Chinese Five Spice Chicken Recipe: Irresistible Deliciousness

Chinese five spice chicken is a delicious and aromatic dish that combines the rich flavors of Chinese five-spice powder with tender, juicy chicken. This dish is perfect for family dinners or special occasions, offering a taste of authentic Chinese cuisine right in your kitchen. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to create this mouthwatering recipe, from selecting the right ingredients to mastering the cooking techniques.

Five spice chicken, also called Chinese roast chicken, is simple to make, easy to clean up, and always a crowd-pleaser. Seasoned with five spice powder, a famous Chinese spice blend, this chicken has a complex yet balanced profile that is simply to die for. Get ready for juicy roasted chicken, thin crispy skin, and layers of savory, salty, sweet, and aromatic flavor.

Ingredients

To prepare Chinese five spice chicken, you’ll need the following ingredients:

For the Marinade:

1 1/2 lbs chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on (See Note 1)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 fennel bulb (with feathery stalks)
1 sweet potato peeled and cut into 1/4″ slices
1 red onion cut lengthwise into 1/4″ slices
2 Honey Crisp apples (See Note 2)
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
pinch red pepper flakes

BASTING SAUCE

1/4 cup chicken stock
2 tbsp butter melted
1 tbsp honey
1 1/2 tsp Chinese Five Spice powder
1/4 tsp soy sauce

For Garnish:

Fresh cilantro leaves
Sliced green onions
Sesame seeds

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Chicken – I prefer dark meat for its flavor and juiciness, but any chicken you choose is fine. Adjust cooking times as needed.
Chinese Five Spice – Look for it at your local Asian market or try your hand at my easy DIY recipe.
Fennel – When shopping, look for fennel bulbs with tightly packed outer layers and avoid any that are bruised, split, or loose in appearance.
Sweet Potato – To cut down on cooking time, I like to cut the sweet potatoes into thinner slices. If you prefer to use regular potatoes, I recommend Yukon Gold.
Honeycrisp Apples – Pick Honeycrisp or another tart, firm apple like Jonagold, Granny Smith, or Pink Lady.

For Tools:

Rimmed baking pan
Bulb baster or wooden spoon
Meat thermometer

Preparing:

Prepare the Oven. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Prepare a rimmed baking pan by lining it with foil, then spraying with nonstick spray.
Mix the Sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken stock, butter, honey, soy sauce, and Chinese five spice powder.
Trim the Fennel. Chop the stalks off the fennel, reserving the frilly leaves for garnish. Trim the base of the bulb and remove the tough outer layers. Then, cutting lengthwise, cut the bulb in half. Cut out the core using a v-shaped cut, then cut lengthwise to get the bulb into ¼ inch-sized wedges.
Season the Vegetables. Add the fennel, sweet potato, apples, and red onion to a bowl. Toss with oil, then arrange on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and the red pepper flakes.
Season the Chicken. Place the chicken pieces, skin side up, on top of the vegetables and brush with half of the sauce. Roast the chicken for 15 minutes, then baste with more sauce and juices from the pan. A wooden spoon or a bulb baster works great.
Roast & Baste. Return the pan to the oven and roast for another 15-20 minutes, basting again and again throughout. Chinese roast chicken should be nicely browned with no pink at the bone and have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Garnish & Serve. Sprinkle the reserved fennel leaves over the top of the dish before serving.

Instructions

There are several methods to cook Chinese five spice chicken, including baking, grilling, and pan-frying. Here, we’ll focus on baking and grilling.

Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. In a small bowl, combine chicken stock, butter, honey, Chinese Five Spice powder, soy sauce.
Step 2: Cut off fennel stalks and reserve feathery leaves for garnish. Trim base of bulb and tough outer layers. Halve bulb lengthwise, cut out core in a V, and cut bulb lengthwise into 1/4″ wedges.
Step 3: In a bowl toss the fennel, sweet potato, red onion and apple with oil. Arrange in a single layer on baking sheet and sprinkle with salt, black and red pepper flakes.
Step 4: Arrange chicken on top, skin side up. Brush half of sauce on chicken. Roast 15 minutes, then baste again with sauce and any pan juices (use a bulb baster or wide spoon). Continue to roast until chicken is nicely browned and no longer pink at bone (cut to test or 165°F), 15 to 20 minutes more. Baste everything again and scatter reserved fennel leaves on top prior to serving.

Notes

Bone-in chicken takes longer to cook than boneless, and the size of the pieces will affect the cook time as well. On average, bone-in chicken thighs take 30 to 40 minutes to cook at 425. The best and safest way to determine when the chicken is properly cooked is to use a food thermometer.Boneless thighs cook quickly. Roast until the chicken has an internal temperature of 165°F, about 20 minutes (so add chicken after 15 minutes of roasting the vegetables).
Honey Crisp or other firm/tart apples, unpeeled, cored, sliced into 1/4-inch wedges.

TIPS: Creating chicken with crispy skin

The trick to crispy skin on baked or roast chicken is to be sure that the skin is completely dry before it goes into the oven. Use paper toweling to remove any excess moisture.

Another trick is to line the baking pan with aluminum foil, which retains heat really well. You’ll be roasting the chicken thighs at 425°F. That high heat combined with the hot aluminum foil will create golden brown, crispy skin.

Storing and Reheating

Store any leftover five spice chicken in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven for about 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees F.

Chinese five spice chicken is best served hot, garnished with fresh cilantro leaves, sliced green onions, and sesame seeds. It pairs wonderfully with steamed jasmine rice, stir-fried vegetables, or a simple cucumber salad.

Nutrition

If you are new to Asian cooking, this Chinese five spice chicken recipe is an excellent place to start. You’ll get to experiment with some new spices while working with familiar ingredients like sweet potatoes and chicken. This dish is hearty and comforting, with just the right amount of exotic flavor. Make five spice chicken for an easy Asian meal!

Cooked chicken will be white and fully opaque in appearance, with no pink parts, and clear juices when cut.

This five spice chicken recipe, complete with roasted vegetables, is hearty enough to be served as a complete meal. It also pairs beautifully with a wide variety of side dishes. Here are a few ideas for adding to your menu:

Serve with Basmati, Jasmine, Jeera, or any rice of your choice.
Pair with a quinoa or couscous dish like this Moroccan Couscous.
Enjoy with a fresh salad like this Chinese Cucumber Salad or Lebanese Fattoush.

Chinese five spice chicken is a flavorful and aromatic dish that brings the essence of Chinese cuisine to your table. With its rich marinade and versatile cooking methods, this recipe is sure to become a favorite in your household. By following the steps outlined above, you can create a delicious and authentic Chinese meal that will impress your family and friends. Enjoy the delightful combination of spices and the tender, juicy chicken that makes this dish truly special.

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