Description
Char siu chicken brings sizzling Cantonese barbecue flavors straight to your kitchen with a marinade that’ll make your taste buds dance. Tender chicken pieces glazed in a sweet and savory sauce create an easy dinner that feels like a delicious trip to Hong Kong.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Marinade:
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
Seasonings:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
Instructions
- Whisk ¼ cup hoisin sauce, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder, and ½ teaspoon sesame oil in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Transfer 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs to a large resealable plastic bag and pour the entire marinade mixture over the meat, ensuring each piece gets fully coated.
- Seal the bag and gently massage the marinade into the chicken, then refrigerate for 2-4 hours to allow flavors to penetrate deeply.
- Preheat grill or oven to 400°F, preparing a clean grate or lined baking sheet for cooking.
- Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off, and discard remaining liquid.
- Grill chicken for 6-7 minutes per side, or bake for 20-25 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 165°F and exterior develops a rich, caramelized surface.
- Let chicken rest for 5 minutes after cooking, then slice against the grain into thin strips for serving.
- Plate alongside steamed rice or roasted vegetables to complete the meal.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours to ensure deep flavor penetration and tender meat.
- For a saucier result, reserve some marinade before adding raw chicken, then brush onto the meat while cooking.
- If grilling, watch carefully to prevent burning due to the honey’s high sugar content.
- For gluten-free version, swap regular soy sauce with tamari and check oyster sauce ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 to 6
- Calories: 270 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg