Tsukune Recipe: Juicy Japanese Glazed Chicken Meatballs 2026

Tsukune are Japanese chicken meatballs shaped into little oval patties, threaded onto skewers and glazed with a sweet, caramelized sauce that clings to every bite. They are wonderfully easy to make at home and the result is deeply savory, slightly sticky and completely irresistible.

The meatball mixture comes together in a single bowl with ground chicken, ginger, scallion and a touch of soy sauce, while the glaze is a simple teriyaki-style blend of sake, brown sugar and soy sauce reduced until glossy. Serve them with steamed basmati rice for a light but satisfying main dish, or set them out as a party bite everyone will reach for.

Ingredients for Tsukune

This recipe makes 2 servings as a main course.

• 250 g ground chicken
• 30 g onion
• 2 scallions
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger
• 2 tablespoons potato starch (or cornstarch)
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sake (optional)
• Salt
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil (or olive oil)
• 1 garlic clove
• 3 teaspoons sake
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (for finishing)

How to Make Tsukune Step by Step

1. Mix the meatball ingredients

To prepare the meatballs, mix the ground chicken with fresh ginger, soy sauce, scallion and sake. If you are lovers of Japanese food, sake will be in your pantry. If, on the other hand, you cook this type of cuisine only occasionally and don't have sake at home, you can skip it, and although it gives a special touch, the recipe is very tasty without it too. For the glaze, you can adjust the quantities by adding a little more soy sauce.

2. Shape the meatballs onto the skewers

Once the oval-shaped tsukune meatballs are formed, they are brushed with the glaze, which is usually similar to the one used for yakitori. Although there are several options, the most typical is teriyaki sauce. To be able to eat the tsukune easily, we are going to serve it on a wooden skewer, but it can also be prepared without this element. If we choose to cook it on the barbecue, it will be necessary to soak the wooden skewers in water beforehand so they don't burn on the coals.

3. Brown them in the pan

Heat 1 tablespoon of sesame oil in a grill-type pan and brown the tsukune, turning it occasionally, for about 10 minutes. Once cooked, set it aside on a plate.

4. Sauté the garlic for the glaze

Meanwhile, prepare the glaze in a small saucepan. To do this, heat 1 teaspoon of sesame oil and sauté 1 pressed garlic clove for 1 minute.

5. Add the rest of the ingredients and reduce

Add 3 teaspoons of sake, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, stir and cook the mixture over medium-low heat until it thickens.

6. Glaze the tsukune and sprinkle with sesame

Brush the tsukune with the glaze and scatter 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds over the top.

7. Serve decorated with the scallion greens

To enjoy this delicious Japanese dish, we are going to serve it with basmati rice. In Japan it is common to serve it with an egg yolk to dip the tsukune in. Serve the tsukune decorated with the chopped green part of the scallion and enjoy this delicious Japanese bite.

Tips for the Best Tsukune

Make it without sake if you prefer

The sake adds a subtle depth, but it is completely optional in both the meatballs and the glaze. If you leave it out, taste the glaze and add a little extra soy sauce so the sweet-savory balance still lands where it should.

Let the mixture rest before shaping

Once you have mixed and divided the chicken mixture into 8 equal portions, form 8 elongated meatballs, pin them onto wooden skewers and let them rest for 30 minutes in the fridge. This short chill helps them hold their shape and firm up before they hit the pan.

Serve it the Japanese way

Pair the tsukune with basmati rice for a complete meal, and if you want to go traditional, add a raw egg yolk on the side for dipping. For a barbecue version, remember to soak the wooden skewers in water first so they don't burn over the coals.

30 Go-To Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

If you're anything like me, your kitchen rotation probably includes a little bit of everything—cozy comfort classics, tried-and-true dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make everyone happy.

When a rich, indulgent treat is calling my name, I'll reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this sophisticated Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I want something fruity and cozy, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

Come breakfast time or when I'm after a lighter bite, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

For tapas nights and Mediterranean-inspired spreads, I'll bounce between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. And when the occasion calls for something a touch fancier, this elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is a favorite of mine to serve.

Hearty midday meals and slow, cozy suppers are where these shine: the warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. Craving something even more substantial? I'll bake up this hearty Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the ultimate comfort plate, this French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

When street-food cravings hit or I'm feeding a crowd, out come this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crunchy Salchipapas recipe, boldly seasoned Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These fuss-free Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also make a great little appetizer or snack.

And when I'm mixing drinks and planning a whole spread for company, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To tie the whole meal together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing the table with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the finest dishes are built on three things: simplicity, dependable technique, and serious flavor.

These are the recipes I find myself making over and over—whether it's a fast solo meal or a festive spread for loved ones.

On the sweet side, the rich, velvety Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together easily. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled after the beloved Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture really helps, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

For something light and effortless, I'll typically make the traditional Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. When I want a heartier comfort dish, I'm quick to suggest the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight winner, this One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes rooted in tradition from all over the world, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crisp Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and Spain's classic Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it delivers great texture without eating up time. My regular lineup includes the Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and completely satisfying without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado