Description
How to make tender char siu chicken with hoisin glaze and five-spice that brings authentic Chinese flavors to your kitchen in under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Base
- 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs, skin-on
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Char Siu Marinade
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Glaze & Finishing
- 2 tbsp reserved marinade
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 green onions, sliced for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Marinade: Whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey, Shaoxing wine, brown sugar, five-spice, and garlic. Reserve 2 tablespoons for later glazing.
- Marinate Chicken: Pat chicken thighs dry and season with salt and pepper. Place in marinade, turning to coat completely. Marinate 30 minutes minimum or overnight.
- Preheat Oven: Heat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment. Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off but keeping some coating.
- Sear Chicken: Heat oil in oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken skin-side down for 3-4 minutes until golden and crispy before flipping.
- Roast Until Done: Transfer skillet to oven and roast 20-25 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Brush with reserved marinade halfway through cooking.
- Glaze Finish: Mix reserved marinade with honey and sesame oil. Brush over hot chicken and let rest 5 minutes before slicing and garnishing with green onions.
Notes
- Don’t skip the searing step – it creates the crispy skin that makes this dish special.
- Reserve marinade before adding raw chicken to avoid contamination when glazing.
- Char siu chicken tastes even better the next day as flavors continue developing.
- Freeze extra marinade in ice cube trays for quick future meals.
- Serve immediately for the crispiest skin and best texture contrast.
Allergy Information: Soy
Nutrition
- Calories: 385 calories
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Protein: 32g