Teriyaki Chicken Skewers Recipe
Posted October 5, 2023 by: Admin
Satisfying your taste buds with the perfect blend of saltiness and sweetness, these teriyaki chicken skewers are expertly grilled, making them an excellent addition to your upcoming BBQ. Pair them with rice and vegetables to create a well-rounded and wholesome meal.
If you’re searching for an exciting way to prepare chicken, don’t miss out on trying these grilled teriyaki chicken skewers. Not only are they bursting with flavor, but they’re also crafted using pantry staples and are incredibly straightforward to make. In just a few simple steps, you can whip up a flavorful meal that’s guaranteed to impress your guests.
What Makes These Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers Exceptional
- Flavor – Achieves the ideal balance of salty and sweet notes.
- Easy – Utilizes common kitchen ingredients, making it a breeze to prepare.
- Versatile – Can be savored as either a main course or appetizer.
- Meal Prep – Keeps well in the fridge, making it a great meal prep option.
Essential Ingredients for Homemade Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
Here’s the list of ingredients you’ll need to prepare these delectable teriyaki chicken skewers:
- Chicken – Opt for boneless chicken breasts, boneless skinless chicken thighs, or a combination of both.
- Soy Sauce – The foundation of the teriyaki marinade. Regular or low-sodium soy sauce can be used.
- Brown Sugar – Adds sweetness to the sauce and ensures a crispy chicken crust.
- Honey – Provides an extra touch of sweetness to the sauce.
- Ginger – Imparts flavor to the marinade, whether using fresh ginger or ginger powder.
- Garlic – Enhances the marinade’s flavor, whether with fresh garlic or garlic powder.
- Rice Vinegar – Balances the acidity in the marinade; white wine vinegar is an alternative option.
- Sesame Oil – Elevates the overall flavor profile.
- Cornstarch – Thickens the marinade.
For an enhanced dining experience, consider serving these grilled teriyaki chicken skewers with white rice, broccoli, and a sprinkle of sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Dietary Variations
To Make them Gluten-Free: Replace soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.
To Make them Dairy-Free: No adaptations are required; this recipe is already dairy-free.
How to Prepare Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
Here’s a step-by-step guide on creating these mouthwatering teriyaki chicken skewers:
- Cube the chicken – Begin by slicing the chicken into 1-inch cubes on a cutting board.
- Prepare the marinade – In a large bowl, combine soy sauce, sugar, honey, ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Whisk to blend.
- Marinate the chicken – Add the chicken to the marinade bowl, cover it, and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
- Skewer the chicken – After marinating, thread the cubed chicken onto skewers until all the chicken is used up.
- Grill the skewers – Place the skewers on a lightly oiled grill over medium heat. Grill until the meat is tender, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Serve – Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onion, and enjoy!
For detailed instructions, refer to the recipe card below.
Nutrition Insight
If you’re concerned about the sugar content in these grilled teriyaki chicken skewers, fret not. The quarter-cup combination of sugar and honey is divided among the eight servings of chicken skewers, yielding less than 6 grams of sugar per serving – assuming none remains in the bowl. Additionally, a modest amount of refined sugar can be part of a wholesome and balanced diet.
Kitchen Tips
Here are some helpful tips to ensure you prepare the finest grilled teriyaki chicken skewers:
- Uniform chicken pieces – Cutting the chicken into even pieces facilitates easy skewering and even grilling.
- Marination duration – For maximum flavor, marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, but overnight marination results in even better taste.
- Soak the skewers – When using wooden or bamboo skewers, soak them in cold water for at least 30 minutes before threading the chicken. This prevents them from catching fire on the grill and ensures the meat stays secure.
- Appropriate grill heat – Ensure your grill is adequately hot; ideally, it should be at 350°F to 400°F before placing the teriyaki chicken skewers on it. This prevents sticking and ensures easy removal.
- Turning the skewers – Only flip the skewers once; they’re ready to be turned when they come off the grill easily. If they stick, give them another minute or so before attempting again.
Ideal Accompaniments for Teriyaki Grilled Chicken Skewers
These teriyaki chicken skewers pair beautifully with steamed rice and a variety of vegetables such as steamed broccoli, grilled zucchini, stir-fried veggies, or as a delightful topping for salads or coleslaw. They can also be served as appetizers – just create smaller skewers and offer additional teriyaki dipping sauce.
Storage and Reheating
For Refrigeration: Allow the teriyaki chicken skewers to cool completely and then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
For Freezing: Once cooled, wrap each chicken skewer in a suitable sheet of tin foil and seal tightly. Place the wrapped skewers in a freezer-safe bag or container and store in the freezer for up to 4 months.
For Reheating: After thawing, you can reheat the teriyaki chicken kabobs in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes or in the microwave (skewer removed) for 1-2 minutes.
Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
This grilled teriyaki chicken skewers recipe is bound to become a new favorite! Simple to prepare and bursting with flavor, these chicken skewers are an ideal addition to your next BBQ.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts or chicken thighs, cubed
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1-inch ginger root, peeled, grated or minced
- 2 cloves garlic, grated or minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Wooden skewers, or metal skewers
Instructions
- In a large bowl or container, add the soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cornstarch, and whisk to combine. Add the cubed chicken to the bowl, toss to coat it in the marinade, and cover, refrigerate, and marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
- Once the chicken has marinated, thread it onto skewers. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 10-30 minutes before adding the chicken to ensure they do not burn.
- Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat, add the chicken skewers to the grill, and cook for 5-7 minutes per side, turning once, until the chicken is cooked through, or a thermometer reads 165°F.
- Optional: If there is any leftover marinade in your bowl, you can turn it into a quick teriyaki sauce while the chicken skewers are cooking. Simply pour any excess marinade into a small pan or saucepan, add a tablespoon of water, and bring it to a boil, stirring it frequently until the sauce has thickened and reached a temperature of 165°F. If the sauce gets too thick, simply thin it with additional tablespoons of water and continue stirring and cooking until desired texture is reached.
- Once cooked, remove the skewers from the grill and serve immediately. Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.