Sweet & Savory Grilled Teriyaki Chicken

There’s something truly irresistible about the harmonious blend of sweet and savory flavors, especially when perfectly executed in a meal. As a dedicated enthusiast of this delightful culinary balance, I can confidently say that this Grilled Teriyaki Chicken recipe is an absolute standout and one of my all-time favorites. It’s a fantastic dish that transforms humble chicken tenders into a succulent, flavor-packed experience, requiring just a handful of straightforward ingredients and minimal effort. Whether you’re planning a quick weeknight dinner, preparing for a family barbecue, or seeking an efficient meal prep solution, these teriyaki chicken skewers are an undeniable winner. They are exceptionally juicy, bursting with an umami-rich teriyaki glaze, and beautifully complemented by vibrant, crisp vegetables, making them a crowd-pleaser for all ages.

Contents

Mastering the Art of Homemade Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

Crafting delicious grilled teriyaki chicken at home is simpler than you might imagine. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, from selecting the best chicken to achieving that perfect char and juicy tenderness, ensuring your skewers are a resounding success.

Selecting and Preparing the Perfect Chicken

The foundation of any great chicken dish begins with the right cut of meat. When it comes to grilled chicken, especially on skewers, the choice of chicken can significantly impact the final texture and juiciness. While chicken breast is a common choice, I wholeheartedly recommend using chicken tenders for this particular recipe. Here’s why:

Superior Juiciness: Chicken tenders are inherently more tender and less prone to drying out during the grilling process, yielding a consistently moist and flavorful result.
Faster Cooking: Their naturally smaller size ensures they cook much quicker and more evenly than thicker chicken breast pieces.
Minimal Preparation: Tenders are often already perfectly sized, requiring little more than a quick trim of any visible outer film.

To prepare your chicken tenders, first, lay them out and carefully inspect each piece for any thin, silvery membrane or fatty bits. Trim these away, as they can become tough when cooked. Once cleaned, cut the tenders into uniform 1-inch cubes. This bite-sized format is ideal for threading onto skewers and maximizes the surface area, allowing the marinade to thoroughly penetrate and infuse every piece with rich flavor.

Crafting the Irresistible Teriyaki Marinade

The secret to truly outstanding grilled teriyaki chicken lies in a well-balanced and potent marinade. This simple yet effective blend infuses the chicken with that signature sweet and savory taste while also working to tenderize the meat, ensuring every bite is moist and delicious. Our marinade features a few key ingredients that come together to create a symphony of flavors:

Teriyaki Sauce: This is, undoubtedly, the star of the show. While many excellent store-bought teriyaki sauces are available, opting for a high-quality brand or even making your own homemade teriyaki sauce (using soy sauce, mirin, sake, brown sugar, and grated ginger) can elevate the flavor profile considerably.
Fresh Minced Garlic: Garlic adds a pungent, aromatic depth that beautifully complements the teriyaki. Always choose fresh garlic and mince it finely to ensure its robust flavor is evenly distributed throughout the marinade, permeating every piece of chicken.
A Pinch of Salt: Although teriyaki sauce typically contains sodium, a small additional pinch of salt acts as a flavor enhancer, drawing out the natural deliciousness of both the chicken and the vegetables.
Olive Oil: A touch of olive oil plays a crucial role by helping to bind the marinade ingredients together, ensuring better adhesion to the chicken. It also contributes to a lovely golden-brown crust and keeps the chicken moist during grilling.

Once your chicken is cubed, combine it in a large bowl with the teriyaki sauce, minced garlic, a pinch of salt, and olive oil. Mix thoroughly, ensuring every piece of chicken is completely coated in the flavorful marinade. For optimal flavor penetration and tenderness, allow the chicken to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. If you find yourself pressed for time, you can proceed directly to grilling, but the extra marination time truly makes a noticeable difference in the depth of flavor. However, it’s important to avoid marinating for more than two hours, as the acidity in some teriyaki sauces can begin to break down the chicken’s protein structure, potentially leading to a slightly mushy texture.

Assembling Your Colorful and Delicious Skewers

One of the many delights of preparing chicken skewers is the opportunity to incorporate a variety of colorful and nutritious vegetables. These additions not only boost the visual appeal of your dish but also contribute diverse textures and flavors that enhance the overall eating experience. For this recipe, I highly recommend a combination of bell peppers and onions, but feel encouraged to experiment and get creative with your selections.

Bell Peppers: Utilize a medley of red, yellow, and green bell peppers to create a vibrant display and offer a spectrum of sweetness. Cut them into approximately 1-inch squares, ensuring they are similar in size to your chicken cubes to promote even cooking.
Onions: Purple onions are an excellent choice for grilling as they caramelize beautifully, developing a wonderfully sweet and slightly pungent note. White or yellow onions can also be used effectively.
Optional Additions: Consider broadening your vegetable selection with zucchini chunks, firm cherry tomatoes, mushroom caps, or even pineapple pieces. Pineapple, in particular, adds a delightful burst of sweetness and a tropical tang that pairs exceptionally well with the rich teriyaki glaze.

Once your chicken is marinated and your vegetables are prepped, it’s time to assemble your skewers. If you are using wooden skewers, a crucial step is to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes prior to threading. This simple trick prevents them from burning and splintering on the grill. Carefully alternate threading the chicken cubes and vegetable pieces onto the skewers. It’s important not to overcrowd the skewers; leave a little space between each piece to allow for proper heat circulation, even cooking, and beautiful caramelization. Aim for a balanced distribution, typically about 3-4 chicken pieces per skewer, interspersed with your chosen vegetables.

Perfectly Cooking Your Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

Achieving that coveted grilled flavor and tender, juicy chicken is entirely within reach, regardless of your cooking equipment. Whether you opt for an indoor grill, an outdoor barbecue, or even your oven’s broiler, each method offers a fantastic way to cook these delectable skewers to perfection.

Grilling Indoors for Convenience and Distinctive Flavor

An indoor grill is a superb appliance for replicating the appealing grill marks and subtle smoky flavors often associated with outdoor barbecues, especially beneficial when weather conditions are less than ideal. Preheat your indoor grill to a medium-high setting. Once it’s sufficiently hot, carefully place the chicken skewers on the grill, ensuring they are arranged in a single layer without overcrowding. Grill each side for approximately 4-5 minutes, turning them periodically, until the chicken is thoroughly cooked through and exhibits attractive char marks. The total cooking time will typically range from 8-10 minutes, depending on the specific thickness of your chicken pieces and the precise heat of your indoor grill.

Outdoor Grilling for an Authentic Barbecue Experience

For that quintessential summer barbecue sensation and deeply authentic flavor, an outdoor grill is simply unbeatable. Begin by preheating your gas grill to a medium-high temperature, aiming for approximately 400-450°F (200-230°C). If using a charcoal grill, prepare it for direct heat cooking. Lightly brush the grill grates with oil to prevent any sticking. Place the skewers directly over the heat, making sure to turn them every 2-3 minutes to ensure even cooking and to develop those desirable, caramelized grill marks. Be vigilant for any potential flare-ups that might occur from the marinade dripping onto the heat source; if they arise, simply move the skewers to a cooler section of the grill temporarily. Continue grilling for a total of 8-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches a safe 165°F (74°C) when checked with an instant-read meat thermometer. The accompanying vegetables should be tender-crisp with a slight, appealing char.

Broiling in the Oven: A Simple and Effective Alternative

Even if you don’t have access to a grill, your oven’s broiler can yield equally delicious results, creating a beautifully caramelized exterior on your skewers. First, adjust your oven rack to the middle position; this strategic placement prevents the chicken from burning too quickly by being too close to the heating element, or not crisping effectively by being too far away. Line a sturdy baking sheet with aluminum foil for exceptionally easy cleanup. Arrange the chicken skewers on the lined pan in a single layer, ensuring there is adequate space between each skewer to facilitate even cooking. Preheat your oven to its broil setting, allowing it to reach an optimal temperature of around 550 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 5 minutes before you introduce the chicken. Broil each side for approximately 6-8 minutes, carefully turning the skewers halfway through the cooking process. Continue until the chicken is golden brown, thoroughly cooked, and the vegetables are tender with a slight char. It is crucial to maintain a close watch on the skewers while broiling, as food can transition from perfectly cooked to burnt surprisingly quickly under such high heat.

Serving Suggestions, Meal Prep Ideas, and Flavorful Variations

This Grilled Teriyaki Chicken is not only incredibly delicious but also remarkably versatile, making it an ideal choice for a wide array of occasions and catering to various dietary preferences. It performs wonderfully as a standalone dish but truly excels when thoughtfully paired with complementary sides.

Creative Ways to Serve Your Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

For a complete, balanced, and deeply satisfying meal, consider enhancing your freshly grilled teriyaki chicken skewers with any of these delightful accompaniments:

Brown Rice or Quinoa: These nutritious whole grains offer a hearty and healthy base that beautifully absorbs the savory-sweet teriyaki juices, elevating every bite.
Steamed or Roasted Vegetables: Think vibrant sides like crisp broccoli florets, tender asparagus spears, or green beans, which provide essential nutrients and add a pleasant textural contrast.
Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles): For those actively managing their carbohydrate intake or simply seeking a lighter, fresher option, spiralized zucchini noodles are a fantastic and flavorful alternative.
A Simple Side Salad: A crisp, refreshing green salad dressed with a light vinaigrette can offer a wonderful counterpoint to the rich, umami flavors of the teriyaki chicken.
Homemade Pineapple Salsa: For a delightful tropical twist, a fresh, vibrant pineapple salsa adds an invigorating burst of sweetness and tang that perfectly complements the teriyaki glaze.

Ideal for Convenient Meal Prepping

One of the most significant advantages of this recipe is its exceptional suitability for meal prepping. You can efficiently cook a larger batch of these delicious skewers on a weekend and have an array of healthy, flavorful meals ready to enjoy throughout your busy week. Once cooked, allow the chicken and vegetables to cool completely to room temperature before transferring them into airtight containers. Store them securely in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. These skewers reheat beautifully, whether in the microwave for a quick lunch or a warm oven for dinner, making healthy eating incredibly convenient and entirely stress-free. Pair them with pre-portioned brown rice, a fresh green salad, or a side of steamed vegetables for quick, nutritious meals on the go.

Unleash Your Creativity: Customizing Your Teriyaki Experience

Feel empowered to unleash your culinary creativity and personalize this recipe to perfectly match your taste preferences and those of your family:

Spice It Up: For those who appreciate a bit of heat, consider incorporating a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of sriracha sauce directly into your marinade for a subtle yet satisfying kick.
Add Herbaceous Notes: Fresh ginger, finely grated, can introduce another layer of aromatic complexity and a bright, zesty counterpoint to the marinade’s richness.
Experiment with Different Proteins: While chicken tenders are undeniably fantastic, this versatile teriyaki marinade also works wonderfully with other proteins such as shrimp, firm tofu (for a vegetarian option), or even pork tenderloin. Remember to adjust cooking times accordingly for different protein types.
Garnish Galore: Before serving, elevate the dish with simple yet impactful garnishes. A sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds adds a delightful crunch and nutty flavor, while fresh chopped green onions provide a vibrant pop of color and a mild, oniony bite.

We truly hope you enjoy this simple yet incredibly flavorful Grilled Teriyaki Chicken recipe as much as we do! It serves as a wonderful testament to how easily you can create a restaurant-quality meal right in the comfort of your own kitchen. If you try this recipe, we would be absolutely thrilled if you would consider leaving a rating and sharing your feedback below. Your delicious culinary creations on Instagram stories are always a joy and inspiration to see – please feel free to tag us so we can repost and celebrate your successes! And remember to save this recipe to your Pinterest board for quick and easy future reference. Happy cooking!

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Honey BBQ Chicken Wings
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Grilled Steak and Potatoes

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Teriyaki Grilled Chicken

By:

Mariam Ezzeddine

An easy grilled chicken recipe that is very kid friendly and great for meal prep.

Prep Time:

15
minutes

Cook Time:

15
minutes

Total Time:

30
minutes

Servings:

8
servings

Ingredients

2 lbs. chicken tenders, cubed
1 cup teriyaki sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. garlic, minced
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 large purple onion, cubed
1 large red bell pepper, cubed
1 large yellow bell pepper, cubed
1 large green bell pepper, cubed
Sesame seeds for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Cube the chicken tenders into uniform 1-inch pieces and place them in a mixing bowl.
Add the teriyaki sauce, salt, minced garlic, and olive oil to the bowl with the chicken. Mix thoroughly to ensure all chicken pieces are coated. For the best flavor, allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
While the chicken marinates (or immediately if you’re short on time), cube the bell peppers and onion into similar 1-inch pieces, ready for skewering.
Thread the marinated chicken and cubed vegetables onto skewers, alternating between chicken and veggies. If using wooden skewers, remember to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes prior to threading to prevent them from burning.
To grill indoors: Preheat your indoor grill to medium-high heat. Grill skewers for approximately 4-5 minutes per side, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature 165°F / 74°C) and lightly charred.

To grill outdoors: Preheat your outdoor grill to medium-high (400-450°F / 200-230°C). Lightly oil the grates. Grill skewers, turning every 2-3 minutes, for a total of 8-12 minutes, or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and vegetables are tender-crisp.

To broil in the oven: Position an oven rack in the middle. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Preheat your broiler to 550°F for about 5 minutes. Place skewers on the prepared pan in a single layer. Broil for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is golden brown, cooked through, and the vegetables are tender. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
Remove the skewers from the heat and serve immediately. For an extra touch, garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds if desired.

Notes

Marinade for optimal flavor: For the most flavorful and tender chicken, marinade for at least 30 minutes. Do not exceed two hours, as the acidity in teriyaki sauce can begin to break down the chicken’s texture, making it mushy.
Preheat is key: Always preheat your grill or broiler thoroughly before adding the chicken. This ensures immediate searing, prevents sticking, and helps achieve desirable browning.
Avoid overcooking: Chicken tenders cook quickly. Overcooking can lead to dry, tough chicken. Always aim for an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for food safety and optimal texture.
Soak wooden skewers: If you are using wooden skewers, immerse them in water for at least 30 minutes before threading the ingredients. This crucial step prevents them from charring or burning on the grill.
Don’t overcrowd: When cooking, ensure your skewers are not packed too tightly on the grill grates or baking sheet. Leaving a little space allows for proper airflow and even cooking.

Nutrition

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