Vietnamese-Style Baked Chicken Recipe (2024)

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Lime, ginger, and fish sauce add bold, bright, and deep flavor to chicken thighs.

By

Emily and Matt Clifton

Vietnamese-Style Baked Chicken Recipe (1)

Emily and Matt Clifton

Emily and Matt Clifton are recipe developers, photographers, and cookbook authors. Their two cookbooks are Cork and Knife (2019) andThe Ultimate Dutch Oven Cookbook (2021).

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated February 17, 2023

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Vietnamese-Style Baked Chicken Recipe (2)

Why It Works

  • Lime, ginger, and fish sauce add bold, bright, and deep flavor to chicken thighs.
  • A short stint in this marinade gives the chicken the perfect tang.

Baked marinated chicken is one of our favorite weeknight dinners. Just mix up some spices, soak chicken thighs in the mixture for half an hour, then stick them in the oven—yeah, sign us up. Marinating is a simple, straightforward process, but given how flavorful the results can be, it can seem downright miraculous. So it is with these Vietnamese-style chicken thighs.

There's a lot going on in the marinade, but one of the standouts—arguably even the key ingredient—is anchovy-based Vietnamese fish sauce, ornước mắm. We use it here in this Vietnamese-inspired recipe, but regular Serious Eats readers know thatits utility goes far beyond that; it can boost the flavor of all sorts of dishes, from stews and braises to pasta sauces. When used sparingly, it also won't add a fishy taste.

Vietnamese-Style Baked Chicken Recipe (3)

We're also using palm sugar to sweeten the marinade and lend the chicken skin a beautiful golden-brown color during baking. It's a traditional ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine, but it may be hard to find. If you are able to obtain it, you'll find that bricks of palm sugar are usually rock-hard. You can grate it for recipes that need just a little (we recommend using the wide shredders of a sturdy box grater), or you can use a whole brick by softening it for a few minutes in hot water. If you can't find palm sugar, you can substitute dark brown sugar.

The key to understanding marinades is knowing that they mostly don't penetrate deeply into the meat; they offer little more than a surface treatment. Because of that, a half hour of marinating time is more than enough to get the flavor into the chicken thighs. You can leave them in for up to four hours, but any longer than that and the acid in the marinade could start to make the meat mushy.

Vietnamese-Style Baked Chicken Recipe (4)

Once it's fully marinated, take the chicken out, shake (but don't rinse) off any excess liquid, and bake it, skin-side up, in a hot oven. You should check the chicken's temperature at 30 minutes, and make sure it's at least 155°F (68°C) on the inside before you pull it out. If you like, you can add a broiling step at the end to enhance the color and crispiness of the skin, but take care not to let the sweet marinade burn.

While the chicken is baking, get your sides ready. We like to make this with simple boiled or steamed rice and a salad of quick-pickled cucumbers and red onions.

March 2017

Recipe Details

Vietnamese-Style Baked Chicken Recipe

Prep5 mins

Cook45 mins

Active20 mins

Marinating Time30 mins

Total80 mins

Serves4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds (900g) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

  • 1/4 cup (60ml) soy sauce

  • 1/4 cup (60ml) Asian fish sauce, such as Red Boat

  • 1/4 cup (55g) palm or dark brown sugar

  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) grapeseed or other neutral oil

  • 2 packed tablespoons (7g) fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems, finely chopped

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons (20ml) fresh juice from 1 lime

  • 1 teaspoon (5g) finely grated zest from 1 lime

  • 1 tablespoon (10g) minced peeled fresh ginger

  • 2 teaspoons (10ml) hot chile paste (sambal oelek)

  • 3 medium cloves garlic, minced or grated (about 2 teaspoons)

  • Sliced limes and cilantro leaves, for garnish

Directions

  1. Place thighs in a large zipper-lock bag. In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, oil, cilantro, lime juice and zest, ginger, chili-garlic paste, and garlic. Pour marinade into bag with chicken, seal bag, and toss to coat well. Let chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.

  2. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and set oven rack to middle position. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top. Remove chicken from bag, allowing marinade to drip off, and set on wire rack skin-side up, making sure to leave space between thighs. Discard marinade. Bake until thighs register 155 to 160°F (68 to 71°C) on an instant-read thermometer, about 35 minutes. (Be sure to measure temperature in the center of the thickest part of the thighs, but not directly against the bone.) If chicken skin is not brown and crisp enough by the time the thighs are cooked through, set broiler to high and broil until browned and crisp, about 1 minute, being careful not to burn the skin. Transfer chicken to a platter and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with lime slices and cilantro, then serve.

Special Equipment

Rimmed baking sheet and wire rack, instant-read thermometer

Read More

  • Vietnamese Grilled Pork Chops with Chilled Rice Noodles
  • Yogurt and Mint Marinated Chicken Thighs with Pickled Nectarines
  • Vietnamese
  • Dairy-free Mains
  • Savory
  • Roasted Chicken
  • Chicken Thighs
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
320Calories
19g Fat
10g Carbs
31g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories320
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g25%
Saturated Fat 5g27%
Cholesterol 162mg54%
Sodium 816mg35%
Total Carbohydrate 10g3%
Dietary Fiber 2g5%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 31g
Vitamin C 16mg79%
Calcium 39mg3%
Iron 2mg10%
Potassium 421mg9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Vietnamese-Style Baked Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes baked chicken taste better? ›

We love a base of olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and fresh herbs. You can place the chicken breasts in a freezer bag with the marinade and allow to sit (refrigerated of course) for at least 30 minutes (or even overnight) prior to cooking.

Do I cover baked chicken? ›

Larger cuts, such as whole chickens or bone-in pieces, often benefit from covered baking to ensure thorough and even cooking. Smaller cuts, like chicken breasts or tenders, can be baked uncovered for quick results. Lastly, think about the desired texture and flavor you're trying to achieve.

How long to leave baked chicken? ›

For large boneless, skinless chicken breasts: cook them 20 to 30 minutes in a 375 degrees F oven. For large bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts: cook them 35 to 40 minutes in a 375 degrees F oven.

How to cook chicken better? ›

Follow the tips on our list to ensure that your baked chicken turns out succulent and tender, no matter the cut.
  1. Try a Brine. ...
  2. Season Generously. ...
  3. Make Herbs Your Friend. ...
  4. Add Succulence with High-Temperature Fats. ...
  5. Bake It at a High Temperature. ...
  6. Bake It for the Right Amount of Time—No More, No Less. ...
  7. Try a Sauce.
Dec 29, 2020

What keeps chicken moist when baking? ›

Don't settle for dry, boring chicken breasts. One simple ingredient will add flavor and keep them from drying out every time: mayo. You read that correctly, mayonnaise isn't just for sandwiches and macaroni salads. Oh no, it's great for ensuring juicy, tender chicken too.

How to make chicken more flavorful? ›

Add a touch of spice to your chicken breast by combining paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, ginger, garlic and olive oil to create a paste. Then cover your chicken breast with the paste and pat down to secure.

Is it better to bake chicken at 350 or 400? ›

You can roast or bake anywhere between 325 and 450 degrees F. When roasting a whole chicken, a nice rule of them is to start at 400 to 425 degrees F and then turn the oven down to 350 after 15 minutes and cook until the internal temp of the chicken is 165 – 175 degrees F on an instant read thermometer.

Do you put water in the pan when baking chicken? ›

It's usually not necessary to add water to the pan for a roast chicken: the steam created by the water can prevent the skin from becoming browned and crisp.

How long does it take to bake chicken at 350? ›

The right temperature and time
Type of chickenWeightRoasting: 350°F (177˚C)
breast halves, bone-in6 to 8 oz.30 to 40 minutes
breast halves, boneless4 oz.20 to 30 minutes
legs or thighs4 to 8 oz.40 to 50 minutes
drumsticks4 oz.35 to 45 minutes
1 more row

Is 2 hours too long to bake chicken? ›

How long to roast a chicken at 375°F: 2½- to 3-pound chicken: Roast 1 to 1¼ hours. 3½- to 4-pound chicken: Roast 1¼ to 1½ hours. 4½- to 5-pound chicken: Roast 1¾ to 2 hours.

What should you season chicken with? ›

Aside from classics like salt, pepper, basil and garlic, you could try using chilli powder, ginger, cumin, cayenne, paprika, oregano, sage, rosemary and thyme.

What not to do when cooking chicken? ›

The 4 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid When Cooking Chicken Breasts
  1. Going Boneless and Skinless. If we've said it once, we've said it a bazillion times: Don't go boneless or skinless. ...
  2. Skipping the Marinade (or Brine or Rub) Sure, they cook up quickly, but that doesn't mean you can't plan ahead. ...
  3. Poaching It.
Feb 25, 2016

What makes chicken taste really good? ›

The reaction of cysteine and sugar can lead to characteristic meat flavour specially for chicken and pork. Volatile compounds including 2-methyl-3-furanthiol, 2-furfurylthiol, methionol, 2,4,5-trimethyl-thiazole, nonanol, 2-trans-nonenal, and other compounds have been identified as important for the flavour of chicken.

How do you keep chicken moist and juicy? ›

Brine. Like a marinade, a brine helps chicken breast soak up as much moisture as possible before cooking. It only requires three ingredients: water, salt, and a pinch of sugar.

Why does my baked chicken have no flavor? ›

You're Not Using Skin-on, Bone-In

When you think of chicken breasts, most people assume boneless, skinless; however, I'm here to make the argument that you should always go bone-in, skin-on when you can. The bones and skin add a subtle layer of fat and flavor to whatever it is that you're cooking.

How do you fix bland baked chicken? ›

1. Brining: Brining the chicken in a mixture of salt and water before cooking can help it retain moisture and flavor. 2. Marinades: Marinate the chicken in a flavorful mixture of herbs, spices, oil, and acidic ingredients like lemon juice or yogurt to infuse it with taste.

How do you fix bland roasted chicken? ›

13 Ways To Make Roast Chicken Taste Way Better
  1. Brine, or dry brine, well before cooking. ...
  2. Coat it in a flavorful dry or wet rub. ...
  3. Make sure it's dry and at room temperature before cooking. ...
  4. Stuff the cavity with aromatics. ...
  5. Citrus, citrus, citrus. ...
  6. Rub butter under the skin. ...
  7. Marinate it in mayo. ...
  8. Spatchco*ck the bird.
Apr 13, 2023

How do you get the most flavor out of chicken breast? ›

Flavor Trick #1: Marinate Whole or Sliced Chicken Breasts for 30 to 90 Minutes Before Cooking
  1. Lemon-Garlic: ¾ cup olive oil + ¼ cup lemon juice + 4 cloves crushed garlic + 1 teaspoon paprika + pinch of salt.
  2. Balsamic: ¾ cup olive oil + ¼ cup balsamic vinegar + 2 teaspoons fresh oregano + pinch of salt.
Oct 13, 2023

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