Japanese BBQ Grilled Chicken Yakitori

Japanese BBQ Grilled Chicken is a simple, flavor-packed grilling recipe made with boneless chicken thighs and a quick Asian-inspired marinade. It is an easy main dish for a weeknight dinner, a weekend cookout, or any time you want grilled chicken with bold flavor and very little prep work.

The key ingredient in this recipe is Bachan’s Japanese BBQ sauce. It gives the chicken a rich, savory flavor that is different from a classic American barbecue sauce and works beautifully with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a little sriracha.

You only need a handful of ingredients, a few hours for marinating, and about 10 to 12 minutes on the grill. The result is tender, juicy Japanese BBQ grilled chicken that is delicious on its own or served with extra sauce for dipping.

How to Make Japanese BBQ Grilled Chicken

Start with two pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Chicken thighs are a great choice for grilling because they stay juicy, cook quickly, and hold up well to a flavorful marinade.

You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts if that is what you have on hand, but thighs are my favorite for this recipe. They have a little more richness and are more forgiving on the grill.

For the marinade, you will need Japanese BBQ sauce, soy sauce, sriracha, minced garlic, grated ginger, kosher salt, and pepper. If you do not have Japanese BBQ sauce, hoisin sauce can be used as a substitute.

Place the chicken thighs in a gallon-size plastic bag. Add 3 tablespoons of Japanese BBQ sauce, or use hoisin sauce if needed.

Next, add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of sriracha. The soy sauce adds depth, while the sriracha brings just enough heat without overpowering the chicken.

Add the minced garlic, grated ginger if using, kosher salt, and black pepper. Seal the bag and gently massage everything together until the chicken is evenly coated in the marinade.

Refrigerate the chicken for a few hours so the flavors have time to soak in. This step is simple, but it makes a big difference in the final flavor of the grilled chicken.

When you are ready to cook, preheat your grill to medium heat for a few minutes. A medium grill temperature helps the chicken cook through without burning the marinade.

Place the marinated chicken thighs on the grill and cook for 10 to 12 minutes total. Flip the chicken a few times while it cooks so both sides get nice grill marks and even color.

Before serving, make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is above 165 degrees. This is the safest way to know the chicken is fully cooked and ready to enjoy.

Serving Japanese BBQ Grilled Chicken

For a simple finishing touch, sprinkle the grilled chicken with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. These optional toppings add color and make the dish look fresh and inviting.

Serve this Japanese BBQ grilled chicken with extra Japanese BBQ sauce and yum yum sauce on the side for dipping. The extra sauce makes it even more flavorful and fun to eat.

This recipe is especially nice for grilling on a beautiful spring day, but it works any time you want an easy grilled chicken dinner with big flavor and minimal effort.

If You Like Japanese BBQ Grilled Chicken, You Might Also Like These Recipes

Grilled Philly Cheesesteak Enchiladas

Blackstone Potsticker Veggie Stir Fry

This griddle recipe uses the same Japanese BBQ sauce, making it another great option if you enjoy the flavor in this grilled chicken recipe.

Grilled Tequila Glazed Chicken

Grilled Korean Chicken Thighs

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