A mouth-watering roast chicken Chinese recipe that will bring flavor and excitement to your dinner table. Chinese cuisine has a long, interesting history, and there are many variations of roast chicken. This particular recipe adds some delicious Asian flavor while still being quick and easy to prepare. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with this delicious version of roast chicken. Making Chinese-style roast chicken at home is a flavorful and satisfying experience. Here's a simple recipe to guide you through the process:
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Ingredients
A whole chicken: Mine was about 5 pounds. For roast chicken, you'll want to use a whole chicken suitable for roasting. The "broiler" or "roaster" chicken is the most commonly used for roast chicken recipes. Choose an organic chicken if you can! Organic chicken is raised without the use of antibiotics or synthetic hormones, and it just tastes better. It has always been my favorite type of chicken.
Marinade: Cooking oil, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, five-spice powder, minced garlic, light brown sugar. These simple, flavorful ingredients are a must-have for Chinese roast chicken!
Honey: Honey has a natural sweet flavor that can enhance the taste of the chicken. I combine honey with the marinade(see above) to create a flavorful basting mixture. When honey is brushed onto the chicken and exposed to high heat, it caramelizes, creating a glossy glaze.
Salt and black pepper: to taste
Step-by-step cooking instructions
Rinse the chicken under cold running water and pat it dry with paper towels. Remove any excess fat from the cavity and the skin. Season the outside of the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Set aside.
In a bowl, combine the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oil, five-spice powder, minced garlic, light brown sugar, and oyster sauce (optional). Mix well to create the marinade.
Use toothpicks to poke the chicken skin a few times. Season the outside of the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Brush the marinade over the chicken, ensuring it coats the chicken inside and out for at least 10-15 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator before roasting. Add the fresh ginger slices to inside chicken's cavity.
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Remove the chicken from the marinade and let any excess marinade drip off. Place chicken on a roasting rack in a roasting pan or a baking sheet. Wrapping the chicken wing tips and leg with foil before baking prevents the wingtips from burning or becoming overly crispy during the baking process. You can also tie the legs with kitchen twine and tuck the wings under the body. (optional, I did not.)
Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for about 3 hours or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165°F. Baste the chicken with the remaining marinade and honey every 20 minutes to keep it moist and flavorful. Brush honey only over the chicken during the last few minutes of roasting.
Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it sit for 10 minutes before carving. Carve the roast chicken into serving pieces. Serve with steamed rice and your favorite side dish. Enjoy your homemade Chinese-style roast chicken!
Pro tips to make the perfect roast chicken Chinese recipe
Making the perfect Chinese-style roast chicken requires attention to detail and some pro tips to enhance the flavors and achieve the best results. Here are some tips to help you master your roast chicken Chinese recipe:
- Use a Rack: Roast the chicken on a roasting rack placed in a pan. Elevating the chicken helps the heat circulate evenly, resulting in crispy skin.
- Use a meat thermometer to monitor the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken (near the thigh). The chicken is ready when it reaches 165°F (74°C). Avoid overcooking, as it can dry out the meat.
- Rest the Chicken: Allow the roast chicken to rest for 10 minutes before carving, resulting in a juicier chicken.
- Perfect Roasting Time: Roast the chicken at a moderately high temperature, such as 350°F to 425°F, to ensure crispy skin and even cooking.
By following these pro tips, you'll be well on your way to creating a perfect Chinese-style roast chicken with rich flavors, crispy skin, and succulent meat. Enjoy this delicious and comforting dish alongside your favorite Chinese sides for a satisfying meal!
Serving suggestions
Here are some serving suggestions to pair with your roast chicken Chinese recipe:
Steamed rice: The tender and flavorful chicken pairs perfectly with the simplicity of white rice.
Chinese greens stir-fry: Prepare a vibrant stir-fry of Chinese greens like bok choy and gai lan (Chinese broccoli). Stir-fry the greens for a nutritious and colorful side dish.
Sweet and sour sauce: Offer a side of sweet and sour sauce as a dipping option for the roast chicken. The tangy and slightly sweet sauce complements the savory flavors of the chicken.
Fried rice: If you have leftover rice, transform it into delicious fried rice by adding diced vegetables, scrambled eggs, and a touch of soy sauce. Serve the roast chicken alongside the fried rice.
Potstickers: Serve roast chicken with a side of potstickers or spring rolls for a satisfying combination.
By combining the roast chicken with a variety of sides and condiments, you can create a well-balanced Chinese-inspired feast!
Variations of this recipe
Chinese-style roast chicken offers plenty of room for creativity. Here are a couple of ideas for different variations of Chinese roast chicken:
Char siu chicken: Marinate the chicken in a homemade or store-bought char siu sauce. Char siu sauce typically contains ingredients like soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, five-spice powder, and a touch of rice vinegar and red food coloring. The resulting chicken will have a sweet, savory flavor with a beautiful red glaze.
Spicy Sichuan chicken: Add heat by incorporating Sichuan peppercorns, dried red chili peppers, and chili oil into the marinade. The result will be a spicy and numbing Sichuan-style roast chicken.
Feel free to mix and match these variations or create your marinades using a combination of traditional Chinese ingredients and your favorite flavors.
Storing and reheating
Here's how to store and reheat it properly to enjoy your leftovers again.
Storing: Allow this juicy chicken to cool to room temperature. Once it has cooled, store the roast chicken in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic or aluminum foil. Place the sealed container or wrapped chicken in the refrigerator. Chinese roast chicken can typically be safely stored in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheating: You can reheat the leftover Chinese roast chicken in the preheated oven for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through at 350°F. The microwave heat-up method works, too: heat the chicken in short bursts (about 30 seconds) at a time until it's warmed through. Check between bursts to ensure even heating.
Conclusion
With just a few simple ingredients and minimal effort, this Chinese roast chicken recipe can be the star of your next dinner party. Its perfect balance of bold Asian flavors and easy preparation make it an ideal choice for any occasion, such as Chinese New Year! Go ahead and give this recipe a try – you won’t regret it! Share your experience below, and let me know about your version of this dish!
Chinese Roast Chicken Recipe (Simple and Delicious)
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken mine was 5 pounds
- 2 tablespoons oil
- ¼ cup light soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon five-spice powder
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 4 slices fresh ginger slices
- 1 tablespoon honey for brushing
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the chicken under cold running water and pat it dry with paper towels. Remove any excess fat from the cavity and the skin. Season the outside of the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- In a bowl, combine the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oil, five-spice powder, minced garlic, light brown sugar, and oyster sauce (optional). Mix well to create the marinade.
- Use toothpicks to poke the chicken skin a few times. Season the outside of the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Brush the marinade over the chicken, ensuring it coats the chicken inside and out for at least 10-15 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator before roasting. Add the fresh ginger slices to inside chicken's cavity.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Remove the chicken from the marinade and let any excess marinade drip off. Place chicken on a roasting rack in a roasting pan or a baking sheet. Wrapping the chicken wing tips and leg with foil before baking prevents the wingtips from burning or becoming overly crispy during the baking process. You can also tie the legs with kitchen twine and tuck the wings under the body. (optional, I did not.)
- Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for about 3 hours or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165°F. Baste the chicken with the remaining marinade and honey every 20 minutes to keep it moist and flavorful.
- Brush honey only over the chicken during the last few minutes of roasting.
- Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it sit for 10 minutes before carving.
- Carve the roast chicken into serving pieces. Serve with steamed rice and your favorite side dish. Enjoy your homemade Chinese-style roast chicken!
Liza says
LOVE the flavors of this gorgeous roast chicken. It's easy to make and so, so delicious. One of my family's new favorites!
Holly says
Thank you for the great recipe. I am always looking for new ways to make roast chicken (it's my favorite) and this recipe was awesome.
justine says
Skin turned out so crispy with tons of flavor, great recipe.
Caroline says
This chicken has such tasty flavors - and so easy, too!
Michelle says
The chicken turned out perfectly juicy and tender and the glaze was amazing!
LISA BARR says
Want to verify that it cooks at 350 degrees for 3 hours, right???
Yuan says
Yes, 3 hours at 350°F works for a larger chicken (around 5–6 lbs), but it’s best to check that the internal temp reaches 165°F. Thanks.