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Japanese Chicken Yakitori Recipe

Japanese Chicken Yakitori Recipe
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★★★★★

5.1 from 13 reviews

This authentic Japanese Chicken Yakitori recipe features tender, marinated chicken pieces grilled to perfection and glazed with a flavorful soy-based sauce. A perfect appetizer or main dish, these skewers are easy to prepare and bursting with a savory-sweet taste enhanced by garlic, ginger, and a rich teriyaki-style glaze.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 5–6 pieces boneless chicken breast or 6–8 pieces boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1–2 inch chunks

Marinade and Sauce

  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tbsp red wine or mirin
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • Ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water (cornstarch slurry for thickening)

Others

  • 6–7 wooden skewers (soaked in water for 10–20 minutes)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Skewers: Soak wooden skewers in water for 10–20 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
  2. Make Sauce: In a bowl, combine soy sauce, water, red wine or mirin, brown sugar, and rice vinegar. Stir until the sugar fully dissolves to create the marinade base.
  3. Marinate Chicken: Trim and cut chicken into bite-sized chunks. Mix with minced garlic, minced ginger, ground pepper, and some of the prepared sauce. Let it marinate for at least 10 minutes to absorb flavors.
  4. Thicken Sauce: Heat the remaining sauce in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the cornstarch slurry gradually while stirring until the sauce thickens to a glaze-like consistency.
  5. Assemble and Grill: Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the soaked skewers. Grill over medium-high heat for 8–12 minutes, turning occasionally and basting generously with the thickened sauce until chicken is cooked through and caramelized.

Notes

  • Soaking skewers prevents them from burning during cooking.
  • Use chicken thighs for juicier, more flavorful skewers; chicken breast is leaner.
  • You can substitute mirin with red wine or omit it if unavailable.
  • Ensure sauce is thickened enough to nicely coat the chicken during basting.
  • Serve with steamed rice and pickled vegetables for a complete meal.

Nutrition

Keywords: Japanese chicken yakitori, grilled chicken skewers, teriyaki chicken, easy Japanese recipes, chicken marinade, yakitori sauce

Find it online: https://www.sanacooks.com/japanese-chicken-yakitori-recipe/