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Char Siu Chicken
5 from 3 votes

Char Siu Chicken

Kiss boring baked chicken goodbyeeee! This easy Char Siu Chicken transforms mundane dinners into exciting meals that are deliciously sticky, glossy, & juicy! THIS is the ultra flavorful bbq chicken you never knew you needed.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Marinating Time (inactive):
2 hrs
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 299 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese

Ingredients

Char Siu Marinade:
  • 3 garlic minced, cloves
  • 3 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 ½ tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
  • 2 teaspoons five-spice powder
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon white pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon red food coloring optional
Ingredients:
  • 1 pound chicken thighs bone-in & skin-on
  • 2 tablespoons honey for basting

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a large airtight container or Ziplock bag, combine the char siu marinade ingredients - minced garlic, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, Shaoxing wine, 5-spice seasoning, sesame oil, salt, white pepper, & red food coloring (if using). Set aside.
  2. Pat dry chicken thighs and trim any excess chicken skin, then add chicken to the marinade. Allow to marinate for at least 2 hours, or up to overnight.
Oven Method:
  1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
  2. Line a baking tray with foil for easy clean up, then place baking racks and chicken skin-side up. Don’t throw away the marinade! Bake for 15 minutes.
  3. In the meantime, create the basting sauce. In a small sauce pot, combine the marinade and additional honey. Heat on medium stirring occasionally for 5-10 minutes, or until it turns into a thick, shiny, & sticky glaze. You should be able to make a line on the back of a spoon. Once it’s done, turn off heat and cover until ready to baste.
  4. Brush basting sauce onto chicken, then bake for another 15 minutes. Baste for a second time, then bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (meat is no longer pink & its juices run clear when given a small slit to the bone). Cook time may vary depending on the size/thickness of chicken & power of your oven, so adjust cooking time as needed so the chicken cooked through & juicy!
  5. Remove Char Siu Chicken from the oven and allow to rest for about 5 minutes before cutting into it. Enjoy with hot fresh rice and/or veggies!
Air Fryer Method:
  1. Preheat oven to 320° F.
  2. Place chicken skin-side up on air fryer tray, working in batches if needed to prevent overcrowding. Cook for 10 minutes.
  3. In the meantime, create the basting sauce. In a small sauce pot, combine the marinade and additional honey. Heat on medium stirring occasionally for 5-10 minutes, or until it turns into a thick, shiny, & sticky glaze. You should be able to make a line on the back of a spoon. Once it’s done, turn off heat and cover until ready to baste.
  4. Brush basting sauce onto chicken, then bake for another 5 minutes. Baste for a second time, then bake for another 5 -10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (meat is no longer pink & its juices run clear when given a small slit to the bone). Cook time may vary slightly depending on the size/thickness of chicken & power of your air fryer, so adjust cooking time as needed so the chicken is cooked through & juicy!
  5. Remove Char Siu Chicken from the air fryer and allow to rest for about 5 minutes before cutting into it. Enjoy with hot fresh rice and/or veggies!

Notes

  • Soy Sauce: We're using regular soy sauce (not low sodium or dark soy sauce) for its saltiness & umami.
  • Hoisin Sauce: It's sweet, savory, & a punch of flavor in one ingredient! Find it at Asian or local grocery stores because so popular!
  • Shaoxing Wine: Enhance the flavors of the marinade with this Chinese cooking wine you can be easily find at in local Asian markets or online.
  • 5-Spice Seasoning: This gives the marinade its iconic flavor with a blend of spices.
  • Red Food Coloring: Traditionally, red bean curd provides that iconic red color, but red food coloring is an easy substitute. If you don't care for the extra color, you can skip it & your char siu will still taste absolutely delicious!
  • Key Cooking & Storage Tips: I've included key cooking tips for flavorful & juicy Char Siu Chicken, as well as how to store any leftovers in the blog post above!

Nutrition Information

Serving 1chicken thigh Calories 299kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 25g (8%) Protein 17g (34%) Fat 14g (22%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g (24%) Monounsaturated Fat 6g (30%) Trans Fat 0.1g (5%) Cholesterol 58mg (19%) Sodium 1679mg (70%) Potassium 244mg (5%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 20g (40%) Vitamin A 151IU (3%) Vitamin C 2mg (2%) Calcium 60mg (6%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 299

% Daily Value*

Serving 1chicken thigh
Calories 299kcal 15%
Carbohydrates 25g 8%
Protein 17g 34%
Fat 14g 22%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Monounsaturated Fat 6g 30%
Trans Fat 0.1g 5%
Cholesterol 58mg 19%
Sodium 1679mg 70%
Potassium 244mg 5%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 20g 40%
Vitamin A 151IU 3%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 60mg 6%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.