This easy Chicken Adobo is a delicious Filipino recipe flavored with black pepper, bay leaves and green chillies. The perfect easy dinner served with rice.
What is Filipino Chicken Adobo?
Chicken Adobo is a delicious recipe where chicken is braised in a marinade made of soy sauce, black pepper, bay leaves and vinegar. This easy version takes a few shortcuts but delivers the same punchy flavor and super tender braised chicken.
Ingredients
Full recipe + amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Chicken thighs. Use bone-in, skin-on thighs.
- Vinegar. I used white vinegar. Rice vinegar will also be delicious.
- Soy sauce. You can use Tamari or Coconut Aminos if you are gluten free.
- Brown sugar.
- Garlic.
- Black pepper.
- Bay leaves.
- Chillies. I used green Serenade chillies but Thai/Bird’s eye chillies or jalapeños can be used instead.
- Salt and pepper.
- Rice, to serve.
- Greens, to serve.
How to make Chicken Adobo
- Prepare and brown the chicken: Season chicken thighs generously on both sides with salt and black pepper. Brown the chicken in a large, deep skillet or frying pan until deep golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Make the sauce: Combine the vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, black pepper, bay leaves and chillies then pour into the pan. Bring to a simmer. Add the chicken back into the pot, skin-side up. Turn down the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, with the lid ajar, until the chicken is cooked through and very tender. When the chicken is cooked, remove the lid and turn up the heat. Baste the chicken with the braising liquid until the chicken is glazed.
- Serve: Serve the chicken with rice and cooked greens like broccoli, bok choy or spinach.
Can I freeze this recipe?
The finished chicken can be frozen in a suitable container for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw completely then reheat in a pan set over medium heat. Leftovers can also be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Chicken thigh recipes
Easy Chicken Adobo
This easy Chicken Adobo is a delicious Filipino recipe flavored with black pepper, bay leaves and green chillies. The perfect easy dinner served with rice.
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Servings: 4 -6
Calories: 225kcal
Ingredients
- 8 chicken thighs bone-in, skin on
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 3/4 cup soy sauce (Use Tamari as a gluten free substitute)
- 4 garlic cloves crushed
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 2 green chillies thinly sliced
- 4 bay leaves
Instructions
- Season chicken generously on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Brown chicken well in a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or deep frying pan. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Combine the vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, black pepper, bay leaves and chillies and pour into the pan. Bring to a simmer.
- Add the chicken, skin-side up, and simmer with the lid ajar for 20-30 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Remove the lid and turn up the heat. Allow the sauce to reduce, while glazing the chicken. Cook until the sauce has thickened and the chicken is glossy.
- Serve the chicken with steamed rice and greens.
Nutrition
Calories: 225kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 143mg | Sodium: 1806mg | Potassium: 447mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 36IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 2mg
This was such an easy, delicious recipe!
I made an additional half recipe of the sauce for simmering and then putting over the rice – highly recommend this.
I am so happy to hear that Lucy. Thanks! 🙂