Description
Juicy chicken skewers glazed with a savory-sweet yakitori sauce, grilled to perfection. A simple Japanese dish you can make at home with everyday ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- For Chicken Skewers
- 500 g (1 lb) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 spring onions (scallions), cut into 1-inch pieces
- Bamboo or metal skewers
- For Yakitori Sauce (Tare)
- ½ cup (120 ml) soy sauce
- ¼ cup (60 ml) mirin
- ¼ cup (60 ml) sake
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- Optional Garnishes
- Sesame seeds
- Shichimi togarashi
- Finely sliced spring onions
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Wash and pat dry chicken thighs. Cut into 1–1.5 inch chunks.
- Assemble Skewers: Thread chicken and spring onions alternately onto skewers. Do not overcrowd.
- Make Sauce: In a saucepan, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, garlic, and ginger. Simmer 10 minutes until slightly thickened. Separate into two bowls (one for basting, one for serving).
- Grill Skewers: Preheat grill or broiler to medium-high. Cook skewers 3–4 minutes per side, brushing with sauce as they cook. Continue until chicken reaches 75°C (165°F).
- Serve: Plate skewers, drizzle with extra sauce, and garnish with sesame seeds or chili powder.
Notes
- Soak bamboo skewers for 30 minutes to prevent burning.
- Use chicken thighs for juicier results; chicken breast works but cooks faster.
- Always keep a separate sauce portion for drizzling to avoid contamination.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish / Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer (based on 4 servings)
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: Easy Chicken Yakitori, Japanese chicken skewers, yakitori recipe, grilled chicken skewers