Japanese Chicken Yakitori Skewers (Printable)

Tender chicken skewers with savory-sweet glaze, grilled until glossy and caramelized

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken and Vegetables

01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 2 spring onions, cut into 1-inch pieces
03 - 12 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes

→ Yakitori Sauce (Tare)

04 - 1/3 cup soy sauce
05 - 1/4 cup mirin
06 - 1/4 cup sake
07 - 2 tbsp sugar
08 - 1 garlic clove, crushed
09 - 1 small piece (2 cm) fresh ginger, sliced

# Directions:

01 - Combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, garlic, and ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer for 8–10 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens. Remove from heat and discard the garlic and ginger pieces.
02 - Thread chicken cubes and spring onion pieces alternately onto the pre-soaked bamboo skewers, ensuring even distribution for consistent cooking.
03 - Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
04 - Place skewers on the grill and cook for 3 minutes on each side, brushing with yakitori sauce after each turn. Continue grilling and basting for an additional 6–8 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and develops a glossy, caramelized coating.
05 - Transfer skewers to a serving plate and drizzle with extra tare sauce if desired. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The homemade tare sauce puts bottled versions to shame and keeps for weeks in the fridge
  • Chicken thighs stay impossibly juicy even over high heat, unlike breast meat which dries out
02 -
  • The sauce needs to cool slightly before brushing on the skewers or it will slide right off instead of sticking
  • Pat the chicken pieces dry before skewering to help them develop better grill marks and prevent steaming
03 -
  • Make a double batch of the tare sauce and keep it in the refrigerator for up to a month
  • If you cannot find mirin, substitute with a mixture of half sake and half sugar, though the flavor will not be quite the same

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