Japanese Street Yakitori Chicken Skewers with Sauce

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

Tender chicken thigh pieces grilled on skewers and glazed with a sweet-savory yakitori sauce for an iconic Japanese street food snack. This japanese-inspired street food ready in about 52 minutes pairs soy sauce, mirin, sake for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 3, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart.

★ 4.6 (12 ratings) Prep: 40 min Cook: 12 min Serves 3 Japanese cuisine 320 cal/serving
Plan a meal with the AI →

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Soak 6 bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning. Thread 12 oz boneless skinless chicken thigh pieces and 2 stalks cut green onions alternately onto each skewer.
  2. Step 2: In a small saucepan, combine 3 tbsp soy sauce, 3 tbsp mirin, 2 tbsp sake, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 minced garlic clove, and 1 tsp grated fresh ginger. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
  3. Step 3: Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat (about 400°F). Brush 1 tbsp vegetable oil on skewers and grill for 3 minutes per side, brushing generously with yakitori sauce during the last 3 minutes, until chicken is glazed and cooked through with slight char.
  4. Step 4: Remove skewers and serve hot, optionally garnished with additional sauce or chopped green onions for a traditional Japanese street food experience.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Japanese Street Yakitori Chicken Skewers with Sauce take to make?

Total time is about 52 minutes (40 min prep + 12 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Japanese Street Yakitori Chicken Skewers with Sauce?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep soy sauce from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Japanese Street Yakitori Chicken Skewers with Sauce?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Japanese Street Yakitori Chicken Skewers with Sauce for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 3 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 3). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Japanese Street Yakitori Chicken Skewers with Sauce?

Japanese street food like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

What others are saying

Related recipes