Tsukune with Teriyaki Glaze (Japanese Chicken Meatball Skewers)
Soft, juicy chicken meatballs on skewers, grilled and brushed with sticky teriyaki, the Japanese izakaya favourite.
Made with Teriyaki sauce. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time40 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £3.42 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put the chicken mince, egg, spring onions, ginger, breadcrumbs and a good pinch of salt in a bowl. Mix with wet hands for 1 minute until sticky and well combined.
- 2
Divide into 16 even portions. Shape each into a small oval and thread 2 onto each skewer, pressing flat so they stay put.
- 3
Heat the oven grill to high. Brush the skewers lightly with the oil and arrange on a lined baking tray.
- 4
Grill for 6 minutes, turn, and grill for 4 minutes more.
10 min - 5
Brush generously with your ready made teriyaki sauce (see the base recipe) and grill for 2 minutes. Turn, brush the other side and grill for 2 minutes until sticky and dark at the edges. Cut one open to check it is white all the way through with no pink.
4 min - 6
Serve hot with lime wedges and any remaining sauce, warmed in a pan until bubbling.
Tips
- Wet hands stop the mince sticking while you shape the meatballs.
- Thigh mince has more fat and keeps the tsukune juicy. Breast mince works but add an extra tablespoon of breadcrumbs.
- Never reuse sauce that touched raw meat. Warm a separate spoonful of sauce for dipping.
Storing and freezing
Keeps 2 days in the fridge once cooled within 1 hour. Reheat in a hot oven or pan until steaming hot all the way through. Cooked meatballs also freeze for 2 months.
Questions
Can I fry the meatballs instead?
Yes. Shape them without skewers and fry in a little oil over a medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, turning, then add the teriyaki sauce for the last 2 minutes.
How do I make them dairy free and egg free?
They are already dairy free. For egg free, replace the egg with 2 tbsp cold water and an extra tablespoon of gluten free breadcrumbs.
More made with teriyaki sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
