Recipe / Filipino Chicken Adobo

Cookbook · No. 006 · ENGLISH

Adobong Manok

Name: Filipino Chicken Adobo
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Filipino
Ingredients: 2 Onion; 1 head Garlic; 1500g / 3.3 lb Chicken; ½ tsp Salt; ½ tsp Black pepper; 2 Bay leaves; ½ tsp Black peppercorn; 3-4 tbsp / 45-60 ml Soy sauce; as needed Water; as needed Cooking oil; 3-4 tbsp / 45-60 ml Vinegar

Filipino Chicken Adobo

Kuya Fern's Cooking adds the vinegar only after the chicken has crisped, so the acid stays sharp instead of cooking out.

Plate 01

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Time

35 min

Ingredients

Steps

Cuisine

Filipino

Plate 01

The Headnote

This adobong tuyo, the dry-reduced form of chicken adobo, calls for pulling the chicken from its braising liquid before the finish, frying it briefly in the residual sauce until the skin crisps, then pouring the reserved liquid back over to concentrate everything in a final simmer. Kuya Fern's Cooking holds the vinegar until that last stage, adding it only after the chicken has crisped, so the acid stays bright rather than cooking out. In Filipino households, adobo's ratio of soy to vinegar shifts by region and family habit; this version leans toward reduction over sauce.

Notes by The Whisq Editors

Filed · April 2026 · English

Originally by

Kuya Fern's Cooking

Platform

YouTube

Language

English

Watch the original on YOUTUBE →

Section IV / Ingredients

What you'll need

Serves 4 · Estimated — adjust if needed

2
Onion
2
Onion
1 head
Garlic
1 head
Garlic
1500g / 3.3 lb
Chicken
1500g / 3.3 lb
Chicken
½ tsp
Salt
½ tsp
Salt
½ tsp
Black pepper
½ tsp
Black pepper
2
Bay leaves
2
Bay leaves

½ tsp
Black peppercorn
½ tsp
Black peppercorn
3-4 tbsp / 45-60 ml
Soy sauce
3-4 tbsp / 45-60 ml
Soy sauce
as needed
Water
as needed
Water
as needed
Cooking oil
as needed
Cooking oil
3-4 tbsp / 45-60 ml
Vinegar
3-4 tbsp / 45-60 ml
Vinegar

Section V / The Method

Cook it through

One step at a time.

Total

35 min

Step 1
01
Step 01 / 12
Sauté onions
Heat a large pan on high flame and sauté the chopped onions for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
Timer · 30 sec
In the app · Timer
30 sec
Step 2
02
Step 02 / 12
Add garlic
Add the chopped garlic and continue sautéing for another 15 seconds until fragrant.
Timer · 15 sec
In the app · Timer
15 sec
Step 3
03
Step 03 / 12
Add and sear chicken
Add the chopped chicken and continue sautéing on high flame, stirring occasionally, until the chicken begins to render its fat and show color.
By feel · Watch the pan
By Feel
No timer — watch the pan.
Step 4
04
Step 04 / 12
Season chicken
Season with salt and ground black pepper, then mix thoroughly and continue sautéing on high flame to allow fat to render from the meat.
Timer · 2 min
In the app · Timer
2 min
Step 5
05
Step 05 / 12
Add soy sauce
Once fat is visibly rendering from the meat, add the soy sauce and stir to combine.
Timer · 1 min
In the app · Timer
1 min
Step 6
06
Step 06 / 12
Reduce soy sauce
Continue cooking on high flame, allowing the soy sauce to reduce and caramelize, about 8–10 minutes, until the sauce coats the chicken and more fat renders.
Timer · 8 min
In the app · Timer
8 min
Step 7
07
Step 07 / 12
Add water and aromatics
Add hot water to the pan, stirring well to deglaze and incorporate any toasted fond from the bottom. Add the bay leaves and whole black peppercorns, then mix thoroughly.
Timer · 2 min
In the app · Timer
2 min
Step 8
08
Step 08 / 12
Simmer adobo
Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 8 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to slightly thicken.
Timer · 8 min
In the app · Timer
8 min
Step 9
09
Step 09 / 12
Remove chicken and drain sauce
Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside. Pour out most of the adobo sauce into a separate bowl, leaving just a small amount in the pot.
Timer · 2 min
In the app · Timer
2 min
Step 10
10
Step 10 / 12
Pan-fry chicken and finish with sauce
Add a little oil to the pot with the remaining adobo sauce. Set the flame to low-medium heat. Place the chicken back in the pot and pan-fry for 3-5 minutes until slightly crispy. Then pour the reserved adobo sauce back over the chicken to lock in the flavor.
Timer · 5 min
In the app · Timer
5 min
Step 11
11
Step 11 / 12
Add vinegar and reduce
Add a little water to adjust consistency, then pour in the vinegar and stir well. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 5–8 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and burning.
Timer · 8 min
In the app · Timer
8 min
Step 12
12
Step 12 / 12
Final reduction and serve
Continue cooking on low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reduces to your preferred consistency. Once achieved, turn off the heat and serve immediately.
Timer · 3 min
In the app · Timer
3 min

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Step 01 / 12

Adobong Manok

Sauté onions

Heat a large pan on high flame and sauté the chopped onions for about 30 seconds until fragrant.

Timer

30 sec

Whisq

Step 07 / 12

Adobong Manok

Add water and aromatics

Add hot water to the pan, stirring well to deglaze and incorporate any toasted fond from the bottom. Add the bay leaves and whole black peppercorns, then mix thoroughly.

Timer

2 min

Whisq

Step 12 / 12

Adobong Manok

Final reduction and serve

Continue cooking on low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reduces to your preferred consistency. Once achieved, turn off the heat and serve immediately.

Timer

3 min