Description
Deliciously sweet and savory Char Siu Chicken made with tender boneless chicken thighs marinated in a rich blend of hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey, oyster sauce, and traditional Chinese spices. This easy oven-roasted recipe delivers authentic Chinese BBQ flavors with a beautiful caramelized glaze, perfect for a flavorful main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Marinade
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon five-spice powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red food coloring (optional, for traditional color)
Garnish
- Sesame seeds
- Sliced green onions
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey, oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, minced garlic, five-spice powder, and red food coloring if using. This mixture forms the flavorful base that will infuse the chicken with traditional Char Siu flavors.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the chicken thighs to the marinade, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to deeply penetrate the meat.
- Preheat the Oven and Prepare Baking Setup: When ready to cook, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with foil to catch drips and place a wire rack on top to elevate the chicken, helping it cook evenly and caramelize beautifully.
- Arrange Chicken and Roast: Arrange the marinated chicken thighs on the wire rack in a single layer. Reserve any remaining marinade for basting. Roast the chicken in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, basting with the reserved marinade halfway through the cooking time to enhance flavor and moisture.
- Broil for Extra Char (Optional): For a traditional slightly charred finish, switch the oven to broil and cook the chicken for an additional 2 to 3 minutes at the end. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Rest and Garnish: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions before serving for a pop of texture and color.
Notes
- For a smoky flavor, cook the chicken on a grill instead of in the oven.
- Leftover Char Siu Chicken can be repurposed in fried rice, noodle dishes, or sandwiches.
- If avoiding gluten, use gluten-free soy sauce to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Red food coloring is optional and only used for traditional appearance, not flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
