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Thai Grilled Chicken

I am not exaggerating when I say this is one of the tastiest chicken recipe I’ve ever sinked my teeth into! Easy to make, inspired by Thai flavors, this Thai Grilled Chicken dish can be made on the stovetop as well if you are not in the mood to fire up the grill!

A plate of Thai Grilled Chicken garnished with chopped cilantro

Thai Grilled Chicken (Gai Yang)

There’s one thing you should know before you read any further: I am one Thai-flavor-obsessed human.

The evidence is loud and clear in this little food corner of mine on the internet. I cannot help it but make all the Thai food because Thai food is my love language. Thai Noodle Bowl, Pad Thai, Thai Mango Sweet Sticky Rice, Pad See Ew

If we were to list it all we would be here way too long, and you are really here to read about these delicious Thai Grilled Chicken Thighs.

But I need to express my deep, profound, undying love to all things Thai food.

The flavors. The textures. The freshness. The mind-blowing spices.

And you should know that this Thai Grilled Chicken recipe is really a salute to all the beautiful Thai flavors and spices that we know and love by packaging them into this tasty chicken marinade.

Closeup of Thai Grilled Chicken Thighs with a bowl of Thai Sweet Chili Sauce

Thai grilled chicken, or more commonly called Gai Yang in Thailand, is flavor bursting and delicious.

I’m attempting a semi-authentic Gai Yang Thai grilled chicken recipe, but my goal is to share with you a version that is user friendly while maintaining its complex delicious flavors as much as possible.

The ingredients for my Thai grilled chicken recipe can be found in most mainstream grocery stores. And I have some tips on other ingredients you can add should you choose to make the flavor more complex and authentic.

Here’s why this Thai grilled chicken is legitimately delicious. We let the chicken sit in the marinade for hours upon hours, soaking up all the yum things before we place the chicken on the grill where it inherits that smoky flavor, taking the flavor profile to a whole new (even more ridiculously good) level.

Just when you think it doesn’t get any better. It does.

One bite of it and you will know what I mean. Our Thai grilled chicken recipe is a mixture of savory, sweet, smoky, with that added umami quality.

It has layers, complexity…and that umami flavor that wakes up your senses.

Thai Chicken Marinade

The star. The hero. The highlight of the dish.

This Thai grilled chicken recipe is really nothing without the marinade. Nada. Zero.

Here are the deets (or ingredients). Take notes, people:

  • Fish sauce – do not be intimidated by this. It is in the majority of Thai food. This is the secret behind that complex unique flavor of gai yang. If you are not used to its smell, don’t worry, it tastes completely different from the way it smells. You just have to trust me. And then thank me later. 😉
  • Soy sauce – you can get all fancy and use Thai soy sauce but just about any soy sauce would do!
  • Lime juice
  • Shallots
  • Fresh Garlic – avoid using garlic powder. Only the real thing for this recipe! 😉
  • Ginger root
  • Vegetable Oil

Throw everything into a blender or food processor and blend it all up because that’s really the fastest, easiest way to get this going.

In other words, I am lazy and this is how I get it done with minimal effort in minimal time.

A round plate of Thai Grilled Chicken with a small bowl of sauce on the side

Then marinade the chicken thighs in it for at least four hours and up to overnight.

And here’s the secret: the longer you marinate the tastier the Thai grilled chicken will be.

The marinade will slowly penetrate into the chicken meat and you will taste the incredible flavor not just on the outside but in every molecule in the chicken.

I get it as close to the 24 hour (overnight) mark as I can whenever I marinate this because (again) I am a Thai-flavor junkie like that.

Using Chicken Breast vs. Chicken Thigh

Besides chicken thigh, you can use chicken breast, chicken tenderloins or other cuts to make Thai grilled chicken. Even bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces work.

With a marinade like this you can submerge the most boring thing in it and it will taste incredible!

If I am in a super picky, food-snob mood (which I can be in often…my husband will attest to that), I prefer dark meat chicken (a.k.a chicken thighs to chicken breast because chicken thigh is simply more flavorful and superior when marrying with that fish sauce/soy sauce marinade.

However…you should not shy away from using chicken breast because that sauce is the bomb and it seriously will make oxygen tastes good.

But if you ask about my preference….yeah, chicken thighs all the way. 🙂

Grill or Stove Top!

Even though it’s called Thai Grilled Chicken, you can pan fry chicken on the stove top as well. Cook it using a skillet or grill pan!

Now…if you are wondering if I have a preference? Then outdoor charcoal grill all the way!

Grilling chicken thighs on the charcoal grill
Cooking Thai Grilled Chicken on a charcoal grill

There’s nothing like cooking this glorious piece of meat on the fire. Fire adds so much flavor to this Thai grilled chicken recipe.

But I also know not all of us have the luxury of cooking it over fire, and it is definitely a little bit more high maintenance to do so.

How to serve Thai Grilled Chicken

The chicken by itself is incredibly tasty and can be served by itself. If you want to extra a little extra enhancement, I like to garnish Thai grilled chicken with cilantro (because I love the burst of freshness it brings) and serve with some Thai Sweet Chili Sauce on the side.

Thai Sweet Chili Sauce is really more of a sweet sauce than a spicy sauce. I always have a bottle in my fridge because it’s so good! Check out my Thai Chicken and Brussels Sprouts Stir Fry and Baked Cream Cheese Wontons that call for it as well!

I like to pair Gai Yang with white or brown rice or noodles!

Other Tips and Tricks

A few things to note when preparing Thai grilled chicken:

  • Defrost chicken completely and pat dry before marinating.
  • Because there is sugar in the marinade the chicken may burn quickly. A little burn is actually super yummy, but you will want to watch to make sure it doesn’t over burn. Lowering the heat or covering will help cook the insides before the outsides burn!
Closeup of Thai grilled chicken thighs

What to serve with Thai Grilled Chicken

I was telling my husband the other day that this dish reminds me of Southeast Asia. I may not be from Thailand, but when we were grilling Thai grilled chicken outside on the charcoal grill, the aroma took me back to the hawker stalls in Penang.

Ahh…there’s nothing quite like incredible food that brings about nostalgia.

I have a feeling we will be making this over and over again….

DID YOU ENJOY THIS RECIPE? Please comment below and give us a 5-star rating! This will help others find this recipe on Google and Pinterest. We very much appreciate your help! 🤍

More Grilling Recipes

A plate of Thai Grilled Chicken garnished with chopped cilantro

Thai Grilled Chicken

Delicious and flavorful chicken thighs marinated in Thai seasoning and spices, then grilled to perfection! Can be pan seared as well.
5 from 22 votes
Print Pin
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: asian, Thai
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Marinade Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 778kcal
Author: MinShien

Ingredients

  • 2.5 lbs chicken thighs
  • 1 tbsp cilantro chopped
  • 2 tbsp Thai sweet chili sauce

Thai Chicken Marinade

  • 1/4 cup fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp lime juice
  • 3-4 cloves garlic
  • 1 inch ginger root peeled
  • 1/2 shallots
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes optional

Instructions

  • Blend the marinade ingredients in blender or food processor.
  • Marinade chicken thighs in marinade for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.
  • Heat up grill or skillet. Once heated, cook chicken on one side and then flip to cook the other side until internal temperature reaches 165ºF. (See Note 1)
  • Remove from heat and garnish with chopped cilantro.
  • Serve with Thai Sweet Chili Sauce and enjoy!

Notes

Note 1: If the outside of the chicken burns before the insides are cook, try covering or lowering heat (if using skillet), moving chicken so that it is not directly on the fire (if using charcoal grill).

Nutrition

Calories: 778kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 57g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Cholesterol: 278mg | Sodium: 1701mg | Potassium: 677mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 295IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?Take a pic and tag me at @joyous.apron, or hashtag #joyousapron on Instagram!

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5 from 22 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




30 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I was excited to try this recipe and glad I did! I made this for my boyfriend and best friend (male) both with big appetites. I had 1 thigh and they just about finished the rest. So, if you have big eaters, might need to make extra. I marinated the chicken for 24 hours, and we cooked it in a cast iron skilled under the broiler. It was tender, juicy and delicious, the boys loved it! I’m glad that in the instructions it’s mentioned to not be intimidated by the fish sauce, because initially I was. I don’t usually cook with it, and it does have a bit of a funny odor, but as it marinades, it goes away and chicken is delicious. Will definitely make this again!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      That’s wonderful! I’m so glad you gave it a try and enjoyed it as much as we did! 🙂

  2. Sharon Nelson says:

    The recipe calls for “1/2 shallots”. What is the unit of measure? (cup, tablespoon, 1/2 of one shallot?)

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      I meant 1/2 of one shallot! It really is just an approximation. Feel free to use more if you prefer! Let me know how it goes!

  3. 5 stars
    I made this for a pool party. The flavors were a hit with all the guests. Everyone asked for the recipe – I sent them your way!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      I’m so glad to hear that your guests loved it!

  4. 5 stars
    You were not joking! This marinade produces the most flavorful and moist grilled chicken. This recipe is made frequently in our home.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Thank you Lynn! Happy to hear that it’s a regular for you!

  5. Michaela Kenkel says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is FANTASTIC! I made it TWICE last week! 🙂 It will be in our regular rotation for grilling season.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Wonderful! So glad yo hear you enjoyed it!

  6. 5 stars
    oh yum!! Love this marinade. The chicken turns out so flavorful and juicy.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      So glad to hear that!

  7. 5 stars
    Love this super juicy, flavorful chicken! Makes an easy weeknight dinner along with some rice and a salad!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Thanks Shelby! Thrilled to hear that!!

  8. 5 stars
    Love this Thai Grilled Chicken, it was easy to make and so delicious!!! The whole family love Thai food and this was no exception!!! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      That’s great! Happy to hear you and your family are enjoying this! We are big Thai food fans as well 🙂

  9. 5 stars
    I love the flexibility of being able to make this on the grill or the stovetop! I’ve tried it both ways and although I prefer the grill more with the smoky flavors, I make it on the stovetop when I don’t have as much time as it is still very tasty.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Thanks Jess! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed it both ways!

  10. 5 stars
    This turned out amazing! I love chicken thighs and the texture and flavor of this was exactly what I was hoping for

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Thanks Cara! Glad that this turned out well for you!

  11. Sandhya Ramakrishnan says:

    5 stars
    We love to mix and match flavors when grilling and we loved the Thai flavors. So delicious and our guests loved the recipe when we grilled it over the weekend.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      That’s wonderful to hear! Thank you for sharing 🙂

    2. I actually cook the chicken perfectly but I cannot say that the Thai flavor stood out. I have been to Thailand and it didn’t match for me sorry…

  12. 5 stars
    Chicken came out juicy and delicious. Loved the amazing flavors. Fish sauce makes it what it is so don’t skip that. I’m so making it again soon.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Thank you so much!! Glad this came out juicy and delicious for you!

  13. 5 stars
    I halved the recipe as I only had 5 chicken thighs. Marinated it for 6 hours, will definitely marinate it overnight next time. What a hit! My husband said I can make it again soon.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      That’s great Susan! Thank you for sharing and I’m thrilled you both loved it!

  14. Nancy Long says:

    5 stars
    I really want to try this but I really don’t care for thighs. Tried them again last night and had trouble eating even one!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Try making this with chicken breast! It should still be very good! Also works great with pork!