Thai Grilled Chili-Garlic Chicken

By
Darlene Schmidt
Darlene Schmidt
Darlene Schmidt is a cookbook author and culinary teacher who specializes in Thai cuisine.
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Updated on 01/18/22
thai grilled chicken
Getty Images / samritk
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 35 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
267 Calories
12g Fat
24g Carbs
17g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 267
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 15%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 66mg 22%
Sodium 1553mg 68%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 21g
Protein 17g
Vitamin C 17mg 87%
Calcium 32mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 291mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This Thai chili-garlic chicken is divinely delicious and the perfect dish for summer grilling. The marinade is a cinch to make but don't let that fool you―the Thai taste is all there and then some. We've actually made this chicken in the oven as well―both grilled and oven-baked are delicious (also good if a sudden rainstorm should drown out your cookout).

The best part about the recipe is the ease of preparation and the fact that you will most likely have all you need in your pantry. Regular white vinegar can be substituted for rice vinegar, just make sure you have fish sauce and you're set. Chile flakes or cayenne pepper can be used instead of fresh chile, although fresh chile is always preferable for the health benefits (and I think it tastes better, too). Enjoy.

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound chicken pieces, skin on

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, for brushing grill

For the Marinade:

  • 1 fresh red chile, minced, or cayenne pepper, or crushed chile flakes

  • 3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/4 cup honey

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

  • 3 tablespoons fish sauce

  • 1 teaspoon rice vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Pat chicken dry and set in a medium-sized bowl.

  3. Stir together all marinade ingredients and pour over chicken, being sure to cover all surfaces. Set aside to marinate at least 30 minutes or up to 3 hours.

  4. Heat up grill and brush with vegetable oil. Grill chicken, brushing with leftover marinade after the first turning. Also, sprinkle with a little more onion powder. Discard any remaining marinade. Grill until fully opaque in the center of each piece.

  5. Serve with this Thai jasmine rice or salad for the ultimate summer grilling dish. See below recipe for a simple Thai condiment you can serve on the side with this chicken. Enjoy.

Tip

  • Chicken can be tricky to grill. If the grill is too hot, it will tend to burn on the outside while still remaining uncooked inside. We've found it best to set your grill to medium heat and grill it slowly. Be sure to cover it between flips so the heat can really get inside. Chicken with bone in it takes far longer to cook, but we've found it tastes better on the grill, as the bone helps hold the juices in.

Thai Condiment

In Thailand this chicken would be served with a side condiment of fish sauce, lime juice, sugar and chile (roughly 3 tablespoons fish sauce, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar, and chile). Taste-test it for a balance of salty, sweet and spicy flavors according to your taste. Another nice condiment with this chicken is this Thai sweet chili sauce recipe.

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