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Last Updated on January 3, 2021

Get ready to love this delicious chicken adobo recipe. It’s one of my favorite Filipino chicken adobo recipes that is loaded down with taste and flavor. This is a great recipe that combines chicken and a ton of other amazing ingredients to create a flavor that makes an authentic Filipino dish. My husband LOVES this dish and the flavor that the adobo sauce adds. It’s also an amazing Paleo Adobo Chicken dish.

One of my favorite memories is sitting in the kitchen with my ma while she braided my ridiculously long hair and breathing in the tangy scent of vinegar and soy sauce. This is one of the reasons that I make sure to keep this recipe in our family. It’s a great recipe that brings me joy.

While I do try to avoid soy as much as possible, I have a small bottle of wheat-free Tamari that I pull out every couple of months to make my ma’s Filipino chicken adobo recipe.

Not only does it taste amazing but I get that nice warm homey feeling that I hope someday the Little experiences when he cooks up this adobo chicken recipe. 

If you want to make this but have to avoid soy you can try Coconut aminos but I can’t guarantee the flavor will be the same.

What does adobo taste like?

The garlic and vinegar create a salty and sweet flavor that is really quite addictive. I like to add a bit extra garlic sometimes to really enhance the recipe but that is just my own personal preference. You can’t go wrong with more garlic cloves, right?

Is Adobo Mexican or Filipino?

Adobo Chicken is going to be thought of as more of a Filipino Adobo recipe than a Mexican dish. Although, you can make this be more of a Mexican recipe by using other ingredients that are used in traditional Spanish dishes.

How long does chicken adobo last in the fridge?

As long as you store this chicken adobo recipe in the fridge once done, it should last you 3-4 days without worry.

If you think that you’re not going to be able to eat this Filipino adobo recipe in that amount of time, you can always freeze this for another family dinner later on down the road. Since you’re using chicken thighs and other simple ingredients, this is an easy recipe to freeze. Just make sure to use a freezer-safe containter to store this Filipino Chicken Adobo recipe.

Ingredients needed to make this Chicken Adobo Recipe

All the ingredients that you need to make this Filipino Adobo Chicken are listed below.

• Cloves garlic, roughly crushed 
• Bone in chicken thighs 
• Water 
• Apple cider vinegar 
• Coconut aminos 
• Whole peppercorns 
• Black pepper

How to make this Filipino Chicken Adobo recipe

Basically you throw everything in a pot and come back in an hour and it’s done and ready to eat. 

 I don’t add include any additional salt as the Coconut aminos provide enough. 

You can increase the amount if you like and the chicken thighs will be a darker color than what you see in the photo. 

Can you believe that this chicken dish is so simple? This is why it’s one of my top family dishes to whip up!

Do I need to add in soy sauce?

This is up to you. Some people love to add in soy sauce (or low sodium soy sauce) to give this dish a little bit more flavor. I tend to think that if you marinate the chicken for a little bit longer, it brings out quite the flavor and saves you from having to pour in a cup soy sauce to try and add in more taste.

What do you marinate chicken thighs on the skin side?

This is done because the skin side of the chicken can hold a great number of seasonings and really hold the flavors of the garlic and other ingredients in place.

Tips and Tricks For Making This Filipino Chicken Adobo Recipe

Be confident in making changes

I find that this chicken adobo recipe is really quite forgiving. Even though the recipe does call for chicken thighs as the main chicken pieces to use for meat, you can try to use chicken breasts or chicken legs, or other cuts of chicken as well. It might change the Filipino aspect of this chicken recipe but the flavor will still be the same. You can cook chicken up easily and use it however you see fit. (just be certain to marinate the chicken with all the other listed ingredients!)

Vary up the meat that you use

Changing the meat will not make this an authentic Filipino dish but it will give it a lot of great flavors. You can try to make this with pork belly or other meat options. Pork Adobo is a thing, too! The fat content and time to cook will change depending on how you change up the ingredients.

What side dishes pair well with this Filipino Chicken Adobo Recipe?

This Filipino Chicken Adobo is pretty much a great meal in itself but you can always add white rice or a nice side salad to the dish. (You can also use your Instant Pot to cook up your rice to save on time, too!)

Is Adobo Chicken a sweet or a spicy dish?

Let’s just say that this is one of those recipes that can be a bit of both if you want it to be. The original flavor of this adobo chicken isn’t sweet or spicy but if you add in a bit of heat or a sprinkle of brown sugar, you can easily change up the flavor fast.

If you’re looking for a fast and simple dish that takes minimal cook time, check out this low-fat Filipino recipe that will have you loving every single bite.

Topping Ideas for Filipino Chicken Adobo

You can easily add so many toppings to this adobo chicken dish! I’m thinking that cooked chicken thighs go perfectly with freshly ground black pepper, soy sauce, extra cloves garlic, fresh cilantro, and even a little dash of hot sauce as well.

What toppings would you add to this Filipino Chicken Adobo recipe?

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Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala