Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs)

Tsukune, savory Japanese grilled ground chicken meatballs, can easily be made Whole30-friendly and gluten-free at home. Along the way, I’ve simplified the process even further so you can broil them in the oven any time you’re craving these umami-packed bites!

A paleo and gluten free tsukune recipe!

Many moons ago, I fell in love with tsukune at a casual yakitori restaurant after stuffing my face with a myriad of smoky grilled chicken skewers. Our family sampled the whole menu, but the one dish we kept ordering from the kitchen was tsukune—we couldn’t get enough of the juicy meatballs glazed with a thin layer of tare sauce, a tangy and sweet soy sauce-based dipping sauce (kinda like a thin teriyaki sauce).

After I discovered my gluten intolerance, the joy was sucked out of dining at yakitori joints because none of the grilled chicken skewers could be dunked in the tasty tare sauce. Cue sad trombone.

Easy Whole30 Tare Sauce

But recently, I was able to turn my frown upside down after realizing that my super versatile All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce can be used in place of tare sauce! It hits the same flavor notes as a traditional tare, but it doesn’t contain soy, gluten, sake, mirin, or refined sugar. See, non-believers? I told you All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce can be used to make a bazillion dishes!

Tips for making fab tsukune at home

• Use ground chicken thighs, not super lean breast meat. NO ONE WANTS DRY BALLS IN THEIR MOUTH. (I buy ground chicken thighs at Whole Foods or at a Japanese grocery store. Also, a good butcher can help you grind chicken thighs! You can also cube up boneless, skinless chicken thighs and freeze them for 30 minutes before pulsing them in a food processor.)
• You can store the meatball mixture in the fridge for up to a day in advance before cooking them.
• Mixing finely grated dried shiitake mushroom (I use this microplane) into the batter is a game-changer! I learned this tip from my chef sister (the co-creator of my Magic Mushroom Powder) and believe me: she knows umami.
• Fry up a tiny patty of the tsukune mixture to taste for seasoning. This small step will be worth it if you want delicious meatballs.
• Don’t add raw ginger because it will make the meatballs mushy! Raw ginger contains an enzyme that breaks down protein so don’t add it!
• Baste the chicken tsukune three times with All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce during the cooking process to ensure the meatballs are well-coated with a sheen of this fantastic sauce.
• Don’t bother putting the meatballs on skewers—it’s a pain to do so, and you’ll end up taking the meatball off the bamboo skewer to eat them anyway!

How to make Tsukune

Combine the ground chicken, salt, sesame oil, scallions, and shallot in a large bowl.

Use a microplane to grate the dried shiitake onto the meatball mixture.

Knead the mixture very thoroughly with your hands. The final texture should be sticky and tacky.

Fry up a tiny patty and taste it for seasoning. Adjust with additional salt if needed.

Cover the bowl and chill the meatball mixture in the fridge for at least an hour and up to a day. Chilling the mixture will make it easier to roll out your meatballs, but if you don’t have time, just make them right away.

When you’re ready to cook the meatballs, turn on the broiler and arrange the oven rack so that it’s 6 inches from the heating element.

While the oven heats up, brush a rimmed baking sheet or broiler pan with avocado oil. Scoop out 24 meatballs with a #40 disher (~1½ tablespoons)…

…and roll them into uniform size balls with your hands. (If you add avocado oil to your hands, the meatballs won’t stick!)

Arrange the chicken meatballs evenly on the greased baking sheet.

Broil the meatballs for 2 minutes, and then brush them with All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce. Rotate the tray 180 degrees.

Repeat the above step twice more so that the meatballs are cooked for a grand total of 8 minutes (not including basting time) and the meatballs are basted with the sauce three times.

The meatballs are finished cooking when the tops are browned and cooked through. Make sure they don’t burn or get overcooked.

Top with toasted sesame seeds if desired. Serve immediately!

What do you serve as a side dish?

I sound like a broken record, but you can serve any vegetable side dish with tsukune. Need recommendations? You can make Instant Pot Vegetable Soup, Asian Cauliflower Fried Rice, or Smashed Cucumber and Carrot Salad. Or just toss a salad, people.

How do you store leftovers?

I store the leftovers in a sealed airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. I always freeze cooked meatballs and thaw them before I reheat them in the oven or air fryer.