Chicken Takikomi Gohan

When rice is cooked with seasoning and ingredients, it becomes much more flavorful than plain white rice. This chicken takikomi rice is one of those dishes that makes you want to keep eating. I often make it and turn it into onigiri for a quick snack before strength training. The best part is how simple it is—just add everything to the rice cooker and press start.

What is Takikomi Gohan

Takikomi gohan is a traditional Japanese rice dish where rice is cooked together with ingredients and seasonings in the same pot. Common ingredients include chicken, mushrooms, carrots, and other vegetables.

Unlike plain white rice served with side dishes, the rice itself absorbs the flavor of soy sauce, dashi, and the ingredients while it cooks. This creates a comforting, well-seasoned rice dish that can be enjoyed on its own or shaped into onigiri.

Takikomi gohan is popular in Japanese home cooking because it is simple to prepare—everything cooks together in one pot or rice cooker.

Why you’ll Love This Recipe

Easy to make – Just add the ingredients to the rice cooker and press start.

Comforting and flavorful – The rice absorbs the savory flavor of chicken, soy sauce, and seasonings while cooking.

Perfect for meal prep – It keeps well and can easily be made into onigiri for quick snacks or lunches.

Balanced and satisfying – With rice, protein, and vegetables cooked together, it’s a simple one-pot meal.

Easy to make – Just add the ingredients to the rice cooker and press start.

Comforting and flavorful – The rice absorbs the savory flavor of chicken, soy sauce, and seasonings while cooking.

Perfect for meal prep – It keeps well and can easily be made into onigiri for quick snacks or lunches.

Balanced and satisfying – With rice, protein, and vegetables cooked together, it’s a simple one-pot meal.

Chicken takimomi gohan onigiri

Course: lunch

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: rice balls

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Chicken Takikomi Gohan Onigiri are Japanese rice balls made with seasoned rice cooked together with tender chicken and umami-rich ingredients. They are comforting, flavorful, and perfectly portioned, making them ideal for meal prep, lunch boxes, or a balanced snack.

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Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 cup cooked short grain rice
• 1.8 oz Chicken breast
• 2½ tbsp Carrot
• 1 Dried Shiitake mushrooms rehydrated and thinly sliced

Seasoning & Liquid

• ¾ cup Water
• 2¼ tsp Soy sauce
• 1¼ tsp Sweetener
• ¼ tsp Salt
• ⅜ tsp Hondashi

Equipment

• 1 rice cooker

Method

 

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Rinse and soak the rice

1. Rinse the rice until the water runs mostly clear. Soak for 30minutes, then drain well.

Prepare the vegetable

1. Cut the carrot into thin strips about 1 inch long.

Prepare the shiitake

1. Soak the dried shiitake in water until softened, then thinly slice.

Cut the chicken

1. Cut into bite size pieces.

Prepare the rice cooker

1. Add the soaked rice and all seasonings to the rice cooker. Add water until it reaches the 1½-cup rice level (for this recipe amount).

Add fillings and cook

1. Add the carrot, shiitake, and chicken. Gently mix and cook using the regular rice setting.

Finish

1. Once cooked, fluff the rice before serving

Nutrition

Serving: 2servingsCalories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 59gProtein: 10gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.3gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 701mgPotassium: 224mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 3136IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 3mg

Notes

• Soaking the rice is important – this helps the grains cook evenly and absorb flavor.
• Use dried shiitake for stronger umami flavor.
• This rice keeps well and is perfect for meal prep and rice balls.

*Nutrition is calculated based on approximately 1 cup cooked rice per serving.

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