Japanese Grilled Chicken
Juicy, smoky, and richly flavorful, Japanese Grilled Chicken (Yakitori-inspired) is a must-try dish that captures the essence of Japanese street food. This recipe features tender, bite-sized pieces of boneless chicken thighs marinated in a savory-sweet tare sauce made with soy sauce, mirin, sake, and aromatic ginger and garlic. Grilled to perfection on bamboo skewers, each piece is basted with the thickened tare for a glossy caramelized finish. Ready in just under an hour, including prep, this versatile dish can be enjoyed as an appetizer, snack, or main course. Pair it with steamed rice and pickled vegetables for a deliciously authentic Japanese meal. Perfect for grilling enthusiasts and Japanese cuisine lovers alike, this recipe is easy to follow and delivers restaurant-quality results at home.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 500 grams boneless chicken thighs
- 60 ml soy sauce
- 60 ml mirin
- 30 ml sake
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon ginger (minced)
- 2 spring onions/scallions (optional, for garnish)
- 8 bamboo skewers
Instructions
Soak the bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
Cut the boneless chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces, approximately 2.5 cm (1 inch) in size.
In a saucepan, combine the soy sauce, mirin, sake, brown sugar, minced garlic, and minced ginger to make the tare sauce. Heat over medium heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and reduce for 8-10 minutes until it thickens slightly. Remove from heat and let cool.
Thread the chicken pieces onto the soaked skewers, leaving some space between each piece for even cooking.
Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates if necessary to prevent sticking.
Place the chicken skewers on the grill and cook for 3-4 minutes on one side. Then flip the skewers and brush the chicken with the tare sauce.
Continue grilling while flipping and basting the chicken with the sauce every 1-2 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and slightly caramelized, approximately 10-12 minutes total.
Remove the skewers from the grill and brush with a final coat of sauce. Garnish with finely chopped spring onions before serving, if desired.
Serve hot as an appetizer, snack, or main dish alongside steamed rice and pickled vegetables for a complete meal.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1161 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 50.3 g | 64% | |
| Saturated Fat | 13.4 g | 67% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 433 mg | 144% | |
| Sodium | 2686 mg | 117% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 59.4 g | 22% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.4 g | 5% | |
| Total Sugars | 51.1 g | ||
| Protein | 107.0 g | 214% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 123 mg | 9% | |
| Iron | 6.6 mg | 37% | |
| Potassium | 1382 mg | 29% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
