Name: Simple and Delicious Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken!
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 4 min
Total time: 74 min
Ingredients: 1 lb chicken thighs (cut up into bite sized pieces); 1/4 cup lemongrass (using frozen lemongrass works a treat! Find it in the frozen aisle at your local Asian grocer); 2 tbsp minced garlic; 2 each shallots (sliced); 2 tbsp vegetable oil (split); 1 tbsp oyster sauce; 1 tbsp fish sauce; 1 ts red chili flakes (can also use Bon Chili!); 1 tbsp lemon juice; 2 ts sugar; black pepper (add at the end to your taste!)

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Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken in a white bowl with chopsticks on top of the bowl and an elegant chopstick holder in the background

Yearning For Chicken Lemon Grass

I frequently visited Vietnam Restaurant in San Antonio where I grew up. Almost without fail I would order their Chicken Lemon Grass. Many years later I still remember their delicious dish, which was so fragrant, and have been yearning for it.

However, this time I thought it would be fun to try to recreate their dish at home! I’m thrilled to say that my version satisfies my yearning for this wonderful food!

What is Lemongrass?

Lemongrass is a fantastic plant used for medicinal purposes as well as in cooking. This article from MasterClass.com is absolutely wonderful and discusses the culinary uses of lemongrass including how to buy it, as well as trim and prepare it.

This lovely plant has a lemony/citrusy fragrance and is highly aromatic. It has a lemony taste and lends a wonderful zing to dishes!

What Ingredients Do I Need To Make Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken?

My version of this dish keeps things SUPER SIMPLE by using frozen lemongrass that has already been chopped. You could use fresh lemongrass if you like (see MasterClass.com article on how to prepare), however frozen chopped lemongrass makes things so much easier when it comes to prep! And, it’s just as delicious!

Some frozen lemongrass in a container and minced lemongrass in a plastic container in the foreground

You should be able to find frozen chopped lemongrass in the frozen section at your local Asian Market. To use it, removed from your freezer for around 15 minutes and allow to thaw a bit. You can then scrape off the portion of lemongrass that you need.

In addition to lemongrass, you will need the following ingredients for this dish:

Chicken thighs
Minced garlic
Shallots
Vegetable oil
Oyster sauce
Fish sauce
Red Chili flakes (or Bon Chili aka Bon Cabe very hot!)
Lemon juice
Sugar
Black pepper

Ok, now that we have our ingredients, let’s make some INSANELY DELICIOUS Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken!

The Super Easy Method To Make This Fragrant and Zingy Dish!

Making Lemongrass Chicken is easy and quick! There is some marinating time involved (I recommend at least one hour) but other than that, prep and cooking takes about 15 minutes!

Start by combining the marinade ingredients, and then add to chicken thighs which have been cut into bite sized pieces. Cover and allow to marinate in your fridge for about an hour (longer if you have more time).

vegetable oil, lemongrass, garlic, oyster sauce, fish sauce, chili flakes, lemon juice, and sugar

pieces of chicken in a lemongrass marinade

After the marinating time, remove the chicken from the refrigerator and slice your shallots and green onions.

Chicken marinating in a lemongrass marinade, sliced shallots and sliced green onions in the background

Heat up some oil in a skillet (cast iron is highly recommended!) on high, and constantly stir fry the shallots for about 30 seconds. Then add the chicken and again constantly stir fry until the chicken is cooked through.

pieces of chicken browned and cooked in a cast iron skillet

Your ABSOLUTELY FRAGRANT AND DELICIOUS Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken is now ready to serve!

Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken in a white bowl with chopsticks holding up a piece of chicken

Garnish with green onions, and serve with jasmine rice. Enjoy the beautifully delicious flavors in this dish, of which lemongrass is the star!

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

How To Make Delicious Pho Ga!

Pho Ga with sriracha and chopsticks and salad

Garlicky, Buttery, and Cheesy Asian Noodles!

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Grace

Simple and Delicious Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken!

Grace

This Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken dish will make your taste buds sing! Wonderfully fragrant and super easy to create you will absolutely love it!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 4 mins

Marinating time 1 hr

Total Time 1 hr 14 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine vietnamese

Servings 3 people

Equipment

Cast iron skillet or wok preferred

Ingredients

1 lb chicken thighs cut up into bite sized pieces
1/4 cup lemongrass using frozen lemongrass works a treat! Find it in the frozen aisle at your local Asian grocer
2 tbsp minced garlic
2 each shallots sliced
2 tbsp vegetable oil split
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 ts red chili flakes can also use Bon Chili!
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 ts sugar
black pepper add at the end to your taste!

Instructions

Combine the marinade ingredients: 1 tbsp of the vegetable oil, lemongrass, garlic, oyster sauce, fish sauce, chili flakes, lemon juice, and sugar.
Add to the chicken which has been cut into bite sized pieces and stir to coat. Allow to marinate in your fridge (covered) for a minimum of one hour. If you have time to leave it for a few hours longer so much the better!
Heat the remaining 1 tbsp of oil (on high) in a skillet (prefer cast iron). Constantly stir fry the shallots for around 30 seconds.
Now add the chicken. Stir fry constantly until the chicken is cooked through, around 3-4 minutes.
Serve with jasmine rice and garnish with green onions. Enjoy!