Name: Japanese Chicken Yakitori Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 5–6 pieces boneless chicken breast or 6–8 pieces boneless chicken thighs; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced; Ground black pepper to taste; 6–7 wooden skewers (soaked in water for 10–20 minutes); 1/3 cup soy sauce; 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp brown sugar; 1/3 cup water; 2 tbsp red apple vinegar or mirin

Description

Japanese Chicken Yakitori is a flavorful and tender grilled chicken skewer recipe that features a savory-sweet marinade made with soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. Perfect for casual gatherings or a quick meal, these skewers are grilled to juicy perfection and basted with a thickened sauce for an authentic taste of Japanese street food.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

5–6 pieces boneless chicken breast or 6–8 pieces boneless chicken thighs
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
Ground black pepper to taste
6–7 wooden skewers (soaked in water for 10–20 minutes)

Marinade and Sauce

1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp brown sugar
1/3 cup water
2 tbsp red apple vinegar or mirin

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Instructions

Prepare Skewers: Soak the wooden skewers in water for 10–20 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
Make Marinade: In a mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, water, red apple vinegar (or mirin), and brown sugar. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved to create the marinade base.
Marinate Chicken: Cut the chicken into 1–2 inch chunks. Add the minced garlic, minced ginger, ground black pepper, and a portion of the marinade mixture. Mix well and let the chicken marinate for at least 10 minutes to absorb the flavors.
Thicken Sauce: Pour the remaining marinade into a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until it thickens into a glaze-like consistency suitable for basting.
Skewer and Grill: Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the soaked skewers. Grill the skewers over medium-high heat for 8–12 minutes, turning occasionally. Baste frequently with the thickened sauce to build flavor and keep the chicken moist.

Notes

Soaking wooden skewers prevents them from burning on the grill.
Marinate the chicken for longer than 10 minutes if possible, ideally 30 minutes, for deeper flavor.
Adjust sweetness by varying the amount of brown sugar in the marinade.
If you don’t have a grill, you can cook the skewers under a broiler or in a grill pan on the stovetop.
Use chicken thighs for juicier, more flavorful yakitori compared to chicken breast.