I hope you are enjoying barbequing this summer as I’m sharing an easy and delicious Grilled Miso Chicken today! I use miso in many of my recipes and today I used Hikari Miso‘s organic white miso to make ginger miso marinade.
I mostly use chicken thighs for my recipes because it is more flavorful and juicer than chicken breasts. However, today I made Grilled Miso Chicken using chicken breasts. I’ve made this recipe a few times and every time I was surprised to see how juicy it is!
The key is to pound the breast fillets to be thin so they will cook faster and evenly. Overcooking will make the meat dry and if the meat is not the even thickness, some parts may be under-cooked while other parts are overcooked.
You can get the Grilled Miso Chicken recipe HERE over at the Hikari Miso’s website! I served the chicken breast with Massaged Kale Salad with Mango and you can find the recipe here. Enjoy!
Hikari Miso products will be available in Amazon soon (some are available already). You can also buy Hikari Miso products in Japanese grocery stores (my local Japanese and Asian stores carry their product).
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Hikari Miso. To read more about my partnership with Hikari Miso (press release), click HERE.
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast (1 lb = 2 fillets)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp ginger (grated)
- 2 Tbsp Miso (White Type, See Notes)
- 1 Tbsp neutral flavor oil (vegetable, canola, etc)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp chili paste (Sambal Oelek) (or more for your taste, optional)
- Mix all ingredients for ginger miso sauce together in a small bowl.
- Place chicken breasts between 2 pieces of wax paper or parchment paper. Using a meat mallet, pound the chicken breasts to an even 1/2-inch thickness.
- Put the chicken breasts in a large zipped plastic bag and add the sauce. Rub marinade into meat until evenly coated. Seal the bag and marinade at least 2-3 hours in the refrigerator.
- Heat an outdoor grill to high. Spray the grates with cooking spray or soak paper towel in olive oil and rub over grates several times until coated.
- Place the chicken breasts on the hot grate, and grill the breasts until cooked, about 4 minutes per side. To test for doneness, poke a breast with your finger. It should feel firm to the touch.
- Transfer the breasts to plates.
- Serve with steamed rice or salad.
Miso: I used Organic Miso White Type.
Recipe by Namiko Chen of Just One Cookbook. All images and content on this site are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without my permission. If you’d like to share this recipe on your site, please re-write the recipe in your own words and link to this post as the original source. Thank you.
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ChopinandMysaucepan
Dear Nami,
That miso paste can single-handedly create a meal with miso soup, miso eggplant and so many other fantastic recipes. I hardly cook chicken breast this way but I should try your pounding method 🙂
A_Boleyn
Miso is good on so many things. I’ll take a look at the recipe on the Hikari web site.
yummychunklet
Love the idea of using miso here!
donna mikasa
Oh, this sounds so delicious! I’m so glad I bought some chicken breast yesterday. Will definitely be trying this sometime soon!
Nami
Thank you Donna! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did! 🙂
mjskit
After making your miso and soy chicken wings I discovered how wonderful miso is in a marinade! Thanks for another fabulous chicken recipe for the grill. Bobby will be thrilled!
Joanne T Ferguson
G’day! Never have grilled with miso, true!
You have now given me another reason to put miso back on my list of recipes with it to do! Thank you!
Cheers! Joanne
Now on FB too!
http://www.facebook.com/whatsonthelist
[email protected]
I’ve not grilled with miso – sounds like a fun and tasty idea. The recipe looks terrific! Glad the Hikari Miso will be available through Amazon – that will save me a trip to a specialty store.
Ash- foodfashionparty
I’ve had miso soup but not used it on chicken, I’m sure it’s quite flavorful. Nami the pictures look very good.
[email protected]
Easy and they look so cool. Love the recipe!
Mich Piece of Cake
Love the combination of miso with chicken which makes it so flavourful and moist.
daphne
I’m such a fan of using miso paste everywhere! I made a similar dish before but yours looks so much more prettier.
Baby Sumo
Our family eats chicken breast all the time, I like how your chicken breast got the beautiful grill lines on them 🙂
Choc Chip Uru
Miso is a great flavour I am just beginning to appreciate 😀
Great chicken!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Coffee and Crumpets
Love the look of this chicken Nami! Very flavoursome.
nazneen
TheKitchenLioness
Nami, a truly wonderful summer B.B.Q. recipe – cooking with white miso adds such a wonderful depth of flavor to the dishes and I especially like your side dish of that massaged kale with mango, I already liked it when you posted it the first time, I love the flavor combinations and the colors are just wonderful!
Nami, dear friend, continue to have a fabulous summer with your family!
The Ninja Baker
Miso is such a great match for chicken. 通常通り、美味しい料理を作りましたね。
Mandy - The Complete Cook Book
We also tend to use thighs more than any other part of the chicken Nami, although have a couple of recipe which use chicken breasts. Your grilled miso chicken looks fabulous.
🙂 Mandy xo
Giulietta | Alterkitchen
I love grilled chicken, and yours looks so tender and juicy! You made me hungry 🙂
Nammi
wow, looks lovely although I have never taste miso 🙂
Kelly
This chicken dish looks fantastic Nami! I love the combination of miso with the spicy chili and the grill marks on this chicken look so pretty 🙂
Sissi
It sounds delicious, Nami. As someone who uses chicken breasts quite often, I have found the trick to make them less dry: I simply marinate them or just brush on both sides with oil. I also try to make them equally thick, as you have mentioned.
I am so happy to see you working with a company which has high quality products! It must be pure pleasure.
Grubarazzi
This chicken looks delicious! So does the massaged kale and mango salad. Mouth watering!
Belinda @zomppa
What a great simple but delicious meal..hmm will have to give this a try.
Denise [email protected] Brazil To You
This grilled miso chicken looks dee-li-cious and also it pairs well with the kale-mango salad. What a tasty summer plate!!!
Elizabeth @Mango_Queen
What a great cooking tip to make the chicken moist and tender. I must remember that. This is a wonderful and simple miso chicken recipe. My family will love this. Thanks for sharing, Nami. Have a great week 🙂
[email protected] Chef
my bad, i like the skin-on deboned chicken leg for this recipe even i had a weight issue
the mango and kale salad make me fill less guilty….hehehe
cquek
My mouth is watering. this looks so good and the photos are amazing!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
oh I love this! I love miso on pretty much anything! yumm!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
Your chicken looks mouth-watering, Nami!
Reese
Now this is a perfect summer meal, Nami! Colorful & nutritious! Miso is such a great pantry ingredient. The only thing I wish is I don’t have to store them in the refrigerator after opening. It takes up so much space:) I know it’s silly! Anyway, I love the big portion of green kale with mango you served on the side. It’s the true version of a Happy Meal.
Muna Kenny
Nami, this chicken looks perfect, love the grill marks. I admit, I haven’t been grilling recently and been feeling lazy in general, but I’ll gather my self and try your recipe 🙂
sippitysup
Maybe you’ll have the answer. Usually when I see a recipe that calls for miso paste. That’s all they say. Miso paste. Then I get to the store and I see red, yellow and white? Are they interchangeable according to taste or are they very different? GREG
Nami
There are several kinds of miso and each miso has different flavor. I personally like “awase miso” (which is a mix of red and white) which goes well with most dishes. I also like white miso which is commonly used to marinade fish, veggies, meat, etc. The taste, aroma, texture, and appearance of miso are different by region. Temperature, duration of fermentation, salt content, etc make a difference, as well.
In short, it’s really up to person’s preference. It took me a long time to find my favorite brand of miso since I moved to the US, and finally found one 8 years ago (and now I’m working with them! :)).
Rosa
Delicious and summery!
Cheers,
Rosa
[email protected]
One of my faves!! Thanks, Nami, for the recipe… I am SO going to make this!
Linda | The Urban Mrs
This looks wonderful – never thought of adding miso to poultry. And grilling absolutely make it tasty.
Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine)
I’ve never cooked with miso. Our discount grocery has a great Asian foods section, but miso is never there! Keeping an eye out though.
Mr. & Mrs. P
What beautiful sear marks. Bet the miso flavor works wonderfully with the chicken.
Monica
*Moist* grilled chicken breast sounds great, and I bet this has terrific flavor from your miso marinade. Good tip on pounding out the chicken breast, too!
Kate from Scratch
Looks delightful! So light and perfect for summer. Great recipe, Nami!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia
gahh I really need to get me some miso! This looks fantastic 🙂
Hotly Spiced
I love giving chicken a pounding! I love to grill chicken breasts because there’s so many ways you can serve them xx
Balvinder
I haven’t tried miso in chicken but with kale mango salad it sounds delicious!
Jenny
excellent idea bashing the chicken flat. Lovely recipe. Gotta get some of that miso!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
I love using miso in cooking! 😀 That organic white miso sounds lovely. I’m going to the US soon and I might have to pick up some!
Ramona
I love your miso dishes…and thanks for the tip. I must admit I used breast most often… but thighs are my 2nd favorite. 🙂
Asmita
Hi Nami,
What a wonderful grilled chicken. Cannot wait to give this one a try.
nipponnin
I think I’m going to make this tonight. Looks so delicious.
[email protected]
Great tip on pounding the chicken first. Must taste great with miso.
Katerina
I have to get my hands on some miso to try it! I am very, very curious! It certainly looks lip licking Nami!
Riitta
Hi, thanks for posting this, sounds (and looks) fabulous! Will give it a go for sure.
Rhonda (@diningalone)
I definitely tend to use thighs for their better flavor but this looks tasty!
Kristy
I was just reading an article that miso is a good alternative to soy and teriyaki – less sodium I believe was the reasoning. This chicken looks delicious and another one that would be a hit with Mr. N for sure. 🙂
Kitchen Belleicious
I am not so great at incorporating miso in my recipes so I am thrilled to see this simple and easy chicken dish that is easy but flavorful
Valerie @ From Valerie's Kitchen
This is the perfect summer grilling recipe and so simple!
Kristi Rimkus
I’ve fast become a chicken thigh fan. Boneless and skinless, they are a terrific and juicy alternative to chicken breast that can become dry. You are so right that pounding to an even thickness really helps. You’re massaged mango and kale salad looks amazing too!
Bam's Kitchen
Nami-san, What a Delicious looking miso chicken but even more interesting is that side dish of kale and mango side dish. Kale is always bitter so pairing with the mango is a great idea. I hope you are having a super time in Yokohama. Ja Mata, BAM
[email protected] Good Cooks
The same issue happens with me, no body likes the dried chicken. Your tips is useful , will try it soon, thanks…
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking
This chicken looks so delicious, Nami! We can’t get enough of grilling in this house, but it’s always nice to change up my flavorings. What a great summer meal!
Sandra | Sandra's Easy Cooking
I love your method and I use pounding mostly on the beef, but in many cases on chicken as well, it’s much easier like you said to cook though. Your grilled miso chicken sounds divine, great recipe and pictures are made with perfection…I love those grilled marks.
S. Howard
I tried this recipe Monday night for dinner, and it came out fantastic! I actually can’t grill outside where I live, but I grilled the chicken on the Cuisinart Griddler that I won on this site a while ago. Perfect, juicy, delicious chicken. I will be making this recipe again very soon. My mother wants to try it next time she visits me. Thanks, Nami!
Nami
Yay! So happy to hear that you are using the griddler (I use it all the time to make paninis!) and tried this recipe! Thank you so much for your feedback!
Monet
Pounding your chicken breasts is key! This looks so good. I love miso, so I’m sure we’ll be making this often. Thank you for sharing…and thank you for your kind words on my blog! I’m glad to be back to visit my favorites 🙂
Reem | Simply Reem
A quick question for you Nami… I bought white miso paste but somehow A keeps on saying that the taste is not the same he tried in Japan .. do you have any particular brand u prefer. ..
This looks beaitiful will try it on weekend.
Also I have the same turquoise plate ; ) lol Turquoise Madness! !
Nami
Hi Reem! Assuming that A goes only to Tokyo, I think he never tasted white miso. White miso is mainly used in Western Japan (kyoto, osaka etc). When he tastes miso something or miso soup, it’s not white miso base. Also, it shouldn’t be Red miso – which is mainly used in Central Japan like Nagoya. So try finding Awase Miso (white + red combo). Is Nijiya far from your home? I’m not too sure if Mitsuwa carry Hikari Miso, but I buy it from Nijiya. I buy Awase Miso shown in this picture (left top box of miso). Hope that helps!
https://www.justonecookbook.com/pantry/miso/
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
I’m loving miso so much! It’s such a versatile base for so many delicious recipe. This grilled chicken is so tempting, Nami. I love that it’s juicy and yes, the key is to pound chicken breast thin so it cooks faster 🙂
Sandra
Dry chicken makes for an unpleasant meal. Thanks for this idea and recipe.
Sonia aka Nasi Lemak Lover
You just remind me that I have yet to try your miso chicken recipe. I still have few chicken breast as I usually I like to use chicken thigh too. This chicken is perfect for my next week Bento!
Purabi Naha | Cosmopolitan Currymania
When I just started eating Japanese food in restaurants, I thought miso is only used as miso soup, but later, I came to know, there are so many variations we can try with miso! Nami, these pictures are making me hungry! I got your point, we have to pound the chicken breasts properly and avoid overcooking. This is lovely!!
Nancy/SpicieFoodie
Yum! I love using miso paste for so many things. Thanks for sharing Nami:)
Kumar's Kitchen
Chicken looks absolutely supple & definitely irresistible, great for summers but can gorge on them any time of the year, yummm 🙂
zerrin
I hardly cook chicken breast since I find it dry. Thanks for the tip! Pounding it is such a great idea!
easyfoodsmith
I have never tried miso and I believe grilled chicken is the perfect way to begin with. Thanks for sharing.
Lynna
Oh, I love summer grilling! I`m sure the miso taste for this chicken dish must be delicious~
Hannah
Just beautiful, Nami! Now I’m quite hungry. 🙂
Nusrat Azim
Grill action happens every week at my place and we don’t care if its summertime or not 🙂 I’m gona soooooooooo love your miso paste idea ! How brilliant! How incredibly genius!
I love the look of your chicken, sweetheart 🙂
Marta @ What Should I eat for breakfast today
I’ll look for Hikari Miso products in my Japanese store. Thank you for this recommendation.
Christine @ Cooking Crusade
Glad to see another miso recipe. I have a unused box of Hikari miso in the fridge right now and I’m never sure what to make with it (aside from a nice cup of miso soup hehe). This would be a delicious way to use some up! Thanks Nami!
Jaclyn
These looks delicious! Grilled to perfection!
Dana
We made this last night – on the grill in the garage since it’s February in Michigan! – and it was wonderful.
Nami
Hahaha! You still grill in the winter weather! That made me super happy. Thanks so much for trying this recipe, and I’m so happy you enjoyed it. Thank you Dana! xo