Vietnamese Grilled Lemongrass Chicken

Name: Vietnamese Grilled Lemongrass Chicken
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Family
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Ingredients: 700 g chicken thighs, boneless; 3 stalks lemongrass, minced; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 3 tbsp fish sauce; 2 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp vegetable oil

Vietnamese grilled lemongrass chicken is juicy, caramelized, and bursting with bright, aromatic flavor. A marinade of lemongrass, garlic, and fish sauce gives the chicken its signature sweet-savory char. Serve it over rice or rice noodles with fresh herbs for a vibrant, satisfying meal.

Vietnamese Gluten-Free Low-Carb Dairy-Free High-Protein Grill Lunch Dinner 30-Minute Chicken

⏱ 30 min
📊 easy
🍽 Family

Ingredients

700 g chicken thighs, boneless
3 stalks lemongrass, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp fish sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp vegetable oil

Instructions

Whisk the lemongrass, garlic, fish sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, and oil into a marinade.
Coat the chicken thighs and marinate for at least 1 hour.
Preheat the grill to medium-high, about 220C (425F).

Grill the chicken for 5 to 6 minutes per side until charred and cooked through.
Rest the chicken for a few minutes.
Slice and serve over rice or noodles with fresh herbs.

💡 Chef's tip

Finely mince the lemongrass, using only the tender pale base; the tough outer layers and tops are fibrous and will not soften.

The sugar in the marinade is what creates the deeply caramelized, lacquered char on the grill, balancing the salty fish sauce and fragrant lemongrass.