Vietnamese-Style Baked Chicken Recipe (2024)

  • Vietnamese
  • Dairy-free Mains
  • Savory
  • Roasted Chicken
  • Chicken Thighs

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

Trending Videos

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
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? ›

Here are 7 tricks to make chicken breasts taste better and even totally delicious.
  1. Cook them right. Most people get scared and overcook chicken breasts, cooking out all the moisture and leaving them tough and dry. ...
  2. Marinate them. ...
  3. Cut them thin. ...
  4. Fry them. ...
  5. Stuff them. ...
  6. Shred them. ...
  7. Use the right pan.

Do you cover baked chicken or not? ›

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.

What temperature is serious eats chicken done? ›

Place chicken over hot side of grill and cook until well browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Flip and continue to cook until second side is browned and chicken is just cooked through, or until the center registers 150°F/66°C (or 165°F/74°C, if you really want to stick to FDA guidelines) on an instant-read thermometer.

How long does it take to bake chicken breast? ›

If you're following a specific recipe, then don't deviate! Otherwise, follow this general formula: Cook large, boneless, skinless chicken breasts for 20 to 30 minutes in a 375-degree-F oven. Cook large, bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts for 35 to 40 minutes in a 375-degree-F oven.

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.

What keeps chicken moist when baking? ›

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.

When you bake chicken, do you put water in the pan? ›

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.

Should I use aluminum foil when baking chicken? ›

Many people opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts for ease, but you can bake any cut of chicken in foil. Chicken breasts work well with the foil treatment, as steaming keeps the meat juicy and it cooks quickly even with the addition of veggies or starches. Chicken tenders would be a great cut to bake in foil, too.

Is it better to bake chicken in a glass or metal pan? ›

If youre looking to oven bake chicken then metal is the best choice however if you're looking to make a casserole then glass can work perfectly. Just be careful not to expose heated glass to cold tempatures as it will shatter!

Why is chicken still bloody at 165? ›

Chickens are slaughtered young.

Those that are processed for meat are often just 6 to 8 weeks old. At that age, according to the USDA, the bones have not completely hardened, so “pigment from the bone marrow seeps through the bones and into the surrounding area.” This can lead to a dark or bloody-looking appearance.

What is the danger zone for chicken? ›

The "Danger Zone" (40 °F-140 °F)

This range of temperatures is often called the "Danger Zone." That's why the Meat and Poultry Hotline advises consumers to never leave food out of refrigeration over 2 hours. If the temperature is above 90 °F, food should not be left out more than 1 hour.

Can chicken be 165 and still raw? ›

All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F (73.9 °C) as measured with a food thermometer. A whole chicken must reach this temperature throughout the bird.

What is the best temperature to bake chicken? ›

Here's the shortest answer we can give you: 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 long does it take to bake 2 chicken breasts at 350? ›

chicken breast at 350°F (177˚C) for 25 to 30 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature is 165˚F (74˚C).

Is it better to bake chicken breast at 350? ›

To Bake Chicken Breast at 400°F: This will take between 22 and 26 minutes depending on the size of the chicken breasts. You can cook chicken breasts at 350°F for closer to 25-30 minutes (although I prefer the higher heat above).

How can I make my 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.

What enhances chicken flavor? ›

Classic Poultry Seasoning: 1 teaspoon dried basil + 1 teaspoon dried rosemary + 1 teaspoon salt + ½ teaspoon garlic powder + ½ teaspoon mustard powder + ½ teaspoon black pepper.

What brings out the flavor in chicken? ›

Use a brine

Brining your chicken is a foolproof way to not only add flavour to your roast but also to ensure you don't overcook the meat. Essentially a mix of salt, sugar and water, we love adding herbs, garlic or whole spices such as fennel and cumin to flavour the brine.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nicola Considine CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6398

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nicola Considine CPA

Birthday: 1993-02-26

Address: 3809 Clinton Inlet, East Aleisha, UT 46318-2392

Phone: +2681424145499

Job: Government Technician

Hobby: Calligraphy, Lego building, Worldbuilding, Shooting, Bird watching, Shopping, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.