Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken with Nuoc Cham

Name: Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken with Nuoc Cham
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 110 min
Ingredients: 1.5 pounds chicken thigh ((skin on, boneless)); 1-2 stalk lemongrass* (white part only); 3 garlic cloves (grated); ½ tablespoon ginger (grated); ½ tablespoon hoisin sauce; ½ tablespoon fish sauce; ½ tablespoon soy sauce; 1 teaspoon sugar; ¼ teaspoon white pepper; 1 tablespoon sugar; 1 tablespoon fish sauce; ½ lime (juice only); 1-2 garlic cloves (minced or grated); 1 teaspoon rice vinegar; 1-2 thai chilis (optional )

Ingredients for Lemongrass Chicken

Garlic, sugar, lemongrass, white pepper, fish sauce, ginger, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and chicken thigh laid out on the table.

Chicken Marinade:

chicken thigh (skin on, bone-in): skin-on helps seal in the juices of the chicken and the bone-in provides lots of flavor (and more juices) too! You may make this boneless if you wish, but keep in mind the cooking duration will shorten

lemongrass – use the white part only as it has the most flavor. Peel out the outer leaves that have dried up. The lemongrass brings a citrus and aromatic flavor to the chicken

garlic – gives this chicken marinade extra flavor

ginger – helps take out the gaminess of the chicken

hoisin sauce – gives sweetness to the dish

fish sauce – the savory and umami flavor is the base of the sauce

soy sauce – gives more saltiness to the chicken

sugar – helps balance the lemongrass and savoriness of the meet

white pepper: helps with the gaminess of the meat. You can substitute with black pepper if you don’t have white pepper

Nuoc Cham Sauce (savory dipping sauce)

In Vietnam, this sauce is served with many grilled meats and vermicelli. The sauce is sweet, tangy and savory which will give your chicken an explosion of flavor! Fish sauce is the primary ingredient for it’s salty umami flavor. The brand I like is called Three Crabs and you can get that at the Chinese or Korean market (99 Ranch or Hmart). I recommend to use thai chilis and lime for authentic flavor as well.

How to make lemongrass chicken:

chopping lemongrass on a wooden cutting board

Step 1: Hit the stem of the lemongrass to release flavor. Chop the lemongrass (only need the inside stem part, which yields 1-2 tsp). Grate the ginger and garlic.

Step 2: Mix garlic, ginger, hoisin, fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and white pepper until well mixed. Marinate chicken thighs for at least an hour to overnight in the refrigerator. Overnight tastes best!

Step 3: You can choose one method to cook the chicken: bake or air-fry.

Baking instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Once the oven is heated, add the chicken in the oven. Bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown. When the internal chicken temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (I would use a thermometer for this!), it’s done!

Air fryer instructions: Preheat the air fryer at 350 degrees and air-fry for 20 minutes or until golden and make sure the internal chicken temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 4: After 15 minutes of cooking, I recommend to brush some excess marinade on top get a nice golden brown on the top (Optional). Let this cook for 5 minutes and make your nuoc cham sauce!

Serve

Expert Tips

After cooking, the chicken will have juices come out. Save the juice and pour it on top of the chicken before serving!

Serve this chicken with your favorite herbs such as cilantro and mint. The herbs make the chicken taste more refreshing and flavorful!

Before cooking the chicken in the oven or air-fryer, take it out of the refrigerator 15-30 minutes prior to cooking. This helps cook the chicken more evenly and the center is not too cold.

Bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs work great for this recipe because the bone gives the chicken extra flavor and keeps it juicy. The sugar from the marinade also caramelizes the skin and creates a nice charred flavor.

Recipe FAQ

Can I use chicken breast or use another protein?

Yes, you can use any protein you like such as pork chops (great with this recipe). Chicken breast can also be used but keep in mind that you will need to adjust the cooking times depending on how thick your chicken breast is. I recommend these lemongrass pork bahn mi as well!

Where do I buy lemongrass?

You can find lemongrass at most asian grocery stores such as 99 ranch or Hmart. They are in the produce section. Try to look for one that doesn’t have brown leaves (indicates that it has dried out).

How do I serve this?

You can enjoy your Vietnamese lemongrass chicken with noodles, rice, in a spring roll form or on top of a salad! I like to serve with a variety of herbs (cilantro, mint or perilla leaves). Pickled radish and carrots are also great to serve with this dish. If you want some side dishes check out this Thai Fried Egg Salad and Cold Sesame Noodles.