Ingredients
– 750g (1.5 lb) boneless, skinless chicken thigh fillets (5-6 pieces)
– 3 garlic cloves, minced for marinade
– 1/3 cup (85ml) all-purpose or light soy sauce (not dark soy sauce)
– 1/3 cup + 2 tbsp white vinegar (or substitute with clear vinegar such as rice wine, apple cider, or sherry vinegar, adjusting for acidity)
– 4 bay leaves (fresh or dried)
– 2 tbsp vegetable, canola, or peanut oil (separated)
– 3 garlic cloves, minced for cooking
– 1 small brown onion, diced
– 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) water
– 2 tbsp brown sugar (white sugar okay)
– 1 tbsp whole black peppercorns (or 2 tsp coarse cracked pepper)
– 2 green onions/scallions, sliced (optional garnish)
Instructions
1-First, combine the 750g chicken thighs with the marinade: 3 garlic cloves minced, 1/3 cup soy sauce, 1/3 cup plus 2 tbsp white vinegar, and 4 bay leaves. Let it marinate for at least 20 minutes or overnight for deeper flavor.
2-Next, heat 1 tbsp oil in a skillet over high heat. Remove chicken from the marinade, reserving the liquid, and sear for about 1 minute per side until browned. Set the chicken aside to keep that juicy texture.
3-Then, in the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tbsp oil, 3 garlic cloves minced, and 1 small brown onion diced. Cook for 1 1/2 minutes until softened, building a flavorful base for the sauce.
4-After that, pour in the reserved marinade, 1 1/2 cups water, 2 tbsp brown sugar, and 1 tbsp whole black peppercorns. Bring to a simmer on medium-high heat and let it bubble for 5 minutes to blend the tastes.
5-Now, place the chicken smooth side down in the skillet and simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, turning at around 15 minutes, until the sauce turns into a thick glaze. If needed, remove the chicken to thicken the sauce faster, then coat it back in for a glossy finish.
6-Finally, serve the Chicken Adobo over rice, adding sliced green onions as a garnish. The total time, including 10 minutes prep and 35 minutes cooking, makes this an efficient classic chicken adobo option.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
🍖 Use chicken thighs for best flavor and glaze; avoid substituting breast meat.
🌾 Use light or all-purpose soy sauce for balanced flavor; avoid dark soy sauce.
🍚 Leftover sauce is great for fried rice—use it with chopped chicken and greens without extra seasoning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Marinating time: 20 minutes to overnight
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Searing and simmering
- Cuisine: Filipino
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 1458 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 39 g
- Cholesterol: 178 mg