This recipe for Lemongrass Chicken Thighs is inspired by Vietnamese flavors. It’s a quick, easy, and flavorful dish featuring chicken thighs coated in a lemongrass-ginger paste and paired with two delicious sauces. The combination of fresh lemongrass, ginger, and fish sauce creates a perfectly savory meal that is ready in under 30 minutes. Serve it with rice and a refreshing cucumber salad for a complete meal.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Lemongrass Chicken Thighs:

• 2 tbsp fresh ginger, roughly chopped

• 6-8 garlic cloves

• 5-inch piece lemongrass, tough outer parts removed, roughly chopped

• 2 tbsp honey

• 4 tbsp vegetable oil

• 1 tbsp kosher salt

• 3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs

For the Sriracha-Brown Sugar Sauce:

• ¼ cup packed light brown sugar

• ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce or tamari

• 2 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar

• 1 tsp sriracha

• ½ tsp toasted sesame oil

• 1 tsp minced fresh ginger

• 1 tbsp minced garlic

For the Scallion Oil:

• 6 green onions, chopped

• 2 tsp minced fresh ginger

• 2 tsp minced garlic

• 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce or tamari

• 1 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar

• 1 tbsp fish sauce

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Directions

1. Make the Lemongrass Paste:
   In a food processor, blend the ginger, garlic, lemongrass, honey, 2 tbsp vegetable oil, and salt until smooth. Coat the chicken thighs in the paste and let them marinate for 30 minutes.

2. Cook the Chicken:
   Heat the remaining 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken thighs in batches, searing each side for 5 minutes, and then flipping and cooking for an additional 8 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

3. Make the Sriracha-Brown Sugar Sauce:
   In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sriracha, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. Simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Remove from heat.

4. Make the Scallion Oil:
   In a small bowl, whisk together green onions, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, fish sauce, and vegetable oil.

5. Serve:
   Drizzle the cooked chicken thighs with both the sriracha-brown sugar sauce and the scallion oil. Serve hot with rice and a refreshing cucumber salad.

Nutrients

• Calories: 389

• Protein: 40g

• Carbohydrates: 20g

• Total Fat: 22g

• Dietary Fiber: 1g

• Sodium: 857mg

• Total Sugars: 17g

This dish is packed with bold flavors from the lemongrass, ginger, and sauces, making it a perfect option for a quick weeknight dinner or an elegant meal for guests.

The Power of Lemongrass in Vietnamese Cooking

Lemongrass is a key ingredient in many Vietnamese dishes, known for its fresh, citrusy aroma and flavor. It imparts a subtle, zesty flavor to meats, broths, and sauces, often being paired with ginger and garlic to create a fragrant base for a wide variety of dishes. The lemongrass-ginger paste in this recipe is the cornerstone of the dish, providing a beautiful, aromatic flavor that infuses the chicken. The tough outer parts of the lemongrass are discarded, and the remaining stalks are finely chopped before being blended into the paste, making it easy to incorporate into the marinade.

The combination of lemongrass with garlic and ginger not only enhances the fragrance of the dish but also balances out the rich, savory flavors of the chicken, creating a depth of flavor that’s characteristic of Vietnamese cuisine. This lemongrass-infused chicken is a great example of how fresh, aromatic ingredients can turn a simple dish into something extraordinary.

Marinating the Chicken for Maximum Flavor

The first step in preparing this dish is marinating the chicken in the lemongrass-ginger paste. This marinade is made by blending fresh ginger, garlic, lemongrass, honey, vegetable oil, and salt in a food processor. The paste is then massaged into the chicken thighs, allowing the flavors to penetrate the meat. Marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes helps tenderize the meat while infusing it with the bold, aromatic flavors of the lemongrass and ginger.

While marinating, the honey adds a touch of sweetness that helps balance the savory and spicy components, giving the chicken a delicious, golden glaze when cooked. The salt in the marinade ensures the chicken absorbs the full depth of flavor while seasoning the meat evenly. This step is essential for achieving the vibrant, complex flavor profile that makes this dish so satisfying.

Cooking the Chicken to Perfection

Once the chicken is marinated, it’s time to cook it. The chicken thighs are seared in a large skillet over medium heat, which helps develop a crispy, golden exterior while keeping the inside juicy and tender. Cooking the chicken in batches ensures that the meat is evenly cooked and not overcrowded in the pan. Each side is seared for about 5 minutes, and then the chicken is flipped and cooked for an additional 8 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. This method guarantees that the chicken is perfectly cooked, tender, and full of flavor.

The high-heat searing technique also helps to lock in the delicious lemongrass-ginger paste, ensuring that every bite of chicken is packed with savory goodness. The result is a beautifully caramelized chicken with a juicy interior and crispy, flavorful exterior—just the right balance of textures.

Sriracha-Brown Sugar Sauce: Sweet, Spicy, and Savory

While the chicken is cooking, you can prepare the two sauces that will elevate the dish even further. The Sriracha-Brown Sugar Sauce is a sweet and spicy mixture that pairs perfectly with the savory chicken. To make the sauce, combine brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sriracha, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic in a small saucepan. Simmering the ingredients for about 10 minutes allows the sauce to thicken slightly, creating a rich, flavorful glaze that can be drizzled over the cooked chicken. The brown sugar adds sweetness, while the sriracha brings heat, and the sesame oil imparts a nutty depth to the sauce.

This sauce is the perfect complement to the lemongrass-marinated chicken, providing a kick of heat and sweetness that enhances the overall flavor profile of the dish. It adds a glossy finish to the chicken and makes each bite more indulgent.

Scallion Oil: A Fresh and Fragrant Finish

The second sauce in this recipe is Scallion Oil, a fragrant sauce that’s light and fresh, offering a contrast to the richness of the Sriracha-Brown Sugar Sauce. The Scallion Oil is made by whisking together chopped green onions, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, fish sauce, and vegetable oil. The green onions and garlic provide a mild, aromatic base, while the fish sauce adds a savory, umami flavor that brings all the ingredients together. The ginger provides an extra layer of freshness and warmth, balancing the richness of the chicken and the sweetness of the other sauce.

Drizzling the Scallion Oil over the chicken just before serving gives it a burst of flavor and a beautiful, vibrant finish. The freshness of the green onions and the tang of the vinegar contrast nicely with the sweeter, spicier elements of the dish, creating a well-rounded and satisfying meal.

Serving Suggestions: A Complete Meal

Lemongrass Chicken Thighs are best served with steamed rice, which soaks up the flavorful sauces and provides a neutral base for the bold, aromatic chicken. To complete the meal, you can pair it with a refreshing cucumber salad, which adds a cool, crunchy contrast to the savory and spicy chicken. The crispness of the cucumber, combined with a light dressing of rice vinegar and a touch of sugar, provides a refreshing balance to the richness of the chicken and sauces.

For a more substantial meal, you could also serve the chicken with stir-fried vegetables like bok choy, carrots, or snap peas, which add color, crunch, and extra nutrition to the plate.

Conclusion

Lemongrass Chicken Thighs is a perfect dish for anyone who loves bold, aromatic flavors and quick, easy meals. The lemongrass-ginger paste infuses the chicken with a unique flavor profile that’s both savory and refreshing. The two sauces—Sriracha-Brown Sugar Sauce and Scallion Oil—add layers of complexity, balancing sweet, spicy, and savory elements to create a well-rounded dish. This dish is not only delicious but also simple to prepare, making it an excellent choice for weeknight dinners, family meals, or even entertaining guests. Paired with rice and a refreshing cucumber salad, Lemongrass Chicken Thighs is a satisfying, flavorful meal that’s sure to become a favorite in your cooking repertoire.