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Savory Filipino Adobo Chicken Recipe

Savory Filipino Adobo Chicken Recipe


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4.9 from 37 reviews

  • Total Time: 5 hours
  • Yield: 5 1x

Description

Hearty Filipino adobo chicken delivers a tangy, savory experience with deep cultural roots in Philippine cuisine. Marinated chicken simmers in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic, creating a rich, complex flavor profile you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) soy sauce
  • ½ cup (120 ml) white vinegar
  • 4 cloves garlic (crushed)
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) black peppercorns
  • 4 bay leaves

Instructions

  1. Marinade Preparation: Whisk vinegar, soy sauce, crushed garlic, black peppercorns, and bay leaves in a large mixing bowl, creating a robust flavor base for the chicken.
  2. Marinating Process: Completely submerge chicken thighs in the prepared marinade, ensuring thorough coating. Refrigerate for 4-8 hours to allow flavors to penetrate deeply.
  3. Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F, creating an optimal roasting environment for the marinated chicken.
  4. Cooking Setup: Place chicken thighs skin-side down in a deep, heavy-bottomed cooking vessel. Pour entire marinade over the meat, ensuring complete coverage.
  5. Initial Roasting: Cover and bake for 30 minutes, allowing the chicken to braise and absorb the rich, aromatic liquid.
  6. Final Roasting: Uncover, rotate chicken thighs skin-side up, and baste with sauce. Continue roasting until skin turns golden-brown and crispy, and sauce reduces to a glossy, intense consistency.
  7. Serving: Transfer the perfectly roasted Filipino adobo chicken to a serving platter, arranging over steamed rice. Drizzle remaining sauce generously to enhance the dish’s complex flavor profile.

Notes

  • Marinate Thoroughly: Let chicken soak in marinade for at least 4 hours or overnight to develop deep, rich flavor profiles that penetrate every fiber of the meat.
  • Skin-Side Positioning: Start cooking chicken skin-side down to render fat and create a crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in moisture and adds incredible texture.
  • Sauce Reduction Technique: Keep pot uncovered during final cooking stage to allow sauce to thicken and caramelize, intensifying the complex flavor of the Filipino adobo.
  • Temperature Control: Maintain consistent 375°F oven temperature to ensure even cooking and prevent drying out the chicken while developing a glossy, rich sauce.
  • Prep Time: 4 hours
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Filipino

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 5
  • Calories: 360
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Sodium: 1500 mg
  • Fat: 25 g
  • Saturated Fat: 7 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 5 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 30 g
  • Cholesterol: 120 mg