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Yakitori chicken skewers are juicy and perfectly charred, topped with a sweet and smoky glaze. Inspired by Japanese street food, they’ll be the best thing you grill this summer!
Skewers are one of my favorite things to make because they’re so easy and the whole family loves them! Teriyaki beef skewers, Thai chicken skewers, and grilled Asian garlic steak skewers are more tasty recipes to keep the family satisfied all summer long.
What is Chicken Yakitori?
Yakitori is a Japanese street food, yaki meaning ’grilled’ and tori meaning ”bird.” These juicy chicken skewers are tender, saucy, and perfect for enjoying on the go! Today’s recipe is inspired by those delicious street food flavors that you can easily recreate at home! Yakitori chicken is coated in a tasty homemade sauce, made with ingredients like soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and rice wine for a flavor that is everything from sweet to savory to tangy!
Not only are these chicken skewers insanely good, but they only take a few minutes to grill up! 4-6 minutes on each side is just enough time for all of the delicious flavors of the yakitori sauce to sear into the chicken pieces. It’s a quick and easy dish you can serve as both a snack and a meal. Pair your yakitori with white rice for a simple dinner the whole family will love! My kids can’t get enough and always ask for seconds. I’m sure your family will love it too!
What You’ll Need
Yakitori chicken uses a lot of simple ingredients, but you will need to make the sauce from scratch for the best flavor possible. Find the full recipe for yakitori sauce here! Measurements for all of the other ingredients can be found in the recipe card below.
- Yakitori Sauce: The sauce for chicken yakitori is similar to teriyaki, but adds in sake and mirin rice wine for tangier flavor.
- Chicken Thighs: I used chicken thighs here because they’re so juicy and tender! You can also swap these out for chicken breasts or gizzards. No matter what you use, just make sure it’s cut into 1-inch pieces so they cook evenly on the grill.
- Skewers: Metal or bamboo skewers both work.
- Green Onions: Add for garnish! Green onions add a hint of savory flavor that complements these skewers perfectly.
How to Make Yakitori Chicken
These skewers are so simple to make! It’s the perfect quick and easy meal for busy summer weekdays. Find more easy and delicious grilling recipes here!
- Make Sauce, Toss With Chicken: Prepare yakitori sauce. Add the pieces of chicken to a medium-sized bowl. Add half of the sauce and toss chicken to coat.
- Prep Skewers: Thread each skewer with chicken.
- Grill: Turn the grill to medium high. Add the skewers onto the grill. Cook the skewers for 4-6 minutes. Then flip and baste with sauce. Continue to cook until the chicken is cooked throughout and no longer pink.
- Baste: Baste with sauce. Remove from the grill and serve over white rice and garnish with green onions if desired.
Tips for Grilling Chicken
Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind as you grill so that your skewers turn out perfectly soft and tender!
- Soak Skewers: If you’re using wooden skewers, soak them in water before threading with chicken and adding them to the grill. This will prevent them from catching fire.
- Cook Low and Slow: I like to cook my skewers on medium to medium-high heat. If your grill is too hot, this may cook your yakitori unevenly or burn it.
- Check Temperature: Using a thermometer is a quick and easy way to check if your grilled chicken is done. You’ll know it’s done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. This is also a great way to know when to take it off the grill so it doesn’t overcook. If your internal temperatures are anything over 165 degrees, your chicken may turn out dry.
- Let Rest: I always like to let my chicken rest for a few minutes after I pull it off the grill. This way, it absorbs all of those tasty juices necessary for the most tender texture possible!
Storing Leftover Yakitori
Your yakitori chicken is best served fresh, but you can store it for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. When reheating, make sure internal temperatures reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit before consuming.
More Amazing Skewer Recipes
Skewers make dinnertime easy! Plus, they’re delicious. You have tasty grilled vegetables and tender meat all in one place! These are a few more recipes to try this grilling season. They work as both an appetizer and a meal! Your friends and family are going to love them. They’re just too good to resist.
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Yakitori Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 recipe for yakitori sauce
- 2 pounds boneless chicken thighs cut into 1 inch pieces
- 4-6 metal or bamboo skewers
- green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare yakitori sauce. Add the chicken in a medium sized bowl. Add half of the sauce and toss chicken to coat.
- Thread each skewer with chicken.
- Turn the grill to medium high. Add the skewers onto the grill. Cook the skewers for 4-6 minutes. Then flip and baste with sauce. Continue to cook until the chicken is cooked throughout and no longer pink.
- Baste with sauce. Remove from the grill and serve over white rice and garnish with green onions if desired.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Super delicious. My 2 year old and 6 year old eat this up. I always wait to baste until closer to the end of the cook. Using a pellet grill.
Do not coat the chicken prior to cooking this! Tried this and it turned into burnt sugar before the chicken was ever done even with basting, ended up having to throw it all out cause it just tasted burnt.
This sounds so good! We don’t have a grill – How can I make these?
They are so delicious! Try making these in the oven. Bake on a baking sheet that has been lined with foil and sprayed. Make sure there is plenty of room between skewers so they do not steam. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165. For a charred finish broil for 1 minute on each side. Let me know how they turn out! 🙂