A comforting Japanese classic, this chicken and egg rice bowl layers savory chicken and softly scrambled eggs over steaming rice. Sweet-salty dashi sauce soaks into every bite for a quick, satisfying weeknight meal.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time25 mins
Servings4
Yield4 servings
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (estimated)
- 540 kcalCalories
- 19 gFat
- 5 gSaturated Fat
- 55 gCarbs
- 2 gFiber
- 7 gSugar
- 32 gProtein
- 820 mgSodium
- 420 mgPotassium
- 80 mgCalcium
- 3 mgIron
- 5 mgVitamin C
- 160 mcgVitamin A
Ingredients
For the Sauce
- 1 cup dashi broth
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons mirin
- 2 tablespoons sake
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
For the Bowl
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 4 large eggs
- 2 green onions (sliced thin)
- 4 cups cooked short-grain Japanese rice
Directions
- Whisk dashi, soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar in a small bowl until the sugar dissolves; set the sauce aside.
- Slice the chicken thighs into 1-inch bite-sized pieces and thinly slice the onion into half-moons.
- Heat a 10-inch skillet or Japanese donburi pan over medium heat and add the sliced onion with a splash of the sauce; cook 2 minutes until slightly softened.
- Add the chicken pieces and pour in the remaining sauce; simmer uncovered for 4-5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the liquid has reduced by about one-third.
- Beat the eggs lightly with chopsticks (do not over-beat; you want streaks of white and yolk) and pour evenly over the chicken.
- Cover and cook for 1-2 minutes until the eggs are just set but still glossy and slightly runny on top; avoid stirring once the eggs are added.
- Divide the hot rice among four bowls, slide the chicken and egg mixture on top, and garnish with sliced green onions.
- Serve immediately while the eggs are still soft and the rice is steaming hot.
Cook’s Notes
- Use short-grain Japanese rice (koshihikari or calrose) for the proper sticky texture that holds the topping.
- Do not fully beat the eggs; mixing them just until yolks and whites are streaky creates the signature soft, layered texture.
- A traditional cast-iron or copper donburi pan works best, but any 10-inch lidded skillet is fine.
- For extra richness, use chicken thighs instead of breasts; their fat keeps the meat tender during simmering.
- Add a sheet of nori or a sprinkle of shichimi togarashi on top for a flavor boost just before eating.










