Description
This authentic Japanese chicken yakitori recipe brings the essence of Japanese street food to your kitchen. With perfectly grilled skewers of chicken and scallions basted in a sweet-savory tare sauce, this dish delivers restaurant-quality flavor in under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5–6 boneless chicken breasts or 6-8 boneless chicken thighs (approx. 2 lbs)
- 6–7 wooden skewers (soaked 10–20 minutes)
- 1/3 cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp red wine or mirin
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water
- Ground black pepper to taste
- Optional: Togarashi, sesame seeds, chopped green onions
Instructions
- Soak wooden skewers for 10-20 minutes to prevent burning.
- Whisk soy sauce, water, red wine (or mirin), brown sugar, and rice vinegar until dissolved.
- Trim chicken and cut into 1-2 inch chunks. Marinate with garlic, ginger, pepper, and 2-3 tbsp sauce for 10 minutes.
- Simmer remaining sauce. Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook until glossy and thickened.
- Thread chicken onto skewers with small gaps for even cooking.
- Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high. Grill skewers 8-12 minutes, turning every 2-3 minutes. Baste with sauce during final 4 minutes.
- Ensure chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) internal temperature with caramelized edges.
Notes
For juicier yakitori, use chicken thighs. Substitute mirin with rice vinegar + sugar if needed. Add vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms for extra variety.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer (100g)
- Calories: 239
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 870mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: yakitori, japanese grilled chicken, chicken skewers, authentic yakitori recipe