Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken
lemongrass chicken has been on our weekly rotation 🌿🔥 the marinade is fragrant, a little sweet, a little savory, and the chicken gets this gorgeous caramelized char that just hits different. served it up with jasmine rice, garlicky green beans, and some fresh cucumber slices to balance it all out. this one's a full meal and it comes together faster than you think 🫶
Ingredients
Lemongrass marinade
1.5 lbs boneless chicken thighs (skinless or skin-on)
1/2 cup of chopped lemongrass (or 3 stalks lemongrass, white part only)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, minced
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
1 tbsp avocado oil (or any neutral oil)
1 tsp turmeric
2 tbsp fresh lime
Serves 2-3
Prep time ~overnight is best!
Cook time ~25mins
Cooking Instructions
Prep your chicken, we use chicken thighs only in this kitchen for maximum juiciness! I keep some of the fat to be rendered out during cooking - for maximum flavor.
Combine lemongrass, garlic, shallot, fish sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, oil, turmeric, and lime juice in a bowl or ziploc bag.
Add chicken thighs and toss to coat thoroughly. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
Air fry at 400 for 10 mins, flipping halfway, turn up to 450 for 15mins.
Serve with jasmine rice, sliced cucumbers, and any vegetable side for a full balanced meal!
Tips & Notes
Chicken thighs are key — they stay juicy and caramelize better than breast
Chicken should have an internal temp 165°F
I get my lemongrass pre-chopped from the asian grocery store in the frozen section. I LOVE keeping this in my freezer to use throughout the month.
Marinate at least 1 hour; overnight is best for deep flavor
If you’re using lemongrass stalks - peel outer leaves of lemongrass and use only the soft white inner part — mince as finely as possible
Works great on a grill, grill pan, or regular skillet - however, we love an easy air fryer recipe!
The cucumber slices cut through the richness
Add a drizzle of chili oil or nuoc mam dipping sauce to take it over the top 🌶️