Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs)

Dressed with a sweet and salty glaze, this yakitori favorite is the ideal pairing with cold beer.

Serves
serves 4 to 6
Time
1 hour

MATT TAYLOR-GROSS

Updated on January 11, 2023

These full-flavored Japanese chicken meatballs are inspired by a version served at California yakitori restaurant, Ippuku. Dressed with a sweet and salty glaze, they're the ideal pairing with cold beer.

Featured in: "Berkeley’s Ippuku is Still the Bay Area’s Yakitori Destination."

Ingredients

1 cup soy sauce, preferably Japanese
1 cup mirin
¹⁄₄ cup sugar
2 tbsp. mizuame (Japanese sugar candy)
2 lb. ground chicken
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 ¹⁄₂ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 bunch scallions, trimmed and minced
Vegetable oil, for greasing

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Instructions

Step 1

In a medium pot, bring the soy sauce, mirin, and sugar to a boil. Turn the heat down to maintain a simmer and cook until the liquid has reduced by one-third, about 20 minutes. Stir in the mizuame and cook until it dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and set the glaze aside to cool to room temperature.

Step 2

In a large bowl, use your hands to mix the ground chicken with the salt, pepper, scallions, and ginger until thoroughly combined. Form the meat into 20 oblong meatballs, about 1½-ounce each, and place the meatballs on a lightly greased foil-lined baking sheet.

Step 3

Heat the broiler and broil the meatballs, turning and basting every 2 minutes with the reserved glaze, until the meatballs are cooked through and dark golden brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve hot.