Thai Grilled Chili-Garlic Chicken

Written by
Darlene Schmidt
Darlene Schmidt is a cookbook author and culinary teacher who specializes in Thai cuisine.
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Darlene Schmidt
Updated 02/05/20
thai grilled chicken
Getty Images / samritk
  • Total: 35 mins
  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 25 mins
  • Servings: 4 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
329 Calories
15g Fat
32g Carbs
19g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 329
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 3g 13%
Cholesterol 47mg 16%
Sodium 1630mg 71%
Total Carbohydrate 32g 12%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Protein 19g
Calcium 87mg 7%
*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. Chili flakes or cayenne pepper can be used instead of fresh chili, although fresh chili is always preferable for the health benefits (and I think it tastes better too). Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound chicken pieces (skin on)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for brushing grill)
  • For the Marinade:
  • 1 fresh red chili (minced OR cayenne pepper or crushed chili flakes)
  • 3 to 4 cloves fresh garlic (minced)
  • 4 tablespoons 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-size 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 chili (roughly 3 tablespoons fish sauce, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar, and chili). 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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