Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken
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Savory and citrusy with just a hint of sweetness, this lemongrass chicken is a pure delight. Grilled chicken thighs are super tender and the perfect thing to dip in a semi-spicy sriracha mayo! Yum-my!
Don't limit this delicious lemongrass flavor to chicken, try it with these Vietnamese lemongrass meatballs!
Ginger, lime, garlic, lemongrass, and soy sauce – you can almost taste it, right? This lemongrass chicken recipe is easy enough to make a perfect weeknight meal or make it for large groups when you're hosting. Bookmark this recipe now because it will quickly become your go-to grilled chicken recipe.
What the recipe testers are saying
“This is my go-to recipe for parties. Almost every time that I’ve made it, I’ve had at least one person ask me for the recipe — everyone loves it!” ~Elise
“Seriously, I love everything about this chicken. The lemongrass marinade, the sriracha mayo & especially that this is made with chicken THIGHS. Just YES!” ~Cheyanne
What is lemongrass chicken?
Lemongrass is a type of grass that grows in warmer climates. It has a punchy, semi-sweet, somewhat minty, sort of gingery, lemon taste. It's aromatic and adds a distinct citrus flavor to any dish. It's widely used in Asian cuisine, in herbal teas, essential oils, and cocktails.
When picking up lemongrass at the store, look for firm stalks that are white/yellow at the base and bright green near the top.
Adding lemongrass to a chicken marinade gives a pungent, lemon-y flavor to your dish. It's super simple to prepare and cook with, so even if you've never used lemongrass before, you can master this incredible ingredient.
Ingredients needed
Mmm, this Vietnamese lemongrass chicken is vibrant and juicy and pairs well with so many side dishes to make a full meal! We're excited for you! Here's what you'll need and a little about what it adds to the dish:
- Cooking oil: Use an oil you already have in your cupboard, like olive oil or coconut oil.
- Rice wine vinegar: This brings some acid but is also slightly sweet so won't overpower the other flavors in the dish. You'll need ¼ cup.
- Soy sauce: Add some soy sauce for a rich, salty quality. You can substitute tamari if gluten-free is needed.
- Lemongrass: The not-so-secret ingredient that gives so much incredible flavor to this dish. You'll need 2 stalks using the inner white part only.
- Garlic cloves: Add 2 whole, fresh cloves of garlic to your marinade.
- Ginger: Use a sizeable piece of ginger for this recipe, honestly if you add a little extra – no one will be mad! You can add it whole or minced to the blender to make the marinade.
- Lime: Use the juice of an entire lime for some extra citrusy vibes.
- Chicken thighs: It's optimal to use chicken thighs for this recipe, since they stay tender while cooking. They're also thinner than some other cuts of chicken (like breasts), so they absorb more of the marinade – yum!
- Optional garnishes: try adding some green onions, sliced chilies, red onion, and lime. Any of these garnishes will be a nice finishing, fresh note for the chicken.
How to make lemongrass chicken
The most wonderful dishes are simple to make AND still manage to bring great flavor and taste to the table. This is one of those recipes. Here's the gist of what you'll do to make this lemongrass chicken recipe:
- Make the marinade: Toss the marinade ingredients — oil, vinegar, soy sauce, fresh lemongrass, garlic, ginger, and lime juice — into a blender. Get it nice and smooth. If you don't have a blender you can use a food processor, or if your blender isn't high-powered you can try chopping up the ingredients first instead of putting them in whole.
- Let the chicken marinate: Waiting is the hardest part. But! Once you pour the marinade over the chicken thighs, let them sit for a couple of hours before cooking so that all that flavor gets imparted.
- Sriracha mayo time: Whip together your sriracha mayo by combining the mayonnaise, sriracha, and sea salt in a small bowl.
- Cook: Discard any extra marinade and get your chicken on the bbq or in a grill pan on medium-high heat.
- Garnish & devour: Add any garnishes you like and don't hold back! Supper time's going to be delish!
What to serve with lemongrass chicken
Your options are endless! But here are some ideas of how to serve this Vietnamese lemongrass chicken as your star dish with a couple other supporting sides to make one heck of a meal!
- Sub your lemongrass chicken for the tofu in this easy veggie stir fry
- Add your grilled chicken to some coconut rice or ginger rice.
- Try it with an Asian noddle salad or this Asian-inspired peanut coleslaw.
- Pair your lemongrass chicken with veggies like this sauteed bok choy, some spicy long beans, or these garlic butter sugar snap peas.
Recipe FAQs
What does lemongrass taste like?
Lemongrass has a strong lemon flavor and is somewhat minty and gingery at the same time. It has a super fresh, citrus taste.
Where can I buy lemongrass?
If your local grocery store has robust international ingredients you can find it there, or at an Asian market or grocery store.
Can I use lemongrass paste instead?
If fresh lemongrass stalks are not available where you live, you can use lemongrass paste. 1 tablespoon of lemongrass paste replaces one lemongrass stalk.
How can I make this recipe on my stove?
You can make this recipe stove-top in a grill pan or non-stick pan instead of using the bbq. Cook the chicken on medium-high heat until golden on the outside and reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
How can I make this recipe with chicken breasts?
You can make this lemongrass chicken recipe using chicken breasts, however, know that due to the thickness and cooking time for this cut it won't be nearly as tender or flavorful as chicken thighs. Chicken breasts will dry out quicker.
How long does leftover lemongrass chicken last?
Cooked chicken will last in the fridge if kept in a sealed container for 3-4 days.
Lemongrass Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cooking oil
- ¼ cup rice wine vinegar (can sub apple cider vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
- 2 stalks lemongrass (inner white part only)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 inch piece of ginger
- 1 lime (juiced)
- 8 boneless chicken thighs
- Green onions, thinly sliced chilies, red onion, and lime (to serve)
The Sriracha Mayo
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1-3 teaspoons sriracha (to taste)
- 1 pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Place the oil, vinegar, soy sauce, lemongrass, garlic, ginger, and lime juice into a blender and blend on high until smooth.¼ cup cooking oil, ¼ cup rice wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 stalks lemongrass, 2 cloves garlic, 2 inch piece of ginger, 1 lime
- Place the chicken thighs in a shallow container (like a baking dish) and pour the marinade over the top. Mix the chicken thighs around well, so each piece is coated in the marinade. Let the chicken marinate for 1-2 hours.8 boneless chicken thighs
- While the chicken is marinating, make the sriracha mayo. Combine the mayonnaise, sriracha, and sea salt in a small bowl and mix well. Refrigerate until you use it.¼ cup mayonnaise, 1-3 teaspoons sriracha, 1 pinch sea salt
- Preheat your bbq or grill pan to medium-high. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade.
- Place the chicken on the bbq and grill it for 6-7 minutes per side, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the chicken from the grill, top with garnishes, and serve the sriracha mayo on the side.Green onions, thinly sliced chilies, red onion, and lime
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our chicken recipes and our dinner ideas!
