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The Best Easy Japanese Chicken Yakitori Recipe

4.6 from 74 reviews

A simple and authentic Japanese Chicken Yakitori recipe featuring tender chicken thighs grilled to perfection and glazed with a sweet-savory homemade tare sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken:

  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into chunks
  • 6 bamboo skewers (soaked in water for 30 minutes)

For the Yakitori Sauce (Tare):

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
  • 2 tablespoons sake (Japanese rice wine)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 garlic clove, minced (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Skewers: Start by soaking the bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
  2. Make the Yakitori Sauce (Tare): Combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, garlic, and ginger (if using) in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer gently for 5-6 minutes until slightly thickened, then remove from heat and cool.
  3. Thread the Chicken: Thread the chicken thigh pieces onto the soaked skewers, leaving space between pieces for even cooking.
  4. Preheat the Grill or Pan: Heat your grill or grill pan over medium-high heat and lightly oil the surface to prevent sticking.
  5. Cook the Chicken: Place the skewers on the grill, cooking undisturbed for 3-4 minutes on one side to develop a good char.
  6. Baste and Flip: Brush the chicken generously with the yakitori sauce, carefully flip the skewers, and baste the other side. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until fully cooked and glazed.
  7. Additional Glazing: For a richer glaze, baste and flip the skewers a few more times while monitoring closely to prevent burning.
  8. Serve: Remove skewers from the grill and serve immediately, ideally with steamed white rice. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds or finely sliced green onions for extra flavor.

Notes

  • Soaking bamboo skewers prevents them from burning on the grill.
  • Adjust sugar quantity in the sauce to your preferred sweetness level.
  • Optional garlic and ginger add more depth to the tare sauce.
  • If you don’t have sake, you can substitute with dry white wine or water.
  • Ensure chicken is cooked through with no pink in the center before serving.
  • Serve with steamed rice and a side of pickled vegetables for a complete meal.

Keywords: Japanese chicken yakitori, grilled chicken skewers, yakitori tare sauce, easy Japanese recipes, grilled chicken thighs