In this simple recipe, we’ve suggested using chicken thighs for your cut of meat. With a higher fat content than other popular cuts, such as breast meat, thighs are more flavorful and less susceptible to drying out when cooked. If, however, you prefer the taste of chicken breast you can use this cut in the recipe above or find your favorite chicken cut in our helpful article outlining the different types.
The trick to creating the best chicken teriyaki is to ensure you marinate it well, and you can find all the tips you need in our ultimate guide to marinating chicken. Make sure the meat is fully coated in the marinade, before transferring to the fridge. To lock in even more flavor, you can marinate the chicken in a sealed plastic bag, instead of a mixing bowl, if preferred. Lastly, set the chicken aside for at least 30 minutes to marinate. The longer you can leave it, the deeper the flavor of the dish will be. Ideally, if you can let it sit in the fridge for around two hours, you’ll get optimal results.
Marinade Options and Flavor Variations
Teriyaki sauce is a famous Japanese sauce that's worth building into your kitchen repertoire to add to your favorite Asian-inspired dishes, and there are plenty of ways to vary the flavor. To add heat to the sauce, you can introduce a dash of sriracha or hot sauce, for a kick in the dish. Or sprinkle red chili pepper flakes on the chicken before serving, alongside the sesame seeds. For added sweetness, a teaspoon of freshly squeezed orange juice brings bright citrus notes to the final sauce.
Grilling and Serving Tips
Grilling chicken adds a delicious smoky flavor and charred notes to the skewers. Check the grill is fully up to temperature prior to adding the skewers, and a light greasing of oil helps to avoid the chicken from sticking to the grill. If it’s outside of grilling season, or you don’t have access to a grill, you can bake the teriyaki chicken skewers in the oven, but you won’t have that tasty charred flavor in the end dish.
For serving, chicken teriyaki skewers are perfect on top of a bed of fluffy white rice, for a hearty midweek meal. Or enjoy the skewers as part of a backyard grill, paired with classic coleslaw dishes and creamy potato salads.
