Lemongrass Chicken Marinade (with frozen lemongrass!)

Lemongrass chicken is one of my favorite proteins. I have a couple recipes that use this, but today I wanted to share a hack that you can do to make this in just 30 minutes any day of the week.

You just add a tablespoon of the frozen lemongrass to the marinade, and it adds such a nice fresh flavor to the chicken.

Chef tips: 

• Use frozen lemongrass (you can get this at most asian supermarkets!) or fresh lemongrass. Frozen lemongrass stays fresh in your freezer for up to 6 months. You can also make a double batch of this marinade and keep this in the freezer. 
• Let the chicken marinate for however long you have. The marinated chicken can sit for up to 4 days, but you can also use it immediately. 
• Use a microplane to grate or mince the garlic and ginger. This tool helps make a fine paste that really enhances the flavors of the aromatics.

Cooking tips:

Tip 1 – You can cook this chicken however you prefer to cook chicken. My go-to method is the cast iron (I love the sear!), but air fried, roasted, or grilled all work.  

Tip 2 – To make this lemongrass chicken for a large crowd, scale the marinade proportionally. Sear the chicken until brown, just 3-4 minutes on one side, then remove and place this on a baking dish. Once all the chicken is browned, finish the chicken in the oven at 400F for 10-15 minutes, or until the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165F.

What should I serve with this lemongrass chicken?

• Sesame Noodles
• Blistered Cabbage 
• Chinese Dry Fried Garlic Green Beans
• Buttery Garlic Noodles
• Smashed Cucumber Salad 
• Chili Oil Cucumber Pepper Salad

WANT HEALTHY RECIPE INSPIRATION SENT TO YOUR INBOX EVERY WEEK?

Recipe:

Lemongrass Chicken

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

• Author: Jackie Shao – Easy Gourmet by Jackie
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Lemongrass chicken is one of my favorite proteins. I have a couple recipes that use this, but today I wanted to share a hack that you can do to make this in just 30 minutes any day of the week. 

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1.5 lbs (pounds) boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 tablespoon frozen lemongrass
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2” knob of ginger, minced or grated
• 1 clove of garlic, minced or grated
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• Fresh herbs (mint, scallions, cilantro) – optional, for garnish

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Mix together the lemongrass chicken marinade – combine the frozen lemongrass, brown sugar, sesame oil, kosher salt, rice vinegar, and grated ginger and garlic. Give this a mix, then add in the boneless skinless chicken thighs.
2. Heat a cast iron pan on medium high heat. Sear the chicken for 5-6 minutes on each side, flipping occasionally, until the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165F. 
3. Slice the chicken in half on a bias, then serve. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.

Equipment

cast iron pan

Buy Now →

Global Vegetable Knife

Buy Now →

Notes

Tip 1: You can cook this chicken however you prefer to cook chicken. My go-to method is the cast iron (I love the sear!), but air fried, roasted, or grilled all work. 

Tip 2: To make this lemongrass chicken for a large crowd, scale the marinade proportionally. Sear the chicken until brown, just 3-4 minutes on one side, then remove and place this on a baking dish. Once all the chicken is browned, finish the chicken in the oven at 400F for 10-15 minutes, or until the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165F.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Quick and easy
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Asian

If you liked this Lemongrass Chicken Marinade:

Lemongrass Chicken with pickled shallot and herb salad

Easy Lemongrass Thai Chicken

Chinese Braised Chicken (Da Pan Ji)