Vietnamese Grilled Chicken: An Amazing Ultimate Recipe
Vietnamese Grilled Chicken is a flavorful and aromatic dish featuring marinated boneless, skinless chicken thighs grilled to perfection. The marinade combines traditional Vietnamese ingredients like fish sauce, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and chili powder to create a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and spicy flavors. This easy-to-make recipe results in juicy, tender chicken that’s ideal for serving with rice, fresh herbs, and lime wedges for a vibrant, authentic meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Vietnamese
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 lbs chicken thighs (boneless, skinless)
Marinade
- 4 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chili powder (adjust based on spice preference)
Garnish & Serving
- Fresh cilantro (for garnish)
- Lime wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare Marinade: In a mixing bowl, combine fish sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, grated ginger, vegetable oil, honey, black pepper, and chili powder. Stir thoroughly to ensure the sugar dissolves and the flavors meld.
- Marinate Chicken: Add the chicken thighs to the marinade, making sure each piece is fully coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour, preferably overnight, to allow the chicken to absorb all the flavors.
- Preheat Grill: Heat your grill to medium-high, approximately 400°F (200°C), to ensure a nice sear and even cooking.
- Grill Chicken: Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting any excess marinade drip off. Place the thighs on the hot grill grates.
- Cook Thoroughly: Grill the chicken for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, turning once, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C) and the exterior is beautifully charred but not burnt.
- Rest: Remove the grilled chicken from the heat and let it rest for about 5 minutes. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the chicken moist and tender.
- Garnish and Serve: Arrange the chicken on a platter and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and lime wedges for a fresh burst of flavor and visual appeal.
Notes
- Marinating overnight enhances the flavor and tenderness of the chicken significantly.
- You can adjust the chili powder amount to make the dish more or less spicy according to your preference.
- If you don’t have a grill, you can also cook the chicken on a grill pan or broil it in the oven.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked safely to an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
- Serve with jasmine rice or fresh salad and Vietnamese dipping sauce (nuoc cham) for an authentic meal experience.
Keywords: Vietnamese grilled chicken, grilled chicken thighs, Vietnamese marinade recipe, fish sauce chicken, easy grilled chicken, flavorful chicken recipe
