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.

What is Filipino Chicken Adobo?

Chicken Adobo is a delicious dish 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

• Chicken thighs. Use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. Drumsticks or chicken legs can be used as substitute. Chicken breast can be used in a pinch but won’t deliver the same succulent, tender result as chicken thighs would.
• 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. Low sodium soy sauce can also be used.
• 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

1. 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 set over medium-high heat until deep golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside.
2. Make the sauce: Combine the sauce ingredients then pour into the pan and bring to a boil. Add the chicken back into the pot, skin-side up. Turn down the heat and simmer gently 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. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
3. 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 freezer-safe 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 in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Chicken thigh recipes

1. Lemon pepper chicken thighs
2. Easy honey garlic chicken thighs
3. Chicken Piccata Thighs