Description
This Char Siu Chicken recipe features tender, juicy chicken thighs marinated in a flavorful blend of hoisin sauce, honey, soy sauce, and Chinese five-spice powder, then oven-roasted to perfection with a slightly charred, caramelized finish. Perfect as a main dish alongside steamed rice or vegetables, this easy-to-make Chinese BBQ-inspired chicken delivers authentic taste with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
- 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon red food coloring (optional, for traditional color)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
Chicken
- 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together the hoisin sauce, honey, soy sauce, oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, Chinese five-spice powder, sesame oil, minced garlic, red food coloring if using, salt, and white pepper until fully combined.
- Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken thighs into a large zip-top bag or a shallow dish and pour the marinade over them, ensuring all pieces are well coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy clean-up. Place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet to allow air to circulate and ensure even cooking.
- Arrange and roast the chicken: Remove the chicken from the marinade, reserving the excess marinade. Arrange the thighs evenly on the wire rack. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, basting once halfway through with the reserved marinade to keep the chicken moist and flavorful.
- Broil for caramelization: For extra caramelization and a slightly charred finish, switch your oven to broil and cook the chicken for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Rest and serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute before slicing and serving. Enjoy alongside steamed rice, stir-fried vegetables, or inside bao buns.
Notes
- Serve with steamed rice, stir-fried vegetables, or tuck into bao buns for a delicious meal.
- Chicken thighs are preferred for their juiciness, but chicken breasts can be substituted; just reduce the cooking time slightly to avoid dryness.
- The red food coloring is optional and mainly for traditional presentation; feel free to omit it.
- Make sure not to over-broil to avoid burning the glaze.
- Marinating overnight enhances the depth of flavor significantly.
