This easy hoisin chicken recipe brings all the sticky, sweet, and savory flavors you love, with juicy chicken thighs that soak it up beautifully. It’s a weeknight-friendly dish that feels like a treat, with caramelized bits and a glossy finish you’d swear came from your favorite Chinese restaurant.
🤔 What is hoisin chicken?
Hoisin chicken is chicken marinated in hoisin sauce, a sweet-and-salty Chinese-inspired condiment made with fermented soybeans, garlic, sugar, and spices. It coats the chicken in a glossy, rich layer with a slightly tangy flavor that caramelizes beautifully on the grill or in the oven.
🍚 Ingredient tips & substitutes
Tip: You can use different cuts of chicken for this recipe, like drumsticks, wings, or legs. Dark meat cuts such as chicken thighs and drumsticks stay juicy and absorb marinades well, while lean chicken breast cooks faster and can dry out if overcooked.
- Chicken thighs Chicken thighs are perfect for grilling with a hoisin marinade. Bone-in, skin-on thighs will stay moist and give you crispy, caramelized skin, but boneless thighs are also a great option if you want quicker cooking. You’ll also love my grilled lemongrass chicken and gai yang!
- Hoisin sauce You can find this at any Asian grocery, in the international section of large supermarkets, or online. Or make your own if you have a bit of time!
- Sugar Adds a subtle nutty aroma.
- Soy sauce Adds a salty, umami flavor to the marinade.
- Sesame oil Provides a nutty, aromatic depth.
- Rice vinegar Brightens the marinade with a mild tang; rice vinegar is classic, but apple cider vinegar works as a softer backup. White vinegar is sharper and less traditional, but still acceptable if needed.
- Water Helps thin out the marinade so it coats every bit of the chicken evenly.
- Sugar Boosts sweetness and helps the chicken caramelize to that signature sticky glaze.
- Garlic
🍗 More grilled chicken recipes to try
Hoisin chicken is typically served with steamed rice, fresh cucumber slices, and pickled vegetables. You can also add rice noodles, lettuce wraps, or a simple fresh herb salad to balance the sweet, savory flavor.
Hoisin Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Mixing bowl and spoon
- Grill or oven
- Tongs
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- ½ tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tsp rice vinegar
- ¼ tsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3 chicken thighs
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, minced garlic, sesame oil, and water until smooth.
- Add the chicken thighs, turning to coat evenly. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight for a deeper flavor.
- Preheat your grill to medium heat, or preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F).
- Grill method: Place the chicken skin-side down on the grill and cook for about 5–6 minutes per side, basting occasionally with leftover marinade, until cooked through and slightly charred.Oven method: Place the marinated chicken on a baking rack over a foil-lined tray and bake for 30–35 minutes, basting once halfway through.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with steamed rice, bok choy, or a fresh cucumber salad.
Video
Notes
- Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and should be considered approximate.
👩🍳 How to make chicken hoisin
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, minced garlic, sesame oil, and water until smooth.
- Add the chicken thighs to the bowl, turning to coat them thoroughly in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight for the best flavor.
- Oven method: Place the marinated chicken on a baking rack over a tray lined with foil. Bake for 25–35 minutes, basting halfway through, until fully cooked and caramelized.
Grill method: Place the chicken skin-side down on the grill and cook for about 5–6 minutes per side, basting occasionally with the marinade, until the internal temperature reaches 74°C (165°F). - Let the chicken rest a few minutes before serving. Slice if you like and serve with steamed rice, sautéed bok choy, lime wedges, and grilled chicken sauce.
