Description
Juicy grilled Japanese chicken yakitori skewers glazed with a savory-sweet tare sauce. A classic Japanese dinner recipe that’s quick, easy, and packed with flavor.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cut into bite-sized cubes)
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp mirin
2 tbsp sake
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp sesame oil
2 scallions (cut into 2-inch pieces)
Bamboo skewers (soaked in water for 20 minutes)
Instructions
1. In a saucepan, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, and sesame oil. Simmer 5 minutes until slightly thickened into tare sauce.
2. Thread chicken and scallion pieces onto soaked skewers.
3. Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
4. Grill skewers, basting with tare sauce, turning often until chicken is cooked and glossy, about 8–10 minutes.
5. Serve hot with extra tare sauce on the side.
Notes
Chicken thighs are best for juicier skewers, but chicken breast works too.
Add vegetables like mushrooms, bell peppers, or zucchini for variety.
Yakitori pairs perfectly with rice, miso soup, or Japanese beer.
Prep sauce and cut chicken ahead of time for quick cooking on busy nights.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 skewers
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg