Lemongrass Chicken

This easy recipe tosses chicken thighs in a homemade garlicky lemongrass marinade and grills them until juicy and tender.

cooked pieces of Lemongrass Chicken on a plate

What is Lemongrass Chicken?

Lemongrass chicken is popular in Southeast Asian cuisine, among many others. It’s a savory citrusy chicken that pairs well with almost any fresh side.

Flavor: Citrusy, salty-sweet, and garlicky with a charred, caramelized finish.
Skill Level: Easy enough for weeknights but fancy enough to impress your guests!
Prep Note: Prepare this chicken in advance, as it needs to marinate for at least one hour or as long as 8 hours!
Serving Suggestions: Serve with rice, noodles, or lettuce wraps for a light and flavorful meal!

red pepper flakes , fish sauce , soy sauce , brown sugar , lemongrass , ginger , garlic and chicken with labels to make Lemongrass Chicken

Ingredient Tips for Lemongrass Chicken

Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are my first choice for this recipe as they stay juicy and delicious when grilled. You can also use chicken cutlets or breasts. If using chicken breasts, I recommend pounding them to ½-inch thick.
Lemongrass: Lemongrass is the key ingredient in this recipe, adding a delicate lemon flavor. Most grocery stores carry stalks of lemongrass near the other fresh herbs. You can replace it with a lemongrass paste. While it’s not the same flavor, a bit of lemon zest can be used in a pinch, too.
Aromatics: Fresh garlic and ginger add a lot of flavor to this recipe (dried is not recommended).
Fish sauce: This adds a deep, savory flavor, so don’t skip it! You can replace it with soy sauce for a milder flavor.
Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds sweetness and helps to balance the salty-savory marinade. It also helps the chicken to caramelize.
Variations: Spice up the marinade with extra red pepper flakes, black pepper, Thai basil, sriracha, Thai chili paste, or gochujang.

slicing ginger and garlic with lemongrass to make Lemongrass Chicken

adding ingredients together for Lemongrass Chicken marinade

To prepare lemongrass for this recipe, cut the stalk into pieces 3 to 4 inches long and remove the tough, woody outer layers. Finely chop the tender inside portion.

Storing Leftover Lemongrass Chicken

Keep leftover lemongrass chicken in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and freeze portions in zippered bags for up to a month.

Reheat lemongrass chicken in the microwave or air fryer and serve as a new meal with sweet chili sauce, or add leftovers to a quick stir fry or a coconut curry soup.

Did you enjoy this Lemongrass Chicken Recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

5 from 3 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

This lemongrass chicken has a sweet and savory marinade and is grilled to juicy perfection.

Prep Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Cook Time 6 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 16 minutes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

To prepare lemongrass, cut it into pieces 3 to 4 inches long and remove the tough, woody outer layers. Finely chop the tender inside portion.
In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce, lime juice, lemongrass, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes if using.
Add the chicken thighs and toss well to coat. Marinate at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours.
Preheat the grill to medium-high. Cook the chicken 3 to 4 minutes per side or until it reaches 165°F in the thickest part.

Lemongrass subsitute: You can replace lemongrass with a lemongrass paste if you’d prefer.
Chicken breasts: If using chicken breasts in place of chicken thighs, pound the breasts to ½-inch thickness before marinating and grill 6 to 7 minutes per side.
Serving suggestion: Our favorite way to serve this chicken is with rice noodles or over rice with fresh lime, fresh vegetables such as cucumbers, bean sprouts, pea shoots, and fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, and/or mint.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Chicken, Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, Asian

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.