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This Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich with Sesame Mayo has juicy teriyaki chicken, & topped with fresh pineapple, red onion, & a sweet sesame mayo. This recipe can be made extra easy by using store-bought Teriyaki Sauce (we love this brand!), or you can make it more homemade by making up the Teriyaki Sauce at home. I’ve included instructions for both options.

Don’t you just love a good Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich? But I always feel like it needs a little more flavor or sauce, when I get it at a restaurant. (I really do love sandwiches with lots of sauce.)

I decided to make this sandwich a little more flavorful by adding a sesame and teriyaki mayo sauce. This sauce starts with a base of mayonnaise that is mixed with teriyaki sauce and sesame oil. I tinkered around with the sauce to get a flavor profile I really like – sweet and creamy with a savory sesame flavor. The result is a great compliment to the other elements of the sandwich.

Cooking Teriyaki Chicken

One thing I’ve learned over the years when making Teriyaki Chicken is that you need to not cook the chicken the teriyaki sauce, but just add the sauce after cooking. This makes for a much juicier piece of chicken (it’s easier to get a good sear on the chicken without a sweet sauce in the pan), and cooking the chicken in teriyaki sauce can burn the sauce – the sauce has a high sugar content and can burn before the chicken cooks through.

For this recipe, you will pan sear the chicken breasts in a little olive oil and salt, until golden brown. Then you will brush on the Teriyaki Sauce when you build the sandwich.

A couple other elements that make this Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich with Sesame Mayo delicious: Brioche buns (!), melty cheese, fresh pineapple (use fresh if you can – it makes the sandwich so bright!), crisp red onion, and some greens. And then of course the Teriyaki Sesame Mayo. The elements combine to a sweet, salty, savory, rich, fresh, and bright sandwich with an elevated flavor. You will love these!

Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich with Sesame Mayo

This Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich with Sesame Mayo has juicy teriyaki chicken, & topped with fresh pineapple, red onion, & a sweet sesame mayo.

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Plum Street Collective

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 10

Total Time 35

Ingredients

Teriyaki Sauce (can make homemade or use store-bought)

2 cups brown sugar
1 cup soy sauce
1/8 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated fine
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup water

Teriyaki Sesame Mayo

2/3 cup mayo
1/3 cup Teriyaki sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil

Sandwich Ingredients

4-8 chicken breasts (1 per person / per sandwich)
mozzarella cheese, sliced (1-2 slices per sandwich)
brioche buns
fresh pineapple, sliced into thin discs (1-2 slices per sandwich)
red onion, sliced thin
arugula
olive oil
salt

Instructions

Teriyaki Sauce

You can either buy pre-made Teriyaki Sauce (this Soy Vay brand is my favorite store-bought Teriyaki sauce), or you can make your own!
If you make it homemade you'll want to start with this sauce, so you can use it to make the mayo, and then to brush on top of the chicken.
In a medium to large saucepan (make sure it is bigger than you think, because this sauce does bubble up quite a bit), set over medium-high heat, whisk soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and fresh ginger. Heat to a low rolling boil. Stir as it heats.
In a small, separate bowl, combine cornstarch and water. Whisk until lumps are gone.
Add cornstarch and water mixture to boiling soy sauce mixture. (Don't add until it's boiling or it won't thicken.) Whisk together.
Keep whisking until sauce is bubbling again. Let bubble for 1-2 minutes.
Turn heat down to medium-low and let it simmer for 7-9 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickens. Once thick, remove from heat and set aside.

Teriyaki Sesame Mayo

Add all ingredients to a jar or airtight container and whisk well, until combined.
Cover and chill in the fridge until ready to serve.

Making the Sandwiches

When you're ready to make the sandwiches, begin by heating a large skillet pan over medium-high heat.
Add 1-2 tablespoons of oil to cover the bottom of the pan, then transfer the chicken breasts to the pan. Lightly salt the chicken, then cover and let the chicken cook for 5-6 minutes on each side, until golden brown on the outside and juicy on the inside.
(If you'd like thinner pieces of chicken you can pound it with a meat mallet before searing in the pan).
Once chicken is cooked, remove from pan to rest, and lightly salt.
Once you're ready to serve the sandwiches, toast the Brioche buns with a slice or two of the mozzarella cheese on top, until it is melted.
Assemble the sandwiches by adding the seared chicken breast on top of the brioche bun, the brushing the chicken breast generously with teriyaki sauce.
On top of the teriyaki chicken add the pineapple, red onion, and arugula. Generously slather the Teriyaki Sesame Mayo onto the bun and close the sandwich.
Best to eat these right away because they can be messy – but they are delicious. Enjoy!!

I hope you get a chance to try this Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich with Sesame Mayo. Click here to see my other main dish recipes. Be sure to let me know if you make this and tag me @plumstreetcollective on Instagram. Happy cooking!