Description
Authentic Japanese Chicken Yakitori made with tender grilled chicken skewers glazed in a sweet-savory homemade yakitori sauce. Easy, flavorful, and perfect for weeknight dinners or backyard grilling.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5–6 boneless chicken breasts or 6–8 boneless chicken thighs, cut into chunks
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1/3 cup water
- 3 tablespoons mirin or red wine
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or distilled vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 6–7 wooden skewers, soaked in water
Instructions
- Soak wooden skewers in water for 10–20 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix soy sauce, water, mirin, brown sugar, and vinegar until sugar dissolves.
- Cut chicken into 1–2 inch pieces and toss with garlic, ginger, black pepper, and 1/4 cup of the sauce. Marinate for 10–30 minutes.
- Pour remaining sauce into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Mix cornstarch with a little sauce, add back in, and simmer until thickened.
- Thread chicken onto skewers.
- Grill or broil over medium-high heat for 8–12 minutes, turning and basting with sauce, until chicken reaches 165°F.
- Serve hot with extra sauce and garnish with sesame seeds or green onions if desired.
Notes
Use chicken thighs for juicier yakitori. Baste frequently for a glossy, caramelized finish and avoid over-marinating.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 skewers
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: japanese chicken yakitori, yakitori chicken skewers, grilled yakitori recipe, teriyaki style chicken skewers