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
For Chicken Skewers
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500 g (1 lb) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
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2 spring onions (scallions), cut into 1-inch pieces
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Bamboo or metal skewers
For Yakitori Sauce (Tare)
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½ cup (120 ml) soy sauce
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¼ cup (60 ml) mirin
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¼ cup (60 ml) sake
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2 tbsp brown sugar
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1 garlic clove, minced
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1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
Optional Garnishes
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Sesame seeds
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Shichimi togarashi
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Finely sliced spring onions
Instructions
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Prepare Chicken: Wash and pat dry chicken thighs. Cut into 1–1.5 inch chunks.
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Assemble Skewers: Thread chicken and spring onions alternately onto skewers. Do not overcrowd.
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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).
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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).
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Serve: Plate skewers, drizzle with extra sauce, and garnish with sesame seeds or chili powder.
Notes
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Soak bamboo skewers for 30 minutes to prevent burning.
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Use chicken thighs for juicier results; chicken breast works but cooks faster.
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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