Easy Chicken Adobo Recipe (2024)

Published: by Carolyn

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This Chicken Adobo recipe is a dinnertime flavor explosion! With juicy, succulent chicken thighs in a tangy, zesty sauce, it will become an instant family favorite.

It’s been a long time since I revisited this easy Chicken Adobo, and I had forgotten how much I love it. It used to be a staple in our house, made for dinner with semi-regularity. But I hesitate to admit that I haven’t made it in many years.

In a donkey’s age, as my mother used to say!

I was suddenly inspired to resurrect this Keto Chicken Adobo, and I couldn’t believe I let it languish in obscurity for so long. If you want an easy keto dinner recipe that has everyone begging for second helpings, this is the one!

And check out my French Onion Chicken recipe while you’re at it.

Why you need to make this recipe

Chicken Adobo is a famous Filipino dish, and rightly considered the “unofficial” national dish of the country. A friend of Filipino heritage introduced me to it when I lived in Boston, but strangely, it never occurred to me to request her family recipe.

Then I chanced upon it in a cookbook and started making it for my family. They loved it from the get-go. I made a few simple modifications, and low and behold, I had created Keto Chicken Adobo. That was back in 2011, if you can believe it!

It’s an easy recipe that has minimal prep work, and it results the most tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken you’ve ever had. The final step of grilling or broiling creates a crispy finish that almost resembles burnished gold.

It also makes plenty of luscious, tangy sauce too. Pair it with some coconut cauliflower rice to soak up all that deliciousness!

Reader Reviews

“I made this last week and it was delicious. Served with Cauliflower RIce and Green Beans. I over did the sauce at the end so it was way to thick, but the chicken as prepared was outstanding. Will be a regular on our menu.” — John D.

“What a great recipe! This was embarrassingly easy to make and with a stellar result. I’ve had beef adobo and hadn’t ever made any adobo myself until tonight. A big hit with the hubby and we’ll definitely be having this again. Thanks!” — Anonymous

“Your Chicken Adobo recipe is out of this world. I made it tonight only because you recommended it as one of the best chicken dishes you make. I can appreciate why you would. The chicken was moist and tender and the sauce added a wonder flavor and a sense of something really special.” — Sandra

Ingredients you need

  • Bone-in chicken thighs: Bone-in chicken makes this Chicken Adobo recipe hearty and satisfying. You can use all thighs or a combination of thighs and drumsticks.
  • Tamari: I prefer tamari because it has a stronger flavor than soy sauce, and is gluten-free. But soy sauce works as well.
  • Apple cider vinegar: You can also use white vinegar or rice vinegar.
  • Swerve Brown:A little sweetener balances the acidity and helps caramelize the chicken and sauce. You can skip it if you prefer.
  • Garlic: Use fresh garlic for a classic flavor.
  • Seasonings: Bay leaves and peppercorns are standard in chicken adobo, and I like to add a little bit of red pepper flakes as well.

Step-by-step directions

1. Prepare the sauce: Combine the soy sauce, vinegar, water, Swerve brown, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns together in a large skillet or dutch oven. The skillet should be large enough to accommodate the chicken in a single layer. Bring to a boil over medium high heat.

2. Add the chicken: Add the chicken, skin-side down and reduce the heat to medium low. Cover and cook for 30 minutes, turning once during cooking.

3. Broil the chicken: Preheat the broiler. Place the chicken on a broiling pan and set 3 to 4 inches from the heat source. Broil on both sides until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

4. Reduce the sauce: Meanwhile, increase the heat on the sauce in the pan until it boils vigorously. Cook until reduced to about 1 cup.

5. Serve: Drizzle the chicken with sauce and sprinkle with green onion. Pass any remaining sauce around at the table

Expert tips

It’s pretty hard to mess up adobo, so this is a very forgiving recipe. Don’t cook the chicken too long in the liquids, or they will become so tender, you will end up with shredded chicken.

While it’s not standard for chicken adobo, I do recommend the step of broiling the chicken. It helps caramelize the chicken to a beautiful burnished gold

Garnish with some fresh cilantro or green onions. If you like it spicy, you can add more red pepper flakes or even a little jalapeño.

You can serve it over cilantro lime cauliflower rice or with some Keto Sesame Noodles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does chicken adobo contain?

Chicken adobo is a delightfully tangy Filipino dish that contains chicken thighs, soy sauce, vinegar, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Some recipes add ginger or hot peppers for additional flavor.

How many carbs are in Chicken Adobo?

As long as you don’t add sugar and are mindful of other ingredients, you can enjoy Chicken Adobo on a keto diet. This recipe has only 1.9g of carbs per serving.

How do I store leftover chicken adobo?

If you have any leftover adobo, store it in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 4 months.

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Chicken Adobo Recipe

This Chicken Adobo recipe is a dinnertime flavor explosion! With juicy, succulent chicken thighs in a tangy, zesty sauce, it will become an instant family favorite.

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: dinner

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: chicken adobo, chicken adobo recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 386kcal

Ingredients

  • cup tamari or soy sauce
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon Swerve Brown (optional)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 whole bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon peppercorns
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 ½ lbs bone-in chicken thighs (or a combination of thighs and drumsticks)
  • 1 medium green onion, thinly sliced

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Combine the tamari, vinegar, water, Swerve brown, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns together in a large skillet or dutch oven. The skillet should be large enough to accommodate the chicken in a single layer. Bring to a boil over medium high heat.

  • Add the chicken, skin-side down and reduce the heat to medium low. Cover and cook for 30 minutes, turning once during cooking.

  • Preheat the broiler. Place the chicken on a broiling pan and set 3 to 4 inches from the heat source. Broil on both sides until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

  • Meanwhile, increase the heat on the sauce in the pan until it boils vigorously. Cook until reduced to about 1 cup.

  • Drizzle the chicken with sauce and sprinkle with green onion. Pass any remaining sauce around at the table.

Notes

Storage Information: Store any leftover adobo in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 4 months.

Nutrition Facts

Chicken Adobo Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 thigh)

Calories 386Calories from Fat 229

% Daily Value*

Fat 25.4g39%

Carbohydrates 1.9g1%

Fiber 0.3g1%

Protein 32.6g65%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Nutritional Disclaimer

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them.I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Marie-Jeanne says

    Easy Chicken Adobo Recipe (12)
    LOVE LOVE LOVE IT !!! I made it the other week and it was ever so delicious !!! I most definitely will make it again, and again and again (and again -;)) !!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT !!! MJ from Belgium

    Reply

  2. Debra Hulsebusch says

    Easy Chicken Adobo Recipe (13)
    Delicious! Best thighs with a superb sauce.

    Reply

  3. lucy says

    This was a keeper for me…another recipe that I (and my carb-loving partner!) was dazzled by. Thank you, Carolyn!

    Reply

    • Carolyn says

      So glad you liked it!

      Reply

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Easy Chicken Adobo Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of vinegar is best for chicken adobo? ›

The traditional Filipino chicken adobo generally uses palm vinegar. However, unless you live in a major city with massive access to all sorts of pan-Asian ingredients, you're not likely to find that in your local market. My stepmother, who passed on this recipe to me, suggested white wine vinegar as a good substitute.

What makes adobo taste good? ›

The glaze of Filipino Chicken Adobo is savoury and sweet with a hint of tang, with a distinct soy flavour. The garlic and onion creates a savoury base along with the bay leaves, and the peppercorns add little subtle pops of heat.

What is chicken adobo made of? ›

Chicken Adobo is a Filipino dish made by braising chicken legs (thighs and/or drumsticks) in a sauce made up of vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and black pepper. It's tangy, salty, garlicy, slightly sweet, and spicy. The chicken is slowly simmered in the sauce making it flavorful and incredibly tender.

What is adobo seasoning made of? ›

Adobo seasoning is an all-purpose dry spice blend often found in Caribbean and Latin American cuisine. It typically contains salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, cumin, and oregano.

Why do you not stir vinegar in adobo? ›

After pouring in the vinegar, do not stir the vinegar into the soy sauce. This helps to burn off the acid in the vinegar in the bottom of the pot. Using the right vinegar is important. It's crucial to use the vinegars recommended for chicken adobo as some can really change the flavor.

What happens if you put too much vinegar in adobo? ›

TLDR: adding a pinch of baking soda to a dish that you put too much vinegar will fix it.

What is the difference between Mexican and Filipino adobo? ›

Philippine adobo has a characteristically salty and sour, and often sweet taste, in contrast to Spanish and Mexican adobos, which are spicier or infused with oregano.

What vegetables go in adobo? ›

I've since learned that the technique of searing and then softening in sauce extends to other vegetables: Mushrooms, cabbage, cauliflower, okra, squash, and even wilted greens like water spinach all welcome the process of adobo. Writer Ria Elciario makes green bean adobo, topped with crumbled tofu.

What is a good side dish for chicken adobo? ›

Filipino Chicken Adobo is a simple dish that packs a big flavor punch. The combination of soy, vinegar, and sugar creates a salty-sweet tangy glaze that is hard to stop eating. Paired with the bright crunch of the corn and cucumber salad, this dish goes equally well on a bed of rice as it does in a taco.

Which soy sauce for adobo? ›

If a Filipino brand of soy sauce (eg Silver Swan, Datu Puti, UFC) is not available, any Chinese brand of dark soy sauce will do. But you may have to adjust the quantity. Japanese soy sauce has a different flavor and does not work well with adobo.

How do you thicken chicken adobo sauce? ›

(For a thicker consistency, blend a small amount of flour with coconut milk, chicken broth, or water, then stir into sauce.) Make sure the meat stays moist and covered with the liquid. If meat looks like it's drying out, add a bit more chicken broth or water. Stir flour into coconut milk and add to the Dutch oven.

What ethnicity is chicken adobo? ›

An iconic Filipino dish, chicken adobo features succulent chicken simmered in a sauce of vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, black pepper, and creamy coconut milk.

Which adobo seasoning is the best? ›

What's the best adobo to buy? The most popular brands are Badia, Goya, and McCormick. These dry adobos, which usually come labeled as adobo completo or complete seasoning, are mostly a blend of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, oregano, and other dry herbs and spices.

Do you put MSG in adobo? ›

Yes and no, many companies that make and sell adobo seasoning do put MSG in their seasoning blend, along with a host of other ingredients you probably do not want in your food. But Seasonest is not one of those companies. Seasonest Adobo seasoning is a savory blend of pure, fresh, organic herbs and spices.

What can I use instead of adobo? ›

The 10 Best Substitutes for Adobo Sauce
  • Achiote Paste.
  • Ancho Chili Powder.
  • Barbecue Sauce.
  • Cajun Seasoning.
  • Chili Garlic Sauce.
  • Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce.
  • Homemade Adobo Spice Blend.
  • Ranchero Sauce.
Oct 26, 2023

Which vinegar is best for chicken? ›

Apple cider vinegar is also a natural source of potassium, so can help regulate levels in your hens' bodies. Potassium controls the use of calcium in the body, allowing more calcium to be freely available to assist with eggshell production.

What kind of vinegar do you use to make chicken stock? ›

White wine, apple cider vinegar, and white wine vinegar are your best bets, as they won't discolor the chicken stock and also won't impart a very strong flavor to it (they'll just enhance what's already there). Lemon juice can also work, but know it will give a mild citrus flavor to the stock.

Can I use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar for adobo? ›

Soy Sauce: I like to use low-sodium soy sauce, but regular works too. Vinegar: Use a third cup of apple cider vinegar, white vinegar can also be used. Garlic: Crush a small head of garlic – about eight garlic cloves. Peppercorns: Grind six black peppercorns with a mortar and pestle.

Which is better, cane vinegar or white vinegar? ›

However, since white vinegar is stronger than its counterpart, it is more suitable for cleaning and sanitizing. SUGAR CANE VINEGAR : Sugar cane vinegar is a mild vinegar often used in Philippine cooking and on many islands where sugar cane is grown and harvested. One of the classic dishes is adobo.

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