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–+ servings
“Plate of caramelized char siu chicken served with steamed white rice, garnished with finely chopped parsley.”

Char Siu Chicken

Sticky, sweet-savory Chinese-style BBQ chicken made easy in your oven. This Char Siu Chicken has that restaurant-style caramelized glaze, deep flavor from hoisin and five-spice, and perfect tenderness without a smoker. Quick prep, minimal cleanup, and huge flavor every time.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Marinating Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired, Chinese
Calories: 390
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

🥢 For the Marinade
  • ¼ cup hoisin sauce - sweet rich base
  • 3 tablespoon soy sauce - regular or low sodium
  • 3 tablespoon honey - adds sticky sweetness
  • 2 tablespoon rice wine or dry sherry - flavor depth
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil - nutty aroma
  • 2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder - essential for authentic flavor
  • 3 cloves garlic - minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger - grated
  • 2 tablespoon ketchup - balances sweetness
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar - enhances caramelization
🍗 For the Chicken
  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs - best for juiciness
  • 2 tablespoon vegetable oil - for baking sheet
🌿 For Serving
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds - garnish
  • 2 green onions - sliced
  • steamed rice - serving suggestion

Equipment

  • 1 Large zip-top bag or dish (For marinating chicken)
  • 1 Baking sheet (Line with foil for easy cleanup)
  • 1 Wire rack (Optional but helps crisp the chicken)
  • 1 Whisk (To mix the marinade)
  • 1 Pastry Brush (For brushing marinade on chicken)
  • 1 Oven (Preheated to 425°F)
  • 1 Meat thermometer (To check for 165°F doneness)

Method
 

  1. Whisk hoisin, soy, honey, rice wine, five-spice, garlic, ginger, ketchup, and sugar until smooth.
    “Bowl of homemade char siu sauce with a whisk, showing a glossy dark red glaze made from soy sauce, honey, and spices.”
  2. Coat chicken with marinade in zip bag; refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight for best flavor.
  3. Line baking sheet with foil, place wire rack, and preheat oven to 425°F.
  4. Broil 3–5 minutes for charred edges; rest 5 minutes, slice, and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.
    “Sliced char siu chicken glazed with sticky soy-based sauce, topped with sesame seeds and sliced green onions on a white serving dish.”

Nutrition

Serving: 200GCalories: 390kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 34gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 155mgSodium: 820mgPotassium: 520mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 180IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 2.1mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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