Chicken Adobo Recipe

Filipino · Main course · 45 min total

A classic Filipino dish featuring chicken braised in a savory, tangy sauce of soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic. This easy recipe delivers tender, flavorful chicken with a rich, glossy sauce.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs (about 680g) chicken thighs or drumsticks
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 1 head garlic, cloves peeled and crushed
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• Optional: 1 tablespoon brown sugar (for sweetness)

Instructions

1. In a bowl, combine soy sauce, vinegar, water, crushed garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Add chicken pieces and marinate for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight in the fridge).
2. Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade (reserve marinade) and sear chicken pieces until browned on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
3. Pour the reserved marinade into the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until chicken is tender and cooked through.
4. If desired, stir in brown sugar for a slightly sweeter adobo. Increase heat to medium-high and simmer uncovered for 5-10 minutes to reduce and thicken the sauce slightly.
5. Serve hot over steamed rice, spooning sauce over the chicken.

Tips

• For a richer flavor, use a mix of chicken thighs and drumsticks.
• Leftovers taste even better the next day; reheat gently.
• Adjust the vinegar-to-soy sauce ratio to your taste: more vinegar for tangier, more soy sauce for saltier.

More about Chicken Adobo →