How To Make Japanese Style Pizza (Chicken Teriyaki Pizza Recipe)

How to Make Japanese Teriyaki Chicken Pizza (Domino’s Chiki-Teri Copycat Recipe)

by Megumi Moriya

Chicken Pizza Sweet-Savory Japanese-American Fusion Good for Sharing

Pizza may have originated in Italy, but Japan has truly made it its own. From gourmet brick oven pies to affordable supermarket slices and everything in between, pizza in Japan is a culinary experience like no other.

But one standout creation that’s captured the hearts (and taste buds) of many is the Japanese teriyaki chicken pizza, a deliciously sweet and savory recipe inspired by Domino’s Japan’s “Chiki-Teri.”

The story of pizza in Japan is surprisingly recent. Though relatively unknown half a century ago, pizza culture took off after Domino’s launched its Japanese branch in 1985. As one of the first delivery pizza chains in the country, Domino’s didn’t just bring American-style pizza, it innovated with unique, localized toppings to suit Japanese palates. The “Chiki-Teri” pizza is a perfect example: juicy teriyaki chicken, sweet corn, spinach, melty cheese, and a generous drizzle of Japanese mayo.

If you're curious about how Japanese pizza vs American pizza, you can read more in this feature article.

This recipe pays tribute to that beloved flavor combo and offers a simple way to recreate it at home. The sauce features pantry staples like canned tomatoes and consommé powder, while the teriyaki chicken is simmered in a classic blend of soy sauce, mirin, and sake.

Add some corn, spinach, and a mesh of Kewpie mayo on top, and you have a savory-sweet masterpiece that feels just like a Japanese takeout favorite, only better, because it’s homemade.

In Japan, pizza isn’t just a casual dish; it’s a treat often reserved for parties and celebrations. Delivery pizza is relatively pricey, which is why many Japanese families enjoy making their own at home. It’s a fun, customizable, and budget-friendly way to enjoy pizza night. This recipe brings that spirit into your kitchen, no matter where you are in the world.

Ready to get started? Gather your ingredients, prep your dough, and bring a piece of Japan to your table tonight!

Overview

Prep time: 25 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 55 mins

Total servings: 1

Difficulty: Medium

Ingredients
  • 150g bread flour
  • 6g sugar
  • 3g instant dry yeast
  • 3g salt
  • 90ml water (warmed to about 40°C)
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 40g onion (chopped; for tomato sauce)
  • 5g garlic (chopped; for tomato sauce)
  • 2 tsp olive oil (for tomato sauce)
  • 200g canned cut tomato (for tomato sauce)
  • 1 tsp consommé powder (for tomato sauce)
  • 1 tsp sugar (for tomato sauce)
  • 1/3 tsp salt (for tomato sauce)
  • 1 tsp corn starch (for tomato sauce)
  • 2 tsp water (for corn starch mixture)
  • 8 slices sliced chicken thigh (for teriyaki chicken)
  • 3 Tbsp soy sauce (for teriyaki chicken)
  • 3 Tbsp mirin (for teriyaki chicken)
  • 3 Tbsp sake (for teriyaki chicken)
  • 1.5 Tbsp sugar (for teriyaki chicken)
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese (for toppings)
  • 1 Tbsp whole kernel corn (for toppings)
  • 15g spinach (cut into bite-sized pieces; for toppings)
  • japanese mayonnaise (as preferred; for toppings)

Expert's Tip

How to Make Japanese Teriyaki Chicken Pizza (Domino’s Chiki-Teri Copycat Recipe)

Use Tiger Crown Pizza Cutter for a clean slice every time. Its sharp edge and ergonomic handle make it easy to portion your pizza without squishing toppings or crust.

Instructions

1) Gather the Ingredients

Gather all the ingredients together. For the spinach, cut it into bite-sized pieces. The 4th picture is tomato sauce from Step 3 and teriyaki sauce from Step 4. I used 3 Tbsp of tomato sauce and 1 Tbsp of teriyaki sauce from the total amount.

I used simple mozzarella cheese, which has a mild flavor that complements the teriyaki chicken

2) Prepare the Pizza Dough

Warm the water to about 40℃. In a bowl, combine the bread flour, sugar, instant dry yeast, and salt. Add the warm water to the bowl, making sure it covers the instant dry yeast.

Then, immediately add the olive oil to the water, spreading it in the bowl. Mix everything together with a spatula. Once the dough starts to come together, transfer it to a clean surface and knead until the dough is smooth.

Shape it into a ball, then place it back into the bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap.

Let the dough ferment at room temperature for about 30 minutes until it gets bigger in size.

3) Prepare the Tomato Sauce

While the pizza dough is fermenting, prepare the tomato sauce. Chop the onion and garlic, then sauté them in the olive oil. Once they are cooked, add the tomatoes to the pan, bring the mixture to a boil, and stir in the consommé powder, sugar, and salt.

In a separate bowl, mix the cornstarch and the water together to make a cornstarch mixture. Add it to the pan and stir with a spatula.

Once the sauce thickens, transfer the tomato sauce to a container to cool.

Use 3 Tbsp of the sauce for the pizza.

Note: If you want instant pizza sauce, I recommend Kagome pizza sauce.

4) Prepare the Teriyaki Chicken and Teriyaki Sauce

In a frying pan, combine the soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar. Heat it over medium heat, stirring until the seasonings are well mixed.

Add the sliced chicken to the pan and cook over low to medium heat until fully cooked.

Transfer the chicken to a dish and heat the rest of the teriyaki sauce. Once boiled again, remove any scum from the surface and simmer until the sauce thickens.

Use 1 Tbsp of the sauce for the pizza.

Note: If you want to use instant teriyaki sauce, I recommend Ebara teriyaki sauce.

5) Shape the Pizza Dough

After the dough has fermented, transfer it to a work surface and shape it into a flat, round shape.

Once it reaches about a 20cm diameter, transfer the dough to a baking tray. Then, create a shallow ditch about 1cm from the edge. This will help hold the sauce and prevent it from spilling over the sides.

6) Add the Toppings

Spread the tomato sauce over the dough, then top with spinach, mozzarella cheese, teriyaki chicken, and corn. Drizzle the teriyaki sauce over the chicken, ensuring each piece is coated.

Finally, use Kewpie mayonnaise to create a mesh pattern on top.

7) Bake the Pizza

Preheat the oven to 280℃. Once it reaches the temperature, place the baking tray in the oven. Bake the pizza for about 10 minutes until the ingredients are cooked and the surface has a nice char.

8) Serve and Enjoy!

Japanese people often drizzle Tabasco on other pizzas for an extra kick, but for this pizza, no extra sauce is needed. Just enjoy it as it is!

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