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
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