This easy grilled teriyaki chicken on a stick recipe is such a delicious recipe. These teriyaki chicken skewers are sweet, tangy and spicy in every single bite thanks to the homemade teriyaki sauce. This simple recipe will not disappoint and you will come back to it time and time again. If you like simple chicken recipes, try these garlic parmesan chicken skewers, Qdoba chicken recipe, 5 ingredient lemon chicken, or these chick fil a grilled chicken nuggets.
This post may contain affiliate links in which I receive a small commission.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- Flavorful and juicy: The teriyaki marinade adds a delicious sweetness and umami flavor to the chicken, while the grilling process locks in the juices and creates a slightly crispy exterior.
- Versatile: Grilled teriyaki chicken on a stick can be served as an appetizer or main course. It can be enjoyed on its own, or with a favorite dipping sauce, such as teriyaki sauce, peanut sauce, or sweet and sour sauce.
- Easy to make: This dish is surprisingly easy to make, even for novice cooks. Simply marinate the chicken in teriyaki sauce for at least 30 minutes, skewer the chicken, and grill until cooked through.
- Kid-friendly: Grilled teriyaki chicken on a stick is a popular choice for kids, as they love the bite-sized pieces and the sweet and savory flavor.
- Healthy: Grilled teriyaki chicken on a stick is a relatively healthy dish, as it is high in protein and low in fat. It can be made even healthier by using lean chicken breasts and skipping the dipping sauces.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR GRILLED TERIYAKI CHICKEN ON A STICK
- Chicken breasts – Chicken breasts are used for this recipe however for extra flavor boneless skinless chicken thighs can be used too.
Most of the simple ingredients needed are for the homemade teriyaki sauce. The teriyaki sauce is filled with tons of sweet, salty, spicy and a hint of umami flavors thanks to a combination of:
- Oyster sauce – dark brown, thick and syrupy sauce that has a sweet and salty flavor
- Soy sauce – I prefer to use low-sodium soy sauce however you can use regular soy sauce if you prefer. You can also substitute with coconut aminos
- Hoisin sauce – sweet, savory and tangy that is somewhat similar to barbecue sauce but with more umami flavors
- Chili garlic sauce – adds a bit of spice element to the teriyaki chicken kabobs
- Seasoned Rice vinegar – has additional seasonings like sugar and salt and is sold in the Asian food section of most grocery stores
Beyond the ingredients for the marinade, you will need some pantry staple spices like, black pepper, paprika, ginger, toasted sesame oil and cornstarch.
HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN TERIYAKI SKEWERS
If using wooden skewers, soak the bamboo skewers in a pan filled with water. This will prevent the wood from burning. Skip this step if using metal skewers.
Using a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients for the teriyaki sauce and set aside.
Using a sharp knife place chicken on cutting board, slice the chicken into chicken tenders.
Season chicken with your spices including the fresh ginger.
Place the chicken pieces in a resealable food storage bag and pour the marinade over it. Give the bag a good shake to evenly distribute the marinade. Set aside and let marinate for 30 minutes to overnight.
Once marinating is complete, thread the chicken onto the skewers. I usually do two chicken tenders per skewer.
While the chicken is marinading, heat your grill to medium high heat. Spray the grill with cooking spray. Place the marinated chicken onto the grill and cook for approximately 5-6 minutes per side or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees.
Once the chicken is cooked through, remove from the heat and allow to cool. Optional top with gochujang flakes, sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH COOKED CHICKEN SKEWERS
These easy teriyaki chicken skewers are great as a standalone snack or appetizer. However to make it a complete meal you could serve it with:
- A variety of rices can be served with these chicken skewers like jasmine rice, basmati rice or sticky rice
- Grilled vegetables like zucchini, red and green peppers, carrots and squash make a great addition to this fun recipe
- Asian mashed potatoes which get their flavor from roasted garlic, wasabi and sesame oil
TIPS FOR COOKING GRILLED TERIYAKI CHICKEN ON A STICK
- Saucy – If you prefer saucier chicken skewers, double the marinade and reserver half for basting the chicken in the final 2 minutes of the grilling process
- Citrus – If you prefer teriyaki sauce that has a slight citrus note add some citrus to the marinade like orange juice or pineapple juice to balance the flavors
- Sweet – Want a sweeter teriyaki sauce vs. spicier adding a tablespoon of brown sugar, coconut sugar or date sugar to the marinade will do the trick
FAQ’s
You can use a grill pan or griddle pan instead to cook these chicken skewers. Heat the griddle pan to medium high heat, spray with a high cooking oil like avocado oil and cook the chicken as noted above.
Leftover teriyaki chicken skewers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat skewers in a skillet over medium heat or on the grill.
Yes, you can freeze teriyaki chicken skewers. To do so, place skewers in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer skewers to a freezer-safe bag or container. Frozen teriyaki chicken skewers can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. To reheat, thaw skewers in the refrigerator overnight and then grill or bake until cooked through.
Of course! It cuts down on some of the prep work and reduces the ingredient list. A few store bought teriyaki marinades I like are Kikkoman teriyaki sauces or Annie Chun’s teriyaki sauce.
This simple recipe is truly a family favorite and I make it almost monthly. With so many amazing flavors it is sure to become one of your favorites as well. If you like this recipe please feel free to leave a comment and star rating down below.
Let’s stay in touch! Feel free to follow me on my social media as I share more healthy recipes, fitness workouts and motherhood. Give a follow at: Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest!
Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick
Equipment
- 1 Grill or Grill pan
- 1 Wooden or Metal skewers
Ingredients
Marinade
- 1 lb Chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp Oyster sauce
- 1 tsp Chili garlic sauce
- 1/4 tsp Rice wine vinegar
- 1 tsp Corn starch slurry
Spices
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- 1 tsp Ginger grated
- 1/4 tsp Sesame oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- If using wooden skewers, soak the bamboo skewers in a pan filled with water. This will prevent the wood from burning. Skip this step if using metal skewers.
- Using a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients for the teriyaki sauce and set aside. Using a sharp knife place chicken on cutting board, slice the chicken into chicken tenders. Place the chicken pieces in a resealable food storage bag and pour the marinade over it. Give the bag a good shake to evenly distribute the marinade. Set aside and let marinate for 30 minutes to overnight. Once marinating is complete, thread the chicken onto the skewers.
- While the chicken is marinading, heat your grill to medium high heat. Spray the grill with cooking spray. Place the marinated chicken onto the grill and cook for approximately 5-6 minutes per side or until the internal temperature is 160 degrees.
- Once the chicken is cooked through, remove from the heat and allow to cool. Optional top with gochujang flakes, sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Leave a Reply