Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers (Chicken on a Stick)

You’re going to love this teriyaki chicken on a stick recipe!

This easy grilling recipe is perfect for a beautiful summer night when you want a protein-forward meal. The homemade teriyaki sauce is simple and extremely delicious. 

Chicken on a stick is one of my favorite appetizers from our local Chinese restaurant. The delicious teriyaki flavor gets me every time.

I love making this easy recipe at home with simple, whole ingredients.

Ingredients for Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious recipe:

• Chicken. This recipe calls for boneless skinless thighs but if you prefer chicken breast, simply swap it in. 
• Scallions. They impart a crunchy balance to the moist chicken tenders. 
• Soy sauce. For a gluten free option, choose a gluten free soy sauce or tamari.
• Brown sugar
• Fresh garlic
• Fresh ginger
• Honey
• Sesame oil
• Rice vinegar
• Cornstarch

How to Make Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick

Soak the Skewers

I like to use mini bamboo skewers that are made for appetizers and cocktails. You can also usually find basic wooden skewers at the grocery store.

Whatever you’re using, soak them in water while you’re prepping the recipe. This will help the skewers not to scorch during cooking. 

Metal skewers are also a great option that you won’t have to pre-soak.

Make the Teriyaki Sauce

​We’re making the teriyaki marinade in a saucepan on the stove.

Simply combine all of the ingredients except for the cornstarch in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Be sure to whisk the sauce constantly, as it could boil over quickly. 

Then, reduce the heat and make a cornstarch slurry by combining cornstarch with a little bit of water. Pour the slurry into the sauce. It will serve as a thickener and you’ll see the sauce get syrupy in just a few minutes.

Now, remove the sauce from the heat. 

Marinate the Chicken

You don’t need to marinate the chicken for too long. Just cut it into bite-sized pieces and toss them in the sauce.

Then, thread the chicken pieces onto the pre-soaked wood skewers. Place a scallion piece or two in random order on each stick. 

Grill the Chicken Skewers

Place the chicken skewers directly onto the grill grates. Chicken thighs should take about 8-10 minutes on each side to cook, and chicken breasts should take a little less time.

Be sure to check for an internal temperature of 165 degrees to know that the chicken is done. 

See the full instructions on the recipe card below. 

Serving Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick

1. As an appetizer, this chicken on a stick is a fun recipe to enjoy before a main meal of sesame chicken and broccoli, stir fry noodles or creamy Chinese coconut shrimp. 

2. For a complete meal, serve these chicken teriyaki skewers over a bed of sticky white rice with a side of steamed green beans, snow peas or broccoli.

3. As part of a Chinese spread, include these easy teriyaki chicken skewers with other Chinese favorites like chicken egg rolls, cream cheese rangoon and ginger soy chicken wings. 

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Alternative Cooking Methods

If you want to cook these teriyaki chicken sticks indoors, here are some good options: 

Oven-baked chicken skewers: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. Arrange the chicken sticks in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake 12 minutes, then flip and bake another 10-12 minutes. 

Air-fried chicken skewers: Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees. Place the chicken skewers in the air fryer basket and cook 8 minutes. Flip and cook an additional 8-9 minutes. 

Storage and Reheating

Store any leftover chicken skewers in an airtight container or resealable food storage bag in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for 3-5 days.

The easiest way to reheat the chicken is to slide it off the skewers and warm it in the microwave. 

When you make these teriyaki chicken skewers, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy! 

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For more chicken recipes, try these:

• Sticky BBQ Chicken Wings
• Chicken Laredo (Saltgrass Steakhouse Copycat)
• Creamy Cajun Smothered Chicken