Description
Chicken Adobo brings the soulful flavors of the Philippines right to your dinner table with tender meat swimming in a tangy, garlicky sauce that will transport your taste buds. Packed with simple ingredients and bold spices, this classic dish delivers comfort and tradition in each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2.5 lbs chicken
- 0.5 cup soy sauce
- 0.5 cup vinegar
- 1 cup water
Seasoning and Aromatics:
- 6 cloves garlic
- 3 dried bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 1 onion
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
Optional and Cooking Elements:
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- Chopped scallions
- Fried garlic
Instructions
- Combine 2½ lbs of bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks with ½ cup soy sauce, ½ cup vinegar, 6 smashed garlic cloves, 3 bay leaves, and 1 tsp black peppercorns in a large bowl or zip-top bag. Let your chicken marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Heat 2 tbsp cooking oil in a large pot over medium-high heat at 375°F. Remove chicken from marinade and pat completely dry. Brown chicken pieces for 3-4 minutes per side until golden, then transfer to a plate.
- Lower pot temperature to medium. Add 1 sliced onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until translucent and fragrant. Return browned chicken pieces back to the pot.
- Pour reserved marinade and 1 cup water into the pot. Sprinkle 1 tbsp brown sugar if desired. Increase heat to high and bring liquid to a rolling boil.
- Reduce heat to low, around 200°F. Simmer uncovered for 35-40 minutes, gently turning chicken every 10 minutes. Allow sauce to reduce and thicken into a rich glaze.
- Taste sauce and season with salt and ground black pepper. Remove bay leaves. Transfer chicken to serving plate and drizzle remaining glaze on top.
- Garnish with chopped scallions or fried garlic. Serve immediately with steamed white rice.
Notes
- Marinate chicken overnight for deeper, more complex flavor that truly penetrates the meat.
- Use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for maximum tenderness and richer taste compared to chicken breasts.
- For a low-carb version, replace white rice with cauliflower rice or serve over roasted vegetables.
- To make the dish more saucy, add a splash of chicken broth during simmering if the liquid reduces too quickly.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Filipino
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg