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Two skewers of glistening Easy Japanese Chicken Yakitori, sprinkled with sesame seeds and chives, with a lemon wedge and more chives in the background.

Easy Japanese Chicken Yakitori Skewers for Family Dinners

Make these easy Japanese chicken yakitori skewers for a fun and delicious family dinner. They are simple to prepare and perfect for introducing new flavors to your kids.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Marinating Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Japanese
Calories: 304
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Marinade
  • 1/3 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup mirin sweet Japanese rice wine
  • 1/3 cup tamari or coconut aminos for paleo diet
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
For the Chicken
  • 8 medium chicken thighs boneless, skinless
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil for the grill
For the Sesame Lemon Sprinkle
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon chives snipped
  • 1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest finely grated

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Resealable plastic bag
  • Gas grill
  • Barbecue brush
  • Skewers
  • Instant-read thermometer

Method
 

  1. Combine coconut sugar, mirin, tamari, and vinegar in a small saucepan.
  2. Before heating, transfer 1/4 cup of the mixture to a resealable plastic bag or marinating container.
  3. Slice chicken thighs lengthwise, add to the bag, and massage to coat. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours or more.
  4. Simmer the remaining marinade over low heat until reduced by half. It will have the consistency of syrup. Remove from heat.
  5. Heat one side of a gas grill to medium-high and the other to low. Clean the grates with a barbecue brush then oil them. Thread chicken on to 4 skewers, accordion style.
  6. Grill over direct heat until nicely browned, 3-5 minutes. Remove to the cooler side of the grill and continue to cook, basting and turning every minute or so until cooked through, about 7-10 minutes. Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is at least 165°F.
  7. Remove to a serving platter, top with sesame-lemon sprinkle, and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 19gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 110mgSodium: 719mgPotassium: 267mgSugar: 6gVitamin A: 180IUVitamin C: 0.6mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 1.4mg

Notes

You can make the marinade ahead if you wish. Cool and chill, then bring to room temperature before using. See the recipe post for freezing instructions.

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