Description
Char Siu Chicken is a flavorful Chinese-style dish featuring tender chicken thighs marinated in a sweet and savory blend of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger, Chinese five spice powder, and Shaoxing wine. The chicken is air fried to achieve crispy skin and juicy meat, making it perfect served over steamed white rice with vegetables for a complete meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2.5 pounds chicken thighs (bone-in and skin-on)
Marinade
- 5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 2 Tbsp Shaoxing wine (or chicken broth)
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic (grated)
- 1 inch ginger (grated)
- 1 tsp Chinese five spice powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp red food coloring (optional)
To Serve
- White rice
- Vegetables (as desired)
Instructions
- Debone and prep chicken: Using a sharp knife, carefully debone the chicken thighs and trim excess fat while keeping the skin intact. Pat each piece dry with paper towels to help the skin crisp up during cooking.
- Make the marinade: In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, Shaoxing wine (or chicken broth), brown sugar, grated garlic, grated ginger, Chinese five spice powder, salt, and red food coloring if using. Set aside about 1/4 cup of this marinade for basting later.
- Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken thighs in a large bowl and pour the remaining marinade over them. Toss well to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, or up to overnight for deeper flavor infusion.
- Preheat air fryer and cook: Preheat your air fryer to 425°F (220°C). Arrange the chicken thighs skin side down in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, working in batches if needed. Air fry for 8 minutes. Then brush both sides with the reserved marinade and flip the chicken so the skin side is up. Continue cooking for another 5 to 8 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the skin is golden and crispy.
- Rest and serve: Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and let it rest for 5 minutes. Slice and serve over steamed white rice with your favorite vegetables for a balanced meal.
Notes
- You can marinate the chicken overnight for a more intense flavor.
- Adjust red food coloring as desired or omit if unavailable; it is primarily for traditional color.
- An oven or grill can be used as alternative cooking methods if an air fryer is not available: bake at 425°F for 25-30 minutes or grill over medium heat, basting frequently.
- Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F to guarantee safety.
