This Asian Grilled Chicken is tender, juicy, and packed with delicious flavor! Serve it up with a side of rice and steamed veggies for a quick and easy meal the whole family will love.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect for Busy Nights: This Asian style chicken breast can marinate in the fridge for up to a day in advance, and then all you need to do is grill it up! Make it alongside this grilled vegetable salad for a simple dinner that’s ready in no time.
- High-Protein: With 21 grams of protein per serving, this Asian-style grilled chicken recipe is sure to keep you full and satisfied.
- Flavorful: The Asian grilled chicken marinade is savory with a hint of sweetness, making it a favorite among kids and adults alike.
If you love Asian flavors, try our orange chicken and Thai drunken noodles next.
Ingredients
- Chicken: I recommend using boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this Asian chicken recipe.
- Soy Sauce: Forms the base of the marinade and provides an umami flavor. For another marinade using soy sauce, check out this lime marinade for chicken.
- Oil: Olive oil helps the marinade stick to the meat and prevents burning, while sesame oil adds a nutty flavor.
- Aromatics: A combination of fresh ginger and garlic add depth of flavor to the marinade.
- Vinegar: Be sure to use seasoned rice vinegar, not plain, as the seasoned variety has salt and sugar added and provides a sweet and tangy flavor. You can find it in most grocery stores in the international section or in an Asian market.
- Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness to the marinade to balance the savory flavors.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Asian Grilled Chicken Thighs: Swap the chicken breasts for boneless, skinless thighs instead. Note that you may need to add a few minutes of cooking time.
- Gluten-Free: If you want to know how to make Asian chicken gluten-free, all you need to do is use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Refined Sugar-Free: Use unseasoned rice vinegar and substitute the brown sugar for coconut sugar, honey, agave, or maple syrup. Then, add 2 more teaspoons of the refined sugar-free sweetener as well as ½ teaspoon salt to accommodate for the sugar and salt in the seasoned rice vinegar.
How to Make Asian Chicken Marinade & Grill
To get started, gather all of the ingredients and a large bowl or zip top bag.
- Step 1: Prepare the chicken. Add the chicken breasts to your bowl or zip top bag.
- Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients. Add the marinade ingredients to the chicken.
- Step 3: Marinate. Mix everything up to ensure the chicken is fully coated with the marinade. Cover the bowl or seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
- Step 4: Cook. Grill the chicken over medium/medium-high heat until the internal temperature has reached 165°F.
Expert Tips
- Thaw the chicken completely: If your chicken is frozen, be sure to fully thaw it first as this will help the marinade soak in. You can thaw it in the fridge overnight or place the chicken in a sealed zip top bag and submerge in a bowl of cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes.
- Start with a clean grill: Use a grill brush to clean off any residue before you get started. This will prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Oil the grates: Lightly oiling the grill keeps the chicken from sticking and helps create grill marks. Use a paper towel dipped in oil and tongs to wipe the grates once the grill has been preheated.
- Storing leftovers: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer. Thaw before reheating. Chicken can be reheated in the oven, on the stovetop, or in the microwave until warmed through. You can also enjoy the leftovers cold like on this wonton chicken salad!
Serving Suggestions
- Make sandwiches with this grilled Asian chicken and our whole wheat bread. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
- Serve up an Asian-inspired feast featuring this Asian chicken on the grill, these pork spring rolls, and a refreshing homemade boba tea.
- Enjoy your chicken with plain rice or coconut rice and a side of steamed broccoli or roasted asparagus for an easy weeknight meal.
Recipe FAQs
Overcooking the chicken will cause it to dry out, so be sure to remove it from the grill as soon as it’s done. You should also avoid opening and closing the grill, as this releases heat and moisture, leading to uneven cooking.
Yes! If you don’t have a grill or it’s too cold outside for grilling, you can easily make this Asian chicken breast in the oven. Preheat your oven to 375°F and place the marinated chicken in a baking dish or on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 165° on a meat thermometer. For a little char, you can broil the chicken for the last 2-3 minutes.
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
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Grilled Asian Chicken Marinade
Ingredients
- 3-4 boneless skinless Chicken Breast
- ½ cup Soy Sauce
- ¼ cup Olive Oil
- 3 cloves Garlic finely chopped
- 2 teaspoon Fresh Grated Ginger
- 2 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoon Seasoned Rice Vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Season Salt
- 1-2 tablespoon Sesame Seed Oil
Instructions
- Thaw chicken.
- Place chicken and all ingredients in a large ziplock.
- Allow to marinate for at least 30 mins or as long as desired (up to a day in the fridge).
- Grill up and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- If you are using frozen chicken, you will need to thaw it before marinating it for best results.
- Be sure to oil your grill grates so that the chicken doesn’t stick to the grill.
- Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Erin V says
the brown sugar is definitely what did it for me - yummy idea