Description
Filipino Adobo Chicken is a classic dish made by simmering chicken in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns for a deeply savory, tangy flavor that embodies Filipino home cooking.
Ingredients
2 lbs chicken thighs or drumsticks (bone-in, skin-on preferred)
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup vinegar (white or cane vinegar)
6 cloves garlic, crushed
2–3 bay leaves
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp oil (for browning)
Optional: 1 small onion, sliced
Optional: 1 tsp brown sugar
Optional: 2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
Instructions
- In a bowl or zip-top bag, combine chicken, soy sauce, garlic, and bay leaves. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight for best flavor.
- Heat oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Remove chicken from marinade and sear on both sides until browned. Set aside.
- Add marinade to the pot along with vinegar, water, and peppercorns (and optional onion and sugar if using). Bring to a boil.
- Return the chicken to the pot. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30–40 minutes until the chicken is tender.
- Uncover and continue simmering if you prefer a thicker sauce. Add hard-boiled eggs in the last 10 minutes if using.
- Serve hot over steamed white rice, spooning sauce on top.
Notes
- Marinating overnight enhances flavor but can be skipped in a hurry.
- Bone-in chicken provides more depth of flavor during simmering.
- Adobo gets even tastier the next day as flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Filipino
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 1100mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 170mg
