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filipino asado recipe

Sweet Chicken Filipino Asado Recipe Under 30 Minutes

This sweet filipino asado recipe uses tasty chicken thighs simmered in a sugared soy sauce blend so good with rice! Each bite of chicken has that delicious brown sugar flavor mixed with hoisin sauce for that tangy, sweet glaze! Try it in siopao or in any bun recipe!
Total Time:25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Filipino
Keyword: filipino asado recipe
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds chicken thigh fillets
  • 3 garlic cloves peeled and minced
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • cup brown sugar + 1 tablespoon
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ tablespoon lemon juice optional
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • olive oil

Instructions

  • In a large sauté pan, add olive oil over medium-high heat. Salt and pepper the chicken thighs and brown each side until just golden brown. Once browned, remove the chicken from the pan and cut into 2-inch chunks.
  • Add the diced garlic and onion to the pan. Sauté with the leftover oil and chicken juice until softened. Add the soy sauce, brown sugar, and bay leaves. Stir until the brown sugar is melted.
  • Once the brown sugar is melted, add the water and lemon juice if using. Add the chicken back into the pan. Cover and simmer over medium-low for 20 minutes. Simmer for another 5 minutes uncovered until the liquid is reduced.
  • After the liquid is slightly reduced, stir in the hoisin sauce over medium-low heat until a glaze forms on the chicken. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. Brown the chicken thighs over medium-high heat until the outside is JUST golden brown. Once all the spices and sauce are added to this filipino chicken asado recipe, the chicken will continue to simmer in the sauce until that tender consistency is achieved. 
  2. See Sam’s Pro Tips for this Filipino Asado Recipe for further detail.