What is Yakitori Sauce?

If you’ve never tried Yakitori before, it’s essentially various types of grilled chicken glazed in a sweet and smoky sauce. It’s a common street food in Japan. You can also find it at izakayas (the equivalent of a Japanese pub), paired with alcohol. There’s a reason it’s so popular- the meat is melt-in-your-mouth and so flavorful! You can bring these tasty Japanese flavors to your own kitchen with just a few simple ingredients.

Yakitori sauce has a soy sauce base and then is flavored with brown sugar, garlic, cooking rice wine, and sake! The flavor is amazing. It’s everything you could want from a glaze for grilled meats! Sweet, smoky, and savory with a hint of tang. Yakitori sauce has the perfect consistency, too! It’s thick and glossy and will get your mouth watering just looking at it. Here’s everything you need to know to whip it up at home!

What is Yakitori Sauce Made Of?

A lot of these ingredients will probably already be in your pantry, but you may need to make a trip to your local Asian market for the cooking rice wine and sake. They complete the flavor! Note: measurements for each of these ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

• Soy Sauce: Soy sauce is the perfect savory foundation for this sauce and helps to tenderize meats.
• Brown Sugar: Adds a deep, smoky sweetness.
• Mirin Rice Wine: Cooking rice wine adds just a hint of sweetness and gives Yakitori sauce the perfect glossy sheen.
• Sake: Adds a tangy, complex flavor and helps to tenderize grilled meats. You can substitute this for cooking wine or rice wine vinegar.
• Minced Garlic: No savory sauce is complete without a little garlic!
• Water: Activates the cornstarch and helps all of the ingredients mix together smoothly.
• Cornstarch: Makes your Yakitori sauce nice and thick!

How to Make Yakitori Sauce

Yakitori sauce is so easy to make! All you have to do is whisk everything together over the stove. Then it’s ready for all of your favorite grilled meats and veggies! It’s also a great sauce for chicken wings!

Try This Next Za’atar Chicken

1. Whisk Ingredients Together: In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk the soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine, sake, and garlic.
2. Thicken: In a small bowl, whisk the water and cornstarch. Add to the saucepan and whisk. Continue to cook until it starts to thicken.

Easy Variations

Here are a few simple ways you can customize your yakitori sauce!

• Gluten-Free Version: You can easily make your yakitori sauce gluten-free by swapping out regular soy sauce for a gluten-free variety.
• Flavor Additions: Customize the flavor of your yakitori sauce by adding things like lemon juice, grated ginger, honey, sesame oil, or chili powder for a hint of spice!

Storing Leftovers

The great thing about homemade yakitori sauce is that it has a really long shelf life! As long as you keep it in an airtight container in the fridge, it will last for a few months. Throw away if mold or a foul odor has developed.

More Homemade Sauces

Homemade sauces have the best flavor ever! They’re so fresh and you know exactly what goes into them. This makes it easy to customize them to your liking. I’ve rounded up a few of my many favorites. Whether you use them for dipping or to add a boost of flavor to meats and veggies, they won’t disappoint! And the best part? Most of them are ready to go in just a few minutes. You can find my full list here!

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Za’atar Chicken

Seasoned with a traditional Middle Eastern Za’atar spice blend and grilled, this Za’atar chicken is juicy and packed with unique flavors. In just 20 minutes you’ll have a flavorful and filling dinner that no one will forget!

If you have never heard of Za’atar seasoning, you are not alone! I just heard of it recently, and now I’m hooked! It’s a great savory blend of warm and earthy seasonings that will really wow your taste buds. You can also make the spice at home! If you like homemade spices, you’ll have to try this Homemade Fajita Seasoning, this better than store bought Italian Seasoning, and this Taco Seasoning too!

Grilled Za’atar Chicken

So at this point you may be wondering what is Za’atar seasoning? It is a blend of savory, nutty, and earthy spices that usually includes oregano, thyme, marjoram, and sumac. There are different blends of Za’atar seasoning based on where you are eating it. Kind of like curry the ingredients can change based on the area it’s made in. I have a link to the Za’atar seasoning blend in the recipe box below too if you want to make it, or you can pick it up from the store.

Grilled Za’atar Chicken is quickly marinated in the Za’atar seasoning and olive oil and grilled to perfection. I really think you are going to love this dish! It’s an easy 20 minute dinner that would go great with some pita bread and hummus. I also love with baba ganoush which goes great with this Za’atar seasoning. You can actually sprinkle some on top and the flavor is incredible. I think this will be a new family favorite!

Ingredients

These simple ingredients combine to make the most delicious and moist chicken. This Za’atar chicken is so unique, and amazingly flavorful! If you are looking for a great easy dinner, then this is the recipe for you! See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: If you get a breast that is really thick, then you’ll want to flatten it out a bit so that it will all cook evenly on the grill.
• Olive Oil: Olive oil is a must for this recipe. It’s a great quality oil that helps the flavors in the seasonings really pop.
• Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is just what this recipe needs to bring out all of these gorgeous flavors!
• Za’atar Seasoning: I love making this blend at home! It is really herby and nutty, and perfect on meat. I add sesame seeds, coriander, and salt to my blend and I think it’s fantastic!
• Garlic: Minced garlic is one of my favorite things to eat on chicken. It’s so full of flavor and makes every bite the perfect one!

Za’atar Chicken Recipe

This recipe is so easy! I love how quickly it comes together and it really is so delicious. I ate it with some tomatoes and pita bread and it was perfection. Some of my kids added salt and pepper, but I thought it was perfect the way it was. You can make it however you like, and I know you are going to love it!

Popular Recipe Grilled Fish with Lemon and Capers

1. Whisk: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, za’atar seasoning, and garlic.
2. Put in Bag: Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag then pour the mixture over the chicken.
3. Refrigerate: Seal the bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to overnight.
4. Grill: Grill chicken breasts on medium-high heat for 7-8 minutes per side or until internal temperature reaches 165° Fahrenheit.
5. Enjoy: Let the chicken rest before slicing and enjoying!

Tips for Grilling Chicken

Here are a few simple ways to make yourself the master of the grill! Once your friends and family get a bite of your grilled Za’atar chicken, they’ll be hooked. It’s hard not to be when they’re so juicy and flavorful.

• Use a Thermometer: This step is super important so that your chicken doesn’t dry out on the grill. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of your chicken. You can take them off the grill when the temperature inside reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you cook them any more than that, they may dry out.
• Let Rest: The key to juicy grilled Za’atar chicken is letting it rest for a minute or two after you pull it off the grill. This allows all of the tasty juices to reabsorb, giving you chicken breast that will melt in your mouth! If you cut into them too soon after grilling, those juices may be released instead of absorbing back into the meat.
• Dripping: If you have seasoning and oil dripping off of your chicken, it will make the flames touch the meat and that’s where the black burned part comes from. If you don’t want crispy crunchy parts on your chicken, make sure that your seasoning is all over your chicken, but not dripping off.

Storing Leftovers

Who doesn’t wan’t grilled Za’atar chicken for leftovers? This recipe makes enough to serve eight people, so if you need to save your leftovers here is how.

In the Refrigerator: Store your cooled chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

More Chicken Recipes

I love a simple chicken dinner! But sometimes chicken can taste boring when you are always making it the same way. Here are some recipes that will give you great ideas to keep your chicken tasting unique and juicy!

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