Filipino Chicken Adobo 🍗🇵🇭

6

Filipino Chicken Adobo is one of the Philippines’ most iconic comfort foods. Tender chicken is slowly simmered in a flavorful sauce made with soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, and black pepper, creating a perfect balance of salty, tangy, savory, and slightly sweet flavors.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Marinating Time: 30 minutes–overnight (optional)
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour
Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 3 lbs (1.4 kg) chicken thighs and drumsticks (bone-in, skin-on preferred)
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ½ cup cane vinegar or white vinegar
• 8 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2–3 bay leaves
• 1½ tsp whole black peppercorns
• 1 cup water or chicken broth
• 1 tbsp brown sugar (optional)
• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• Salt, to taste
• Sliced green onions for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Marinate the chicken

1. Combine chicken, soy sauce, half of the garlic, and black pepper.
2. Marinate for 30 minutes or overnight for deeper flavor.

2. Brown the chicken

1. Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven.
2. Remove chicken from marinade (reserve marinade).
3. Brown chicken pieces skin-side down until golden, about 5 minutes per side.

3. Simmer the adobo

1. Add remaining garlic and sauté until fragrant.
2. Pour in reserved marinade, vinegar, water, bay leaves, and peppercorns.
3. Bring to a boil without stirring for the first few minutes to let the vinegar mellow.
4. Lower heat, cover, and simmer for 30–40 minutes until chicken is tender.

4. Reduce the sauce

1. Remove lid and simmer until the sauce becomes glossy and slightly thick.
2. Add brown sugar if you prefer a hint of sweetness.
3. Adjust seasoning as needed.

5. Serve

• Spoon the rich sauce over chicken.
• Serve hot with steamed jasmine rice.

Popular Variations

🥥 Adobo Sa Gata: Add coconut milk for a creamy version.
🍍 Pineapple Chicken Adobo: Add pineapple chunks for sweetness.
🌶️ Spicy Adobo: Add chili peppers.
🐷 Pork & Chicken Adobo: Combine pork belly with chicken for a classic mixed adobo.
🍳 Adobo Flakes: Shred leftovers and fry until crispy.

Tips for Authentic Chicken Adobo

• Use plenty of garlic—the flavor is essential.
• Bone-in chicken gives the richest sauce.
• Let the vinegar cook down to remove its sharpness and develop depth.
• Adobo often tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to blend.

Filipino Chicken Adobo is a true classic: tender chicken, aromatic garlic, and a rich sweet-sour sauce that turns a simple meal into unforgettable comfort food. 🍚✨