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Easy Bento Box Chicken Teriyaki Lunch for Kids

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A quick and kid-friendly bento box lunch featuring sticky-sweet chicken teriyaki, steamed broccoli, and fluffy rice. Perfect for school lunches, this recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and can be made ahead for busy mornings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, diced into bite-sized pieces
  • ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 cups cooked white rice (short-grain or medium-grain)
  • 1 cup steamed broccoli florets
  • Optional: toasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prep ingredients: dice chicken, mince garlic, grate ginger, and measure out soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and grated ginger to make the teriyaki sauce.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a drizzle of neutral oil. Add diced chicken in a single layer and sear for 4-5 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes until cooked through.
  4. Pour the sauce over the chicken, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
  5. Turn off the heat, drizzle in sesame oil, and stir to combine. Let the chicken rest in the pan for 1 minute.
  6. While the chicken cooks, steam broccoli in a small pot of boiling water for 2-3 minutes until tender-crisp. Drain and rinse with cold water.
  7. Assemble bento boxes: place rice in one compartment, teriyaki chicken in another, and fill remaining spaces with broccoli and any other desired sides. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions if using.
  8. Let everything cool completely (15-20 minutes) before closing the lid to prevent condensation.

Notes

For best texture, use day-old rice. Let all components cool completely before sealing the bento box to avoid sogginess. The chicken teriyaki can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; flavors deepen overnight.

Nutrition

Keywords: bento box, chicken teriyaki, kids lunch, school lunch, easy lunch, teriyaki chicken, bento lunch

Find it online: https://forkifyfun.com/easy-bento-box-chicken-teriyaki-lunch-for-kids/