10+ Easy Japanese Recipes for Quick and Delicious Meals

Japanese cuisine offers a delightful variety of flavors and dishes that can be enjoyed by everyone, from beginners to seasoned cooks.

You can create easy Japanese recipes right in your kitchen with minimal ingredients and simple steps. These dishes not only taste amazing, but they also provide a glimpse into the rich culture and traditions of Japan.

With some basic knowledge and a bit of practice, you can impress your family and friends with your cooking skills.

Whether you’re craving comforting ramen or delicious sushi, there are many recipes that cater to your taste and skill level.

1) Teriyaki Chicken Stir-Fry

Teriyaki chicken stir-fry is a quick and tasty dish you can make at home. It features tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and a sweet teriyaki sauce. You can enjoy it over rice or noodles.

For this dish, you’ll need chicken breast, broccoli, bell peppers, and onions. The sauce combines soy sauce and sugar for that delicious flavor.

It’s a perfect meal for busy nights since you can prepare it in about 30 minutes. Plus, it’s packed with nutrients and flavor, making it a hit with the whole family.

Ingredients

• 1 pound (450 grams) chicken breast, sliced
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
2. Add chicken and cook until browned.
3. Add the onion, broccoli, and bell pepper. Stir-fry for 5 minutes.
4. Mix soy sauce and sugar in a bowl. Pour it over the chicken and veggies.
5. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until everything is well coated.
6. Serve hot over rice or noodles.

2) Miso Soup with Tofu and Seaweed

Miso soup is a comforting and simple dish to make. This version includes tofu and seaweed, both of which add great flavor and nutrition. You’ll enjoy making it from scratch in just a few easy steps.

Start by preparing your dashi stock. You can use homemade or store-bought dashi for convenience. Once your stock is ready, add miso paste to it and stir until dissolved.

Next, add soft tofu cut into small cubes. You can also include wakame seaweed for extra texture and health benefits. Heat the soup gently but avoid boiling it.

Serve your miso soup warm and enjoy its rich umami flavor!

Ingredients

• 4 cups (950 ml) dashi stock
• 1/4 cup (60 g) miso paste
• 1 cup soft tofu, cubed
• 1/4 cup dried wakame seaweed, rinsed

Cooking Instructions

1. Prepare dashi stock in a pot.
2. Add miso paste and stir until dissolved.
3. Add cubed tofu and wakame seaweed.
4. Heat gently without boiling.
5. Serve warm and enjoy!

3) Japanese Curry Chicken with Rice

Japanese Curry Chicken with Rice is a comforting and delicious meal that’s easy to prepare. You will enjoy the tender chicken, colorful vegetables, and rich curry sauce served over fluffy rice.

To make this dish, gather some chicken thighs, potatoes, and carrots. You will also need curry paste or powder for that savory flavor. This dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner, taking only about 30 minutes to cook.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 1 large potato, cubed
• 1 large carrot, chopped
• 2-3 tablespoons curry powder or a curry mix
• 4 cups (1 liter) water
• Rice, for serving

Cooking Instructions

1. In a large pot, heat some oil over medium heat.
2. Add the sliced onion and cook until softened.
3. Stir in the chicken and cook until browned.
4. Add the potato and carrot, then pour in the water.
5. Add the curry powder and simmer for 20 minutes.
6. Serve hot over cooked rice. Enjoy!

4) Quick Yakisoba Noodles

Yakisoba noodles are a delicious and easy dish to make at home. They are great for a quick dinner or lunch. This Japanese stir-fry features tender noodles, fresh vegetables, and a savory sauce.

To make this dish, you will need some basic ingredients and a little time. It’s ready in just about 15 minutes. You can customize it by adding your favorite vegetables or proteins like chicken or tofu.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces (225 grams) Yakisoba noodles
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (like bell peppers, carrots, and snap peas)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons Yakisoba sauce
• Cooked protein of your choice (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat (375°F / 190°C).
2. Add the mixed vegetables and cook for 3-4 minutes.
3. Stir in the Yakisoba noodles and sauce.
4. Add your choice of protein, if desired.
5. Cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring often, until everything is heated through. Enjoy!

5) Salmon Teriyaki Bowls

Salmon teriyaki bowls are a simple and tasty dish that’s great for any night. You’ll love the sweet and savory flavors of the teriyaki sauce combined with tender salmon. It’s quick to prepare and can be ready in under 20 minutes.

You can easily customize your bowl with ingredients like cucumber, avocado, and edamame. These add freshness and texture to every bite. Serve over rice for a complete meal that’s satisfying and healthy.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450 g) salmon fillets
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) teriyaki sauce
• 2 cups (300 g) cooked rice
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 1/2 cup (75 g) edamame, cooked
• Green onions, chopped

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your pan over medium-high heat.
2. Place salmon in the pan, skin-side down, and cook for 4-5 minutes.
3. Flip the salmon and add teriyaki sauce. Cook for another 3-4 minutes.
4. Serve salmon over rice and top with cucumber, avocado, and edamame.
5. Sprinkle with chopped green onions before serving.

6) Udon Noodles with Vegetables

Udon noodles are a fun and versatile ingredient for making quick meals. You can prepare them with a variety of fresh vegetables to enhance flavor and nutrition. This dish is simple and perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Start by cooking the udon noodles according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain them and set them aside.

In a pan, heat some oil and sauté your favorite vegetables, such as bell peppers, carrots, and broccoli.

Add the udon noodles back into the pan and toss everything together. Season with soy sauce, sesame oil, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for a tasty finish. Enjoy your homemade udon noodle dish!

Ingredients

• Udon noodles
• Bell peppers
• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Soy sauce
• Sesame oil
• Sesame seeds
• Oil for cooking

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the udon noodles according to package instructions.
2. Drain the noodles and set aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat (about 350°F or 180°C).
4. Add vegetables and sauté until tender.
5. Mix in the udon noodles.
6. Drizzle soy sauce and sesame oil, and toss well.
7. Serve with a sprinkle of sesame seeds on top.

7) Vegetable Tempura with Dipping Sauce

Vegetable tempura is a delicious and easy-to-make Japanese dish. You can use a variety of vegetables like sweet potatoes, zucchini, and green beans. The crispy batter is light and tasty, making it a favorite for many.

To make the dipping sauce, combine soy sauce with mirin and dashi. This adds a rich flavor that pairs perfectly with the tempura vegetables.

You will need vegetable oil for frying to get that perfect crunch. Enjoy your crispy tempura as a snack or side dish!

Ingredients

• Assorted vegetables (sweet potatoes, zucchini, green beans)
• Tempura batter mix
• Vegetable oil for frying
• Soy sauce
• Mirin
• Dashi (or water)

Cooking Instructions

1. Prepare the vegetables by cutting them into bite-sized pieces.
2. Mix the tempura batter according to package instructions.
3. Heat oil in a deep pan to 350°F (175°C).
4. Dip vegetables in the batter and fry until golden brown.
5. Mix soy sauce, mirin, and dashi for the dipping sauce. Serve warm.

8) Omurice (Japanese Omelette Rice)

Omurice is a popular Japanese dish that combines fried rice with a fluffy omelette. It’s a simple yet delicious meal that you can easily make at home. The fried rice often includes chicken and is seasoned with ketchup.

To make the omelette, you usually use eggs whisked with a bit of milk. When cooked just right, the omelette becomes creamy and wraps around the rice. You can serve it with extra ketchup on top for added flavor.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 cup cooked chicken, diced
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tbsp milk
• 1 tbsp cooking oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat (350°F / 175°C).
2. Sauté onions until soft.
3. Add chicken and cooked rice; stir well.
4. Mix in ketchup and cook for 2-3 minutes.
5. In another bowl, whisk eggs with milk, salt, and pepper.
6. Pour eggs into a heated pan, cooking until just set.
7. Place the rice mixture in the center and fold the omelette over it.
8. Serve with extra ketchup on top if desired.

9) Onigiri Rice Balls

Onigiri are tasty Japanese rice balls that are simple to make. They can be shaped into triangles or balls and filled with various ingredients. You can use cooked rice, which is pressed into shape.

Common fillings include fish, pickled plums, or vegetables. You can wrap them in nori for added flavor. They make a great snack or lunch option.

To start, you will need to prepare your rice. Make sure it’s sticky enough to hold its shape when you mold it. Enjoy creating your own delicious onigiri!

Ingredients

• 2 cups sushi rice
• 2 ½ cups water
• Fillings of your choice (like tuna, salmon, or pickled plums)
• Nori (seaweed), optional
• Salt, to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse the sushi rice until the water runs clear.
2. Combine rice and water in a pot.
3. Cook on medium heat until boiling.
4. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Let it sit covered for 10 minutes.
6. Allow the rice to cool slightly before handling.
7. Wet your hands and take a small amount of rice.
8. Place filling in the center and shape the rice around it, forming a triangle.
9. Optionally, wrap with nori before serving.

10) Tamagoyaki (Japanese Rolled Omelette)

Tamagoyaki is a classic Japanese dish that’s simple to make and delicious to eat. It’s a sweet and savory rolled omelette, perfect for breakfast or as a bento box treat.

To make tamagoyaki, you’ll need just a few ingredients. These include eggs, dashi, and soy sauce. The combination gives the omelette a unique flavor.

You can cook it in a special rectangular pan, but a round skillet works too. The key is to carefully roll the omelette as you cook it in layers.

Ingredients

• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 tablespoons homemade dashi or hondashi
• 1 teaspoon usukuchi (light soy sauce)
• A pinch of salt
• Oil for cooking

Cooking Instructions

1. Whisk the eggs, dashi, soy sauce, and salt.
2. Heat a non-stick pan over low heat and add oil.
3. Pour a thin layer of the egg mixture into the pan.
4. Cook until the edges set, then roll it up.
5. Add more mixture and repeat until all eggs are cooked.