My recipe for Filipino chicken adobo is easy to make and delivers seriously big flavor. You only need a few simple ingredients to make this classic South Asian masterpiece that is savory, salty, sweet, spicy, and sour all at the same time.
Filipino Chicken Adobo is the national dish of the Philippines — and for good reason! This traditional dish captures the whole spectrum of intoxicatingly delicious flavors from the region.
Chicken thighs and drumsticks are marinated in a sensationally scrumptious sauce that is the signature of the dish. Bright, tangy vinegar teams up with salty, savory soy sauce, and sharp, spicy peppercorns and garlic while coconut sugar (or brown sugar) adds just the right amount of caramel-like sweetness to the mix.
After the chicken is baked in the flavorful liquid, the braising sauce is reduced down to make a truly dynamite sauce. Make this easy recipe for your next weeknight dinner and get ready to make your family swoon!
Table Of Contents
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Chicken – Go with bone-in thighs and drumsticks for the most tender and flavorful meat.
- Coconut Vinegar – This key ingredient is milder than most vinegars with a slight sweetness to it. Definitely take the time to find it if at all possible, usually at an Asian market. If you can’t, substitute with cane vinegar or a blend of pantry ingredients — find those measurements in the recipe card below.
- Soy Sauce – The ultimate umami sauce, this adds salty, savory, tangy depth to the recipe.
- Coconut Sugar – Offers just the right pop of sweetness to balance out the sour and spicy tones. Regular or brown sugar can be used instead.
- Peppercorns – Black peppercorns add a snap of peppery heat and smoky spice.
- Garlic – Adds a potent blast of zesty, pungent flavor.
- Bay Leaf – Slightly bitter with hints of mint and pine, bay leaf subtly yet powerfully balances the other flavors of the dish.
- Green Onion – Adds a fresh splash of color and a slightly pungent, slightly sharp flavor.
Coconut vinegar
To keep it on the “authentic” side I took the time to seek out coconut vinegar, which is key, and was not that big of an effort to find at my local Asian market.
Coconut vinegar has a cloudy, white appearance and a slightly milder taste than apple cider vinegar. If you can’t find it, substitutes are:
use 3 parts white vinegar plus 1 part water,
use 3 parts white vinegar plus 1 part white wine vinegar
use 3 parts white vinegar plus 1 part cider vinegar
How to Make Filipino Chicken Adobo
- Transfer Chicken. Find a resealable plastic bag or a large container and put the chicken inside.
- Make the Marinade. Combine the vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, peppercorns, garlic, and bay leaf together in a bowl. Pour the entire mixture over the chicken, turning and flipping the pieces to make sure everything is coated. Place the container in the refrigerator and marinate for at least 4 hours, up to overnight.
- Preheat the Oven. Preheat the oven to 300°F. Place the chicken in a 13×9 baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.
- Bake the Chicken. Bake with the pan covered for one hour. Then, uncover, flip, and baste the chicken with the braising liquid before returning it to the oven to cook for another 30 minutes. Chicken is done baking when it has reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Reduce the Sauce. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it and cover with aluminum foil to keep it warm. Transfer the braising liquid to a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Continue until the sauce has thickened and reduced down by half.
- Serve & Enjoy. Pour or baste the sauce over the chicken. Serve with steamed rice and top with chopped green onions. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between Filipino Adobo and Mexican Adobo?
They are totally different. Filipino adobo is made with vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, and black peppercorns. It is thinner, savory, and a tad sweet. It also refers to the entire dish, including the chicken or pork simmered in the sauce.
Mexican adobo, on the other hand, refers to the sauce that is used as a marinade for various meats. It is thicker, spicier, and is made out of vinegar, salt, dried chilis, paprika, oregano, garlic, and other spices.
How Can I Thicken My Filipino Adobo?
Low and slow is the key to thicker sauce. Make sure that the stovetop is turned to low and the saucepan is gently simmering. It can take about 12-15 minutes (sometimes more) to get the liquid reduced down by half, so a little patience goes a long way. If you’ve given plenty of time and your sauce still won’t thicken, you can try adding a cornstarch slurry of 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed into 1 tablespoon of water.
Filipino Chicken Adobo
Filipino chicken adobo features tender marinated chicken braised in a sweet and tangy sauce of vinegar, soy sauce, garlic and pepper.
Instructions
Ingredients
- 4 lbs chicken thigh and drumsticks
- 1 cup white vinegar or coconut vinegar (See Note 1)
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar or coconut sugar (See Note 2)
- 2 tsp black peppercorns
- 15 garlic cloves
- 6 bay leaves fresh preferably
- 2 green onion tops sliced thinly
Instructions
- Place the chicken pieces in a large container or plastic, sealable bag.
- In a bowl mix together the vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, peppercorns, garlic cloves and bay leaves. Pour this mixture over the chicken, turning to coat and seal. Refrigerate overnight or minimum 4 hours.
- Preheat oven to 300°F.
- Place the chicken and marinade in a 13×9″ baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour. Uncover, turn the chicken, baste with braising liquid and cook uncovered for another 30 minutes or when chicken internal temp reaches 165°F.
- Remove the chicken and keep warm covered with the aluminum foil. Pour the braining liquid in a saucepan and bring to a boil, reduce by half to thicken. Season to taste. Baste and pour this over the chicken when serving with green onions and steamed rice.
Notes
1. To keep it on the “authentic” side I took the time to seek out coconut vinegar, which is key, and was not that big of an effort to find. I went to my local asian market. If you don’t want to I’m here to share some substitute options with you. Coconut vinegar has a cloudy, white appearance and a slightly milder taste than apple cider vinegar.
Most recipes say to use white vinegar or cider vinegar and sure that would work, but when I looked up substitutes for coconut vinegar I found several options.
Substitutes:
- cane vinegar another not found in everyones pantry
- use 3 parts white vinegar plus 1 part water,
- use 3 parts white vinegar plus 1 part white wine vinegar
- use 3 parts white vinegar plus 1 part cider vinegar
2. Regular or brown sugar can be substituted for the coconut sugar if you like.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 471kcalTotal Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 154mgSodium: 1226mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 41g
