These Keto Chicken Teriyaki Skewers with Pickled Cucumber Salad are perfect for grilling season, or you can simply use your cast iron grill pan! The sticky sweet charred chicken goes great with the quick pickled cucumber salad!

We love skewers. There's something so satisfying about food on a stick...popsicles, lollipops, kebabs, name one thing that's served on a stick that would be equally as delicious served in a bowl...All jokes aside, these Keto Chicken Teriyaki Skewers with Pickled Cucumber Salad are one of our favorite quick and easy weeknight dinners.
We're also obsessed with anything and everything that is pickled. Like, crazy obsessed. This quick pickled cucumber salad is based on one of our favorite sushi restaurant's cucumber salad. It's tangy, a bit sweet, and goes great with the charred chicken.
The sauce in this recipe is the star of the show, though. When you're cooking the chicken, you'll think it's going to be quite boring, but then when you brush the sauce over the skewers and continue to cook them until the chicken is charred and the sauce is sticky, well, that's just perfection.
If you need another side to serve up with these skewers, cauliflower rice would be the obvious choice, but we're also in love with these Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts!
Plant-based? We love making this recipe with firm tofu cubes instead of chicken! Simply sub out the chicken for pressed tofu cubes (we love Hodo Tofu as it's really firm) and grill until charred. Easy peasy!
Jump to:
- Preparation and cooking overview
- Chef's note
- Ingredients for this keto chicken teriyaki skewers recipe
- Skewers
- Sauce
- Pickled Cucumber Salad
- Ingredient substitutions
- Additional ingredients
- Cooking tools required
- Tools substitute options
- How to make Keto Chicken Teriyaki Skewers: step-by-step guide
- Cooking method
- Preparation steps
- Cooking instructions
- How to make it healthier
- Time-saving tips
- What can I prepare ahead of time?
- Storage and reheating instructions
- Refrigeration
- Freezing
- Leftover reheating methods and best practices
- Recipe wrap-up and conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
- 📖 Recipe
Preparation and cooking overview
You'll be amazed at how easily this recipe comes together in 30 minutes. The preparation involves marinating the chicken in a delectable, keto-friendly teriyaki sauce, allowing it to absorb all those rich flavors. As the chicken marinates, you'll have enough time to create the perfect accompaniment: the tangy and refreshing pickled cucumber salad. Once everything is prepped, it's time to skewer the chicken and cook it to perfection, resulting in a dish that's sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Chef's note
Dear reader, embarking on a new recipe can sometimes feel intimidating, especially when committed to a keto lifestyle. But fear not! This keto-friendly recipe is simple and quick to prepare, but it also offers a flavor profile that will keep you coming back for seconds (and maybe even thirds!). The pickled cucumber salad adds a touch of brightness and crunch that perfectly complements the dish. So embrace the joy of cooking, and remember that each delicious bite nourishes your body with healthy, keto-friendly ingredients. Happy cooking and bon appétit!

Ingredients for this keto chicken teriyaki skewers recipe
Skewers
Sauce
Pickled Cucumber Salad
Ingredient substitutions
Additional ingredients
Feel free to add more variety to this Keto Chicken Teriyaki by including the following:
Remember to stay mindful of the carb count when adding extra ingredients to ensure your meal remains keto-friendly.
Cooking tools required
To make this Keto Chicken Teriyaki recipe, you'll need:
Tools substitute options
How to make Keto Chicken Teriyaki Skewers: step-by-step guide
Cooking method
Preparation steps
- Cut the chicken into 2-inch pieces, and cut the green onions into 2-inch segments.
- Prepare the Pickled Cucumber Salad by thinly slicing the cucumber and shallot.
- Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
Cooking instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients for the cucumber salad in a shallow bowl, and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.
- Mix together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl, and set aside.
- Alternate threading the chicken and green onions onto the skewers. Sprinkle with salt.
- Grease a cast iron grill pan and place over medium heat. Grill the skewers for 3 minutes per side.
- Divide out half of the sauce so that you’re not dipping the brush that touched the raw chicken back into the sauce. Brush the skewers on each side with half of the sauce, continue to cook, and baste with sauce, flipping the skewers every minute or so for an additional 5 minutes.
- To serve, sprinkle the skewers with the sesame seeds and serve with the cucumber salad.
How to make it healthier
Time-saving tips
What can I prepare ahead of time?
Storage and reheating instructions
Storing the leftovers properly ensures that they remain fresh and delicious. Here are a few options to store your leftovers, allowing you to choose the method that suits your needs best:
Refrigeration
Freezing
Freezing is an excellent option if you plan to store your leftovers for an extended period. Here's how to freeze the leftovers:
Note: Freezing the Pickled Cucumber Salad is not recommended, as the texture may change upon thawing.
Leftover reheating methods and best practices
When it's time to snack on your leftovers, choose one of these reheating methods for optimal taste and texture:
For the Pickled Cucumber Salad, no reheating is necessary. Simply remove it from the refrigerator and serve it cold.
Note: Avoid using high heat when reheating the chicken, as it may cause the chicken to become dry or overcooked.
Recipe wrap-up and conclusion
Alright, folks! It's time to recap this amazing culinary adventure we just embarked on together. We started by introducing you to the mouth-watering keto chicken teriyaki skewers – a keto-friendly, flavor-packed dish that's perfect for grilling enthusiasts and teriyaki lovers alike. We then prepared a refreshing and tangy pickled cucumber salad, which adds a delightful crunch and zesty twist to the dish.
We guided you through the easy preparation and cooking process, ensuring that your skewers turn out perfect every time. And we also provided storage and reheating tips so you can savor your leftovers just as much as the first serving.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your apron, fire up the grill, and impress your friends and family with this keto-friendly meal. With its irresistible taste and easy preparation, we're confident this keto recipe will become a staple in your repertoire. So treat yourself and your taste buds to this delightful dish – bon appétit!
Frequently asked questions
📖 Recipe

Keto Chicken Teriyaki Skewers with Pickled Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
Skewers
- 1 lb chicken cut into 2” cubes, pressed tofu if plant-based
- 4 green onions cut into 2” pieces
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Sauce
- ¼ cup coconut aminos
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons hot water
- 2 tablespoons brown erythritol
- ½ tablespoon tapioca starch
- ½ tablespoon minced ginger
- 1 clove minced garlic
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
Pickled Cucumber Salad
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons powdered erythritol
- ½ teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 large cucumber thinly sliced
- ¼ small shallot thinly sliced
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients for the cucumber salad in a shallow bowl, refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.
- Mix together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl, set aside.
- Alternate threading the chicken and green onions onto the skewers. Sprinkle with salt.
- Grease a cast iron grill pan and place over medium heat. Grill the skewers for 3 minutes per side.
- Divide out half of the sauce, so that you’re not dipping the brush that touched raw chicken back into the sauce. Brush the skewers on each side with half of the sauce, continue to cook and baste with sauce, flipping the skewers every minute or so, for an additional 5 minutes.
- To serve, sprinkle the skewers with the sesame seeds and serve with the cucumber salad.
Leslie says
What can I use if I don't have tapioca starch?
Cast Iron Keto says
Cornstarch works well!