🍢 Grilled Chicken Yakitori Recipe

A Japanese classic, Chicken Yakitori features bite-sized chicken skewers grilled to smoky perfection and glazed with a sweet and savory tare sauce. Perfect as an appetizer or served with rice for a full meal.

🕒 Prep & Cook Time

• Prep Time: 20 minutes

• Cook Time: 12–15 minutes

• Marinate Time (optional): 30 minutes

• Total Time: 45 minutes – 1 hour

• Servings: 4

🛒 Ingredients

For the Chicken Yakitori:

• 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breast), cut into 1½-inch pieces

• 4–6 green onions (scallions), cut into 1-inch pieces

• Bamboo skewers (soaked in water for 30 minutes) or metal skewers

For the Yakitori Sauce (Tare):

• ½ cup soy sauce

• ¼ cup mirin (sweet rice wine)

• ¼ cup sake (or substitute white wine)

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated

🔥 Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Yakitori Sauce (Tare)

1. In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger.

2. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer.

3. Simmer for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce is reduced and slightly thickened.

4. Remove from heat and let cool. Reserve some sauce for glazing during grilling.

Step 2: Assemble the Skewers

1. Thread chicken and scallion pieces alternately onto skewers.

2. Try to keep pieces similar in size for even cooking.

3. (Optional) Marinate skewers in some of the cooled tare sauce for 30 minutes for deeper flavor.

Step 3: Preheat the Grill

1. Heat grill to medium-high (about 400°F).

2. Lightly oil the grates or use a grill pan.

Step 4: Grill the Yakitori

1. Grill skewers for 5–7 minutes, turning frequently for even cooking.

2. Brush with reserved tare sauce during the last few minutes to glaze and caramelize.

3. Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and has nice charred edges.

Step 5: Serve

1. Remove skewers from the grill and let rest for a couple of minutes.

2. Serve hot with a drizzle of remaining sauce or alongside steamed rice and pickled vegetables.

✅ Tips & Variations

• Don’t skip the scallions: They add a delicious smoky sweetness and contrast to the chicken.

• Add vegetables: Try skewering mushrooms, bell peppers, or baby corn for a twist.

• Use thighs for best flavor: Chicken thighs are juicier and more forgiving on the grill.

• No sake? Use chicken broth with a splash of rice vinegar as a substitute.