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.

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:30 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 4

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

Directions

Step 1

Soak the bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.

Step 2

Cut the boneless chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces, approximately 2.5 cm (1 inch) in size.

Step 3

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.

Step 4

Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and reduce for 8-10 minutes until it thickens slightly. Remove from heat and let cool.

Step 5

Thread the chicken pieces onto the soaked skewers, leaving some space between each piece for even cooking.

Step 6

Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates if necessary to prevent sticking.

Step 7

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.

Step 8

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.

Step 9

Remove the skewers from the grill and brush with a final coat of sauce. Garnish with finely chopped spring onions before serving, if desired.

Step 10

Serve hot as an appetizer, snack, or main dish alongside steamed rice and pickled vegetables for a complete meal.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	791.9 grams (791.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1161

Total Fat 50.30g	64%
Saturated Fat 13.40g	67%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.10g
Cholesterol 433mg	144%
Sodium 2686mg	117%
Total Carbohydrate 59.40g	22%
Dietary Fiber 1.40g	5%
Total Sugars 51.10g
Protein 107.00g	214%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 123mg	9%
Iron 7mg	37%
Potassium 1382mg	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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 40.5%

Protein: 38.3%

Carbs: 21.2%