Yakitori (Grilled Chicken Skewers)

Updated May 26, 2022

Yakitori (Grilled Chicken Skewers)
Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
Total Time
15 minutes
Rating
5(1,599)
Comments
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Yakitori is Japanese skewered and grilled chicken that can use approximately 30 different chicken parts, from momo, or chicken thigh, to nankotsu, or chicken cartilage. This recipe calls for marinating chicken thighs, gizzards and livers in a savory-sweet sauce of ginger, sake, mirin, soy sauce, garlic and a touch of brown sugar, grilling or broiling, then scattering with chopped scallions. Serve it alongside something fresh and green, like a cucumber salad, and a pile of rice.

Featured in: Beak-to-Tail Chicken Yakitori

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Ingredients

Yield:6 appetizer servings
  • 1pound chicken livers, gizzards or boneless thigh meat
  • ½cup dark soy sauce or tamari
  • ¼cup mirin
  • 2tablespoons sake or dry sherry
  • 1tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
  • ½teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • Scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

136 calories; 4 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 2 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 4 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 18 grams protein; 1227 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cut chicken into one-inch pieces and place in a shallow dish.

  2. Step 2

    In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce or tamari, mirin, sake or sherry, brown sugar, garlic and ginger. Bring to a simmer and cook for 7 minutes, until thickened. Reserve 2 tablespoons sauce for serving. Pour remaining sauce over chicken, cover, and chill for at least one hour (and up to 4 hours).

  3. Step 3

    If using wooden or bamboo skewers, soak them in water for one hour. Preheat grill or broiler. Thread chicken pieces onto skewers, and grill or broil, turning halfway, for about 3 minutes for livers, 10 minutes for gizzards and 6 minutes for thighs. Serve drizzled with reserved sauce and garnished with scallions.

Ratings

5 out of 5
1,599 user ratings
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Comments

To make a one-dish, veggie-full meal without the fuss of grilling, simmer chunks of boneless chicken breast or boneless thighs in the mixture described in the recipe. Remove the chicken and keep warm. Add a cup of chicken broth to the pan and simmer chopped bak choy, plus more ginger and garlic, until crisp-tender. Serve over rice. Add sliced jalapenos if you like more heat.

This is a favorite. I use less mirin, more ginger and add a touch of rice wine vinegar for added sharpness. I've also tried it with a touch of dark sesame oil and sprinkled sesame seeds and cilantro on top. Probably not authentic "Yakitori", but delicious nonetheless .

How can this possibly be prepared in 15 minutes? An hour to marinate, several minutes to thread meat onto skewers, plus 13 minutes of actual cook time for thighs--let's be honest.

Do you pour the hot sauce over the chicken or does it have to cool?

I thought the sauce was tasty, but too salty for my taste.

This is soo yummy! But I've said it before, and I'll say it again - stop hiding marinating times inside the recipe!! I was halfway in before I realized I'd need an hour to marinate. Ugh!

@Sara I agree, but I learned the hard way to always read a recipe before cooking to avoid those ‘surprises.’

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