodles, pre-cook them according to the instructions but subtract 1 minute from the cooking time.
  • Do I have to use udon noodles? For this recipe, yes you need to use udon noodles.
  • Do I need to pre-make the teriyaki sauce? Yes, I highly recommend pre-cooking this sauce before you make the yaki udon. Browning the garlic and ginger is essential to making the teriyaki sauce flavorful.
  • Can I use raw chicken instead of leftover chicken? Yup! If you are using raw chicken instead of leftover chicken, thinly slice the chicken and marinate it in 1 teaspoon of soy sauce and cook it after step 3 under 'Putting Everything Together'

Looking for Noodle Recipes? Try These!

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A large frying pan with chicken teriyaki yaki udon inside, with small bowls of sesame seeds and hot sauce on the side.

Chicken Teriyaki Yaki Udon (Stir-fried Udon Noodles)

5 from 1 vote
A quick and easy stir-fried chicken teriyaki yaki udon recipe, made with leftover chicken, vegetables, chewy udon noodles and tossed with a sweet and sticky teriyaki sauce. Great for using up leftovers, or when you want a simple meal in less than 30 minutes!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Servings: 3 Servings

INGREDIENTS
 

  • Cooked chicken (or any leftover meat. Approx. 2 cups, shredded or chopped)
  • 1 brick of Frozen Sanuki Udon Noodle
  • 2 cups Cabbage (approx. ¼ of a small cabbage, finely sliced)
  • 1 cup carrot (finely sliced into matchsticks)
  • 1 medium onion (sliced)
  • 1 clove garlic (finely chopped)

Teriyaki Sauce

  • ½ cup water
  • â…“ cup soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
  • ½ teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon ginger (optional, grated)

Corn Starch Slurry (To Thicken Sauce)

  • 2 tablespoons corn starch
  • 2 tablespoons water (cold)

INSTRUCTIONS
 

Preparation

  • Wash and peel (optional) the carrot, and cut them into thin slivers and set aside
  • Wash and cut the cabbage into half, and then cut each half into half again so you get ¼ of a cabbage. Use only ¼ of the cabbage. Cut out the core of the cabbage and cut them into thin slices and set aside
  • Cut off the ends of the onion and then peel it. Cut the onion in half and then place the onion flat side down on the cutting board and cut them into thin slices and set aside
  • Peel and finely chop the garlic. Set aside 1 tablespoon for the sauce and set the rest of it a side for the stir fry.
  • Grate the ginger and set aside later for the sauce
  • Hand shred, or thinly slice the leftover chicken and set aside
  • Place a frozen brick of udon noodles into a colander and run it under cold water to melt the ice. Once the noodles are soft and pliable (it should take about 1-2 minutes), they are done. Set it aside

Making the Teriyaki Sauce

  • Set a small pot on the stove on medium-low heat
  • Add a bit of oil to it. Once the oil is hot, add in the garlic and ginger and toast it until it is brown (approximately 1-2 minutes)
  • Once the garlic and ginger has browned, add in the soy sauce, water and honey and let it simmer for 1-2 minutes
  • While the sauce is simmering, mix corn starch and cold water together to make a corn starch slurry and set it aside.
  • Once the sauce has simmered for a few minutes, stir the sauce quickly with a utensil while adding in the corn starch slurry slowly. Keep stirring until the sauce thickens.
  • Once the sauce thickens, set it aside for later.

Putting Everything Together

  • Use a large frying pan and set the stove to medium to medium high heat.
  • Add 2 tablespoons of oil to the frying pan and wait for it to get hot.
  • Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add in the onions and cook them until they are soft (approximately 1-2 minutes)
  • Then add in the carrots and cabbage and stir fry it with the onions. Try to leave it on the pan for 20-30 seconds without touching it every minute to give the cabbage a bit of a char. Cook everything for approximately 3-4 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
  • Add in the garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes - we put the garlic last so it doesn't burn.
  • Add in the chicken and mix everything together and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
  • Add in the noodles and cook for 1 minute
  • Add in the sauce and cook everything for 1 minute
  • Once everything is all cooked, plate it and enjoy!

NOTES

  • If your leftover chicken has bones, save them and freeze them! You can accumulate a bunch of bones and make a broth out of it next time you feel like having some soupy noodles!
  • If you are using raw chicken instead of leftover chicken, thinly slice the chicken and marinate it in 1 teaspoon of soy sauce and cook it after step 3 under 'Putting Everything Together'
  • Can I use dried udon noodles? You can, but I highly recommend using the frozen ones because they are a lot quicker to cook and they have that fantastic chewiness which the dry noodles won't have. If you use the dried udon noodles, pre-cook them according to the instructions but subtract 1 minute from the cooking time.
  • Do I have to use udon noodles? For this recipe, yes you need to use udon noodles.
  • Do I need to pre-make the teriyaki sauce? Yes, I highly recommend pre-cooking this sauce before you make the yaki udon. Browning the garlic and ginger is essential to making the teriyaki sauce flavorful.
  •  

NUTRITION

Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 992mg | Potassium: 320mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 7174IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Josie says

    5 stars
    Joyce, I love this easy cooking way by using some handy ingredients in the kitchen. My son loves to eat noodles, now that I can make this delicious dish fast. Thanks.

    Reply

    • Joyce says

      Hi Josie!
      I love noodles too heehee, I love how quickly it can be made as well, it's usually my go-to dinner for a lazy dinner when I have any kind of leftovers! 😀

      Reply

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