Philippine Chicken Adobo with Garlic and Bay Leaves

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-09 · Updated 2026-05-09

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Tender chicken braised in a savory mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and bay leaves, a traditional Filipino comfort dish. This Filipino-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 85 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, soy sauce, white vinegar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 35 min Cook: 50 min Serves 4 Filipino cuisine 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 pieces (about 2 lbs) bone-in chicken thighs
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup white vinegar
6, crushed garlic cloves
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
3 bay leaves
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp white sugar

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Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 1/3 cup soy sauce, 1/3 cup white vinegar, 6 crushed garlic cloves, 1 tsp whole black peppercorns, and 3 bay leaves. Add 4 bone-in chicken thighs and marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade (reserve marinade) and brown chicken thighs for 3-4 minutes per side until golden.
Step 3: Pour in the reserved marinade along with 1/2 cup water and 1 tsp white sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-40 minutes until chicken is tender and cooked through.
Step 4: Remove the lid and simmer uncovered for an additional 5-10 minutes to reduce the sauce slightly and intensify the flavors.
Step 5: Serve hot with steamed rice and spoon the sauce over the chicken.