This Vietnamese lemongrass chicken stir fry is a restaurant-quality dish that you can make at home with just a few simple ingredients. It's so delicious and better than take out. The chicken is packed with flavors, no marinating is required.
Vietnamese lemongrass chicken stir fry is one of the most common dishes you can find on a Vietnamese restaurant menu. If you have ordered and tried it, you've likely fell in love with it. You probably always wondered how the restaurants make this dish taste so good. I sure have.
Also, check out this highly-rated VIETNAMESE CARAMELIZED PORK BOWLS recipe.
Chicken Stir Fry
Well today, I am going to show you how a good recipe for lemongrass chicken using ingredients that you are familiar with.
My first few times eating out Vietnamese food I gravitated right to the spring roles and pho. They were both delicious so I made that my thing and didn't explore the menu too much beyond that. I then tried Vietnamese soups with different broths and had a number of different rice and noodle dishes.
Finally I gave the lemongrass chicken a try and wondered what took me so long to do so.
Lemongrass is one of those flavors that takes me on a journey and changes an entire dish. It makes every bite of the rice and chicken delightful, a definite favorite ingredient of mine. If you want to learn more about lemongrass, please check out this HOW TO COOK WITH LEMONGRASS article.
Easy stir fry ingredients
To make this lemongrass chicken, you will need the following ingredients:
- Chicken thighs
- Lemongrass
- Vietnamese fish sauce
- Brown sugar
- Garlic
- Turmeric
- Shallots
- Dry Sherry
- Chicken granulated bouillon (optional)
How to make chicken stir fry
Step 1. Prepare and Season the Chicken
- To start, you need to pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels then cut the meat into 2-inch pieces.
- Transfer the chicken pieces into a bowl. Add turmeric and the optional chicken granulated bouillon. Stir to combine and set aside.
Step 2. Pre-Cook Chicken
- In a large skillet, heat oil on high heat.
- Cook the chicken, skin side down for about 2-3 minutes then flip and continue cooking until the meat is fully cooked. Transfer the meat to a plate and reserve about 2 tbsp of cooking oil to cook the other ingredients.
Step 3. Stir Fry All Ingredients
- Add lemongrass and shallots into the skillet. Stir for about 1 minute then add garlic and keep stirring just until fragrant.
- Add the pre-cooked chicken back into the pan. Pour in some dry sherry. Continue cooking until most of the liquid has evaporated and the meat is coated with the sauce. Adjust seasoning if needed.
How to store leftover cooked chicken
You can store the leftover cooked chicken in the fridge or freezer. Properly stored, this lemongrass chicken can last up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator or up to 2 months in the freezer.
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Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken thighs, skin on, (net weight after debone, pat chicken dry with paper towels then cut into 2-inch pieces, skin on)
- ¾ tsp turmeric powder
- ⅛ tsp kosher salt
- ⅛ tsp chicken granulated bouillon , (optional)
- 2 tbsp neutral oil , (such as vegetable, canola, or peanut oil)
- black pepper, (to taste)
Sauce:
- 1½ tbsp brown sugar , (for a lighter taste, use 1 tbsp)
- 1½ tbsp Vietnamese fish sauce, (for a lighter taste, use 1 tbsp)
Stir Fry:
- 3 tbsp finely minced fresh lemongrass , (click here for a complete instruction)
- ¼ cup sliced shallots
- 1½ tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp dry sherry, (or dry white wine)
Instructions
- Transfer the chicken pieces into a bowl. Add turmeric, kosher salt, black pepper, and the optional chicken granulated bouillon. Stir to combine.
- In a large skillet, heat oil on high heat. Cook the chicken, skin side down for about 2-3 minutes then flip and continue cooking until the meat is fully cooked. Transfer the chicken to a plate and reserve about 2 tbsp of cooking oil to cook the other ingredients.
- Add lemongrass and shallots into the skillet. Cook at high heat for about 1 minute then add garlic and keep stirring just until fragrant.
- Add the pre-cooked chicken back into the pan, stir for about 2-3 minutes. Add dry sherry and the sauce mixture (fish sauce and brown sugar). Continue cooking and stirring until most of the liquid has evaporated and the meat is coated with the sauce. Adjust seasoning with salt, black pepper, or extra sauce if needed. Serve with white rice.
Anita
It is not easy to hunt-down packaged boneless skin-on chicken thigh, but they are totally worth it for this recipe. So yummy with a bowl of rice.
Ashley
I've never used lemongrass before, but this recipe makes me want to give it a try!
Tara
What an amazing meal! I absolutely love the color of the chicken with the addition of the turmeric and all those flavors. Yum!
melissa chapman
It looks awesome and sounds so good. I never cooked or ate lemongrass so I will have to get this and the fish sauce in the Asian market.
Beth
This looks so delicious and tasty! My husband is going to love this recipe! I can’t wait to give this a try!
Tasheena
I’ve never had or made lemon grass chicken before. Looking forward to getting this recipe a try.
Anjali
This stir fry really was super easy and had great flavor! I'll definitely be making it again soon!
Heather
I don't think I've ever tried anything like this. I look forward to making it soon!
Chef Dennis
This Vietnamese lemongrass chicken stir fry is making my tummy growl! I'm feeling hungry right now. Just the sight of this dish makes me want to eat.
Heather Johnson
yum!
Marysa
I will have to look to see where I can find fresh lemongrass. This sounds like a unique dish!
Ciara
This looks really good. I'm always looking for new food to try out and will definitely be giving this a shot.
Nikki Wayne
It looks so flavorful! I'm sure this dish is so savory. 😋
Crystal Carder
I'm always nervous trying new recipes, but this one looks too good not to try!
Lynndee
That looks good! We use lemon grass in our cooking in the Philippines. But I can't find one here in the U.S. Missed using it in soups.
Nyxie
Looks and sounds gorgeous! I must give it a go at the weekend.
Kathy
I love making stir fry. It's one of my favorites to make. You can make it so many different ways.
Catalina
This chicken stir fry sounds so flavorful! It's a dinner that my whole family will love!
Lois
Yum!
Anosa Malanga
I miss traveling and part of it is eating local foods. Speaking of Vietnamese food, I really love it. I will try to make one in the meantime with this recipe.I hope I can revisit again and taste their local cuisines.
Andrea
This chicken is bursting with so much flavor. I love it!
Jamie
That sauce looks simple and delicious! I love all the flavors in this! Looks delicious!
Bintu | Budget Delicious
Flavourful but easy dishes such as these are my go to!
Tara
One of my favorites! Yours looks so good. I love that beautiful color on the chicken and such amazing flavors too.
Dolly
I love how easy these ingredients are to get at my local small town grocery store. Simple ingredients and big flavor: you have to love that!
Rika
Thanks, Dolly!
Rika
Thanks, Tara!
Rika
Thanks, Bintu!
Rika
Thanks Jamie!
Rika
I am glad to hear that, Andrea!
Rika
That's too bad. I hope you can find it soon. Buy bulk and freeze them.
Rika
Let me know what you think about it, Crystal.
Rika
I hope you can find the lemongrass, Marysa.
Rika
I miss traveling too. Local foods are the best!
Rika
I am glad that you liked it, Anjali!
Rika
I think you're going to love lemongrass. It has a refreshing citrus flavor, Melissa.
Rika
Thanks, Tara.
Rika
Let me know if you have any questions, Ashley.
Rika
That's right, it's quite rare but you can use bone-in chicken and debone it next time.