Learn how to make the best Japanese dinner recipes at home! The recipe collections includes rice bowls, stews, noodles, soups, fish, tofu, and some meat options.
Making Japanese food at home can be a little intimidating if you are not familiar with the cuisine. But the truth is that many Japanese dishes are very easy to make! Many of them use the same ingredient combination but with different measurements, and many of them take less than 30 minutes to make.
I’ve put together a recipe collection of comforting Japanese meals I think your entire family will love. Some of these dishes are classic old school Japanese comfort food, while others are more modern, with a little added twist. I have come to love every single one of them as they satisfy all of my cravings when I want homestyle Japanese flavors.
Table of contents
Helpful Tips
If you are interested in learning more about Japanese ingredients and cooking techniques, here are some resources you might like to read:
Japanese Dinner Recipes
Yaki Udon
Yaki udon is such a simple dish, yet it’s so incredibly delicious! The dish is made of fresh udon noodles that are tossed in butter, soy sauce, and dashi powder, and topped with crunchy green onions, bonito flakes, and toasted nori. The ingredient combination results in an umami bomb you will not be able to stop eating!
Kitsune Udon
Kitsune udon is a traditional udon noodle soup served in a delicate dashi based broth, topped with inari age (seasoned deep fried tofu pouches), fish cakes, and green onions. It’s a no frills noodle soup that only takes 15 minutes to make from start to finish.
Japanese Curry in a Hurry
This easy Japanese curry recipe is partly premade and partly homemade. In Japan, it’s very common to use premade curry roux as it’s just as good – if not better – than one made from scratch. The same idea is applied to this recipe to cut down on cooking time. All that’s left is prepping the veggies and meat, and leaving them to cook, unattended. This is one comforting meal that your entire family will thank you for!
Mapo Curry Tofu (麻婆カレー豆腐️)
A mapo tofu recipe with a twist! Just like the classic mapo tofu, ground meat and a variety of fragrant sauces are used to create the base of the dish. But here’s the twist – curry powder is also used to give the mapo tofu a curry forward flavor. Add to this some silken tofu cubes and you’ve got the most delicious meal to pair with rice!
Pinto Bean Stew (Japanese Style)
Did you know that pinto beans are a common sight in Japan? More so than navy beans or chickpeas! And did you also know that pinto beans cooked in a mixture of miso paste, soy sauce, and smoked paprika, yields the tastiest bowl of beans you’ll ever have? This recipe is a must try for bean stew lovers!
Onigiri (Rice Balls)
The famous Japanese rice balls isn’t only great as a snack or a quick lunch, it’s also a wonderful addition to a low key dinner. My mother made onigiri frequently because they are easy to make and taste so good. To make it a full meal, make a few rice balls using different fillings and serve them with miso soup, salad, and pickles. Easy!
Yakimeshi (Fried Rice)
Yakimeshi is the Japanese version of fried rice. It can be made in a skillet and only requires a few ingredients. What makes Japanese fried rice different than other types of fried rice is in the type of grain used. Short grain Japanese rice is stickier than jasmine rice which gives the dish a chewier bite.
Omurice
The word omurice is a combination of two words – omelet and rice (omu-rice). Kids and adult love this dish in Japan because it’s basically ketchup rice wrapped in a fluffy omelet that’s topped with more ketchup. You can’t go wrong with these winning flavors!
Spaghetti Napolitan
Spaghetti napolitan is another ketchup forward dish! Created around the end of World War II, it’s a variation on the spaghetti with ketchup the US army ate during their occupation in Japan. Topped with bell peppers, mushrooms, and sausages, it’s been a favorite among children, appearing on kids menus all across Japan!
Niratama Donburi
There are so many delicious flavors in this egg and chive rice bowl! Niratama donburi is a Japanese dish consisting of garlic chives and eggs that are cooked in a sweet and savory broth. The mixture is serve over rice, allowing the grains to absorb every ounce of flavor from the sauce.
Chukadon (Chinese Style Donburi)
Chukadon is a Chinese influenced stir fry made with shrimp, cabbage, and other vegetables, served in a gooey, savory, and nutty sauce, over rice. It’s one of my favorite dishes when I want a bowl of comfort food.
Salmon Teriyaki Donburi
I love the salmon preparation in this rice bowl! Sweet but not too sweet, savory, and nutty, the pieces of salmon are dusted with cornstarch to give them a crispy exterior. The fish is served over a bed of rice and spinach, making this a healthy and wholesome meal.
Miso Salmon
You won’t believe how tender salmon can become when it’s marinaded in a mixture of miso paste, sake, mirin, and sesame oil! Melt-in-your-mouth moist and tender, with delicate savory and nutty flavors, I always get excited whenever I’m about to serve this piece of fish.
Teriyaki Pork Rolls
Get these teriyaki pork rolls on your dinner table in less than 20 minutes! These rolls are made with sliced vegetables that are wrapped in thin pork cutlets and cooked in a homemade teriyaki sauce.
Crispy Baked Chicken Katsu
No deep fryer needed for this chicken katsu recipe! And the best part is that the dish stays crispier for much longer when the cutlets are baked in the oven. Healthier and better is a win-win!
Japanese Cream Stew
White cream stew is a classic Japanese dish of chicken and vegetables cooked in a cream and butter based sauce. It’s hearty, comforting and incredibly tasty!
Tori Nikujaga (Japanese Chicken & Potato Stew)
Tori nikujaga is a hearty stew that combines tender chunks of chicken, onions, potatoes, carrots, and shimeji mushroom, cooked in a savory soy-based broth.
Hambagu
Hambagu is the Japanese version of a Salisbury steak. It’s a beef patty seasoned with ingredients such as ginger, garlic, and soy sauce, and served with a rich demi-glace type gravy.
Hambagu (Vegan)
This is the vegan version of hambagu made with plant based ground meat and a mushroom based gravy. This recipe is so delicious that I prefer it over the original one!
Vegetable Yakisoba
Yakisoba is the Japanese take on chow mein. The dishes are so similar that the terms are interchangeable. It’s a simple noodle and vegetable stir fry seasoned with soy sauce and a little sugar. It’s an iconic Japanese dish that’s enjoyed as fast food.
Shoyu Ramen (Soy Sauce Ramen)
I love the fragrant broth of this ramen! While it may look overly salty and heavy on soy sauce, the flavor of the broth happens to be perfectly balanced. The mixture of soy sauce, dashi, mirin, sake, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil, gives the broth depth of flavor, earthiness, nuttiness, and plenty of umami.
Miso Ramen
For a basic ramen dinner, give this miso ramen a try. The flavors are straightforward, there are no fancy ingredients needed, and it only takes 20 minutes to make.
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