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Last Updated on December 16, 2022

There’s nothing better than trying a dish from an unfamiliar culture and loving it so much that it becomes part of your daily diet. The first time I ever tried Filipino chicken adobo was at a friend’s house, and ever since then, the salty-sweet adobo sauce and juicy chicken have become an all-time favorite. 

Filipino chicken adobo is, simply put, an explosion of flavor that brings comfort to all the enjoyers. The chicken is cooked in vinegar, which gives it a sharp, acidic taste, but the addition of sugar evens out the flavor so that it coats your tongue perfectly. 

Chicken adobo is a classic Filipino dish and has even been labeled as the national dish of the Philippines. It encompasses the most common flavors of the country and combines them into an easy recipe.

When the chicken cooks in the sauce, it tenderizes to the point that it melts in your mouth. The classic chicken adobo taste brings comfort like soup, but it tastes like a whole hearty meal!

Originally, adobo is made with chicken, but you can use other meats such as beef, squid, or even fish. But if you’d like a vegetarian option, you can always go for kangkong (water spinach) adobo. 

Other than being absolutely finger-licking delicious, chicken adobo is a beginner-friendly recipe with lots of room for improvisation. Its flexibility also makes it an ideal choice if you’re trying to eat healthier. 

I present to you my favorite, low-effort but thoroughly delightful chicken adobo recipe. You’ll only need a few ingredients and one pot, which means no pile of dirty dishes after you finish cooking!

The Origin of Chicken Adobo  

Chicken adobo is an incredibly old dish that has been around for centuries. Even though it’s the Philippines’ national dish, its origin is disputed since the Spanish also have a similar recipe.  

The word itself is derived from the Spanish word “adobar,” which means a “marinade’ or “pickling sauce.” The first record of this dish was found in 1613 by Pedro de San Buenaventura. 

However, food historians believe that this dish already existed in the Philippines, and this claim somewhat makes sense since Filipinos used to preserve their food in salt or vinegar. Ingredients like these two elevate the acidity and sodium level of edible products, making it impossible for harmful bacteria to grow. 

Later, when Chinese traders visited the islands, they brought about soy sauce. Eventually, Filipinos would accept these ingredients, and they would become a staple in their households. And that remains true today too!

While Filipino adobo has a more mellow flavor, Spanish adobo uses three types of chili peppers, tomato paste, and paprika to spice up the sauce. Either way, adobo is a dish worth your while!

What Does Chicken Adobo Taste Like? 

The chicken is covered in adobo sauce that’s sweet and savory but has a distinct hint of soy sauce. The garlic gives it a very deep umami flavor, especially when the sauce is well-infused with the chicken. 

The peppercorns give it a bit of a spicy kick at the back of your throat. The longer you cook it with the whole peppercorns, the fierier your sauce gets. As for the chicken itself, after it’s tenderized by vinegar, it falls apart in your mouth like butter.

Preparation Time 

This recipe is fairly simple. It’s just a dump-and-go dish where you can throw everything in a pot and get on with your other chores. 

Cooking the chicken only takes about ten to fifteen minutes. The rest of the time is dedicated to getting the sauce to the right thickness. All in all, it takes about an hour and five minutes. 

Prep time: 5 minutes 

Cooking time: 1 hour 

Total time: 1 hour 5 minutes.   

Ingredients

Before you put on your apron, gather your ingredients. Chances are that you already have these sitting in your pantry. This Filipino chicken adobo recipe is straightforward, with only a few ingredients that are listed below. 

• 1.5 lbs. bone-in chicken thighs 
• 20 whole peppercorns 
• 6 crushed cloves of garlic 
• ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar 
• 1 cup of water 
• ¼ cup of coconut aminos (soy or tamari)
• ¼ teaspoons of black pepper 

How to Make Chicken Adobo

With all your ingredients ready, let’s make the most flavorful chicken adobo you’ll ever come across! 

1. First, put all of your ingredients into a pan, and stir them. Then put your pan or pot on the stovetop on medium heat.
2. Once the water starts to boil, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for an hour. 
3. Plate it with some cooked rice, mashed potatoes, or even quinoa. And don’t forget to share!

How Long Can You Store Chicken Adobo?

The dish has tons of acidic ingredients, so even if you leave the pot unrefrigerated, it should be fine for two to three days. 

To extend its life, put it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for about a week. If you think you’ve made too much, then portion it out and freeze it. It can last up to 6 months in the freezer. 

Tips to Make Your Chicken Adobo Better 

With a dish so simple, you really can’t do much to mess it up. In fact, a simple dish brings the possibility of variations. But anyway, here are a few cooking tips to make your adobo dish exceptional.

• If you want to elevate your recipe to the next step, try marinating the chicken in soy sauce and some garlic beforehand. This way, your chicken becomes more infused with flavor. You can also marinate extra portions of chicken and freeze it for later use. 
• With only two ingredients at hand, you can switch it up at any time. The adobo sauce is what truly transforms the recipe. Once you’ve nailed the sauce, you can combine it with vegetables such as okra, eggplant, carrots, spinach, chard, kale, or even sweet potato leaves. 
• To keep the authentic taste and benefit from the nutrients, go for a reduced tamari soy sauce. A tamari is made from fermented soybeans, but all the wheat, gluten, and high sodium content have been extracted from it. You can also use dark soy sauce, but be careful as it has a strong flavor and only gets more intense as you cook it. 
• For a nice garnish and a textural element, saute or fry some onions. Then, top the dish off with some bright green cilantro and raw green onions. 
• To truly step up the flavors, you can use coke or lemon-lime soda as a source of sugar in the recipe. It sounds unusual, but when it reduces to a thicker sauce, it tastes wonderful. 
• You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs or bone-in thighs. But if you decide to use chicken breasts, you’ll need to adjust how long you cook them. That’s because a chicken breast cooks faster than a chicken thigh, and you might end up with rubbery meat if you overcook it. You can also use a combination of chicken thighs and chicken drumsticks! 
• To get the best results with breast pieces, add two tablespoons of cooking oil to the sauce and take the chicken out when it’s cooked. When the sauce has reduced to your liking, add the chicken back and coat it thoroughly. 
• Traditionally, cane vinegar is used for the sauce. However, if that’s not available for you, rice vinegar works well too. If you’re not using cane vinegar, then a few teaspoons of sugar are necessary to cut through the acidity. 

FAQS 

Is Chicken Adobo Healthy? 

Chicken adobo is incredibly healthy as it contains mainly proteins and only some carbs. You can throw in vegetables such as carrots and eggplant to make it a well-rounded dish. As for the sodium levels, you can replace regular soy sauce with low-sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce. 

Can You Make Chicken Adobo in an Instant Pot? 

Yes! Chicken adobo doesn’t require constant checking or supervision, so you can throw all the ingredients into your instant pot and set the timer. If you want, you can sear the chicken beforehand to get that crispy brown chicken skin. It’ll ensure that the meat is cooked through well.  

What Can I Serve Chicken Adobo With?

This recipe has a flavor that takes over side dishes like simple steamed rice or fried rice. You can also serve the chicken pieces with a green salad, mango avocado salsa, or Thai coconut rice. 

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