This Easy Thai Baked Chicken is a simple make-ahead meal to pop in the freezer for a busy day. It's a slightly spicy Thai chicken recipe made with coconut milk that leaves you wanting more! Paleo-friendly.
This Easy Thai Baked Chicken makes a simple weeknight dinner but it's special enough for a date night or dinner party!
Don't you just love the complex tastes of Thai food? Thai recipes usually contain ingredients that are sour, sweet, salty, bitter and spicy. The marinade for this easy Thai Baked Chicken blends and balances those flavours harmoniously.
Cilantro, jalapeño, ginger, basil, garlic and coriander all play together with coconut milk to produce this aromatic, slightly spicy chicken dish that leaves you wanting more.
As much I love Thai dishes, I also love easy meals. Especially ones that I can make ahead and have in the freezer, ready to grab for a quick dinner on a busy day.
This Thai chicken recipe also makes a great meal to take camping as it can easily be grilled instead of baked. It's suitable for those on a paleo diet, too!
🛒 Ingredients
You will need:
- chicken: boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- coconut milk: canned
- cilantro
- basil: fresh leaves. Use Thai basil if it's available
- jalapeño: 1 large or 2 small. Adjust the amount depending on how much heat you like.
- coriander: dried
- ginger: fresh
- garlic: fresh
- limes
- brown sugar: or coconut sugar
🔪 Instructions
- Add the marinade ingredients to a food processor and purée until smooth.
- Arrange the chicken parts in a single layer in a large freezer bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken, seal tightly or vacuum seal and massage the marinade into the chicken a bit. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours, or simply lay it flat in the freezer and freeze for another day.
- To bake: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Heat a large oven-proof skillet over medium to high heat. Add oil and wait until it ripples or shimmers. Add chicken pieces and sear on each side for 3-4 minutes, then place the skillet in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes, or until it has reached an internal temperature of 165°F. Check the temperature with an instant-read meat thermometer.
- Cover with foil and let it stand on a platter for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
- If you want to grill it instead: Place the chicken on a medium-hot well-oiled grill. Use tongs to turn the pieces when the chicken has grill marks (approx. 5 to 6 min). Cook until the internal temperature is 165°F. at the thickest part (about 7 to 8 minutes).
- Sprinkle with more chopped cilantro and serve with lime wedges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! It's delicious when grilled. Keep the heat to medium-low, oil the grill well before starting, and cook, turning once until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F. when measured at the thickest part with an instant-read meat thermometer.
I've made this recipe with several different brands, and it has always turned out well. I use the full-fat variety. It seems to help the marinade to cling to the chicken.
Yes, you can. I've made it with bone-in, skin-on thighs. For crispy skin, I'd suggest searing the chicken parts in an ovenproof skillet first, drain the excess fat, then add the marinade and bake in the oven. Depending on the size of the chicken parts, it will take about 30-40 minutes at 375°F.
Yes, there will be enough flavour from the other spices and herbs to still keep this chicken dish full of flavour. If you wanted to garnish it, you could use a little chopped parsley instead of cilantro.
I recommend that you don't omit the sugar, it's a small amount but it's important for balancing the flavours in this recipe.
Storage and Freezer Instructions
If you're not planning to use this Thai Baked Chicken right away, lay the freezer bag with the chicken and marinade flat on a baking sheet or other flat surface and freeze it. Then it will be ready for another day or to pack for a camping trip.
Make some Thai Coconut Rice (which also freezes well) to go with it. Then all you'll have to do is prepare a salad and veggies.
How easy is that?
Three simple steps to make this Easy Thai Baked Chicken
- Blend all marinade ingredients in your blender or food processor.
- Pour the marinade into a zipper closure bag with the chicken. Let it marinate.
- Bake it in the oven.
This easy chicken dish has consistently been one of the most popular recipes on Flavour and Savour. It has lots of flavour without being overly spicy and it's quick and easy to make.
If you make this Easy Thai Baked Chicken recipe, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Let me know in the comments section below and if you liked it, give it a rating. I love seeing what you make!
Easy Thai Baked Chicken
Ingredients
- 6-8 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves or 12 boneless chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp oil (for skillet)
Marinade
- 1-½ cups chopped fresh cilantro
- ¾ cup canned coconut milk
- 12 leaves fresh basil
- 1 large or 2 small jalapeños, seeds removed
- 3 cloves garlic
- ¼ inch slice of fresh ginger
- 1-½ tsp salt
- 1-½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ¾ tsp ground coriander
- 2 tsp packed brown sugar, or coconut palm sugar
- 2 limes cut into wedges, for garnish
Instructions
- Add marinade ingredients to food processor and purée until smooth.
- Arrange chicken parts in a single layer in a large freezer bag. Pour marinade over chicken, seal tightly or vacuum seal and massage the marinade into the chicken a bit. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours, or simply lay it flat in the freezer and freeze for another day.
- To bake: Preheat oven to 375F. Heat a large oven-proof skillet over medium to high heat. Add oil and wait until it ripples or shimmers. Add chicken pieces and sear on each side for 3-4 minutes, then place skillet in oven for 15 - 20 minutes or until it has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Cover with foil and let stand on a platter for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- If you want to grill it instead: Place chicken on medium-hot well-oiled grill. Turn when chicken has grill marks (approx. 5-6 min). Cook until internal temperature is 165 degrees at the thickest part (about 7-8 minutes).
- Sprinkle with more chopped cilantro and serve with lime wedges.
Lorena Haller says
OMG! This was DELICIOUS!!! So much flavor!! Super easy to make! I only marinated for 2 hours and it was so flavorful! My husband said that this was the best chicken dish I've ever made! đŸ™‚
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Lorena,
Oh, I'm so glad you liked it. We love it too and I make it often. Thanks so much for your feedback. Comments like yours make my day!
Anne says
Hi Elaine: I made this recipe last night and my family gobbled it up! It's so easy and absolutely delicious. This is definitely a keeper. đŸ™‚ Thanks so much for sharing your recipe.
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Anne,
That's so great that your family loved it. I love how easy it is too! I really appreciate you letting me know. Happy cooking!
Karma Kilps says
I made this last night with only a couple substitutions. I added Turmeric and I didn;t have fresh cilantro so I used Coriander Chutney! I also added fresh lime and lemon juice. So gooood! Thanks for a new fave recipe.
Flavour & Savour says
Karma, I love your substitutions! Coriander Chutney is something I must try!
Leslie says
Not the best question, but could I substitute parsley or another herb for cilantro? I'm a cilantro hater, but would love to try this recipe without losing too much flavour.
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Leslie,
I know there are lots of people who really have an aversion to cilantro. I don't think it would be a problem at all to leave it out as there will still be so much flavour from the other ingredients like garlic, ginger and lime. Try it! Thanks for your idea!
Leslie says
No cilantro and still so tasty! I bought very thin breast filets by mistake, so I actually rolled them and cooked in the oven the whole time. They were great. But I'll try searing next time!
Flavour & Savour says
What a creative solution, Leslie! I'm glad the adaptations you made worked so well for you. I love hearing how others change and adapt my recipes. Happy cooking!
Molly says
This sounds amazing! What do you suggest serving this with?
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Molly,
I usually serve this with my Thai Coconut Rice and stir-fried vegetables or fresh salads made with whatever is in season at the time. We really love this dish! I hope you do too.
Rosalyn says
This was so flavorful and tender, I couldn't believe it! I knew the recipe would be too much for just my husband and I, so I split it into two freezer bags to be used on those days after work where I'm feeling too tired for a complicated meal. This was so easy! I just made one bag tonight and it is now my favorite chicken recipe. Thank you for posting this!
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks Rosalyn! We love this chicken dish too. It's definitely one of our favourites. And there is no better feeling than coming home tired and remembering you have something delicious in the freezer! Thanks for your comment.
Celeste says
Hi Elaine,
I saw this recipe and I desire to make it. The only problem is that I have skin-on and bone-in chicken thighs. Do you think this recipe would work at 400 degrees for 40 minutes? Or would the milk scorch? Have you tried substituting?
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Celeste. Skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs work well with this recipe. After you sear them on the stove top, bake them at 375 degrees. They will take 30 - 40 minutes depending on their size. Enjoy! Thanks for your question, as it helps my other readers, too!
Monique says
Thank you! That was my question too!
Khadijah says
What kind of canned coconut milk did you use? Low fat or regular? Thanks!
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Khadijah,
I use the full-fat coconut milk. It should be fine with the low-fat coconut milk, but I've never tried it myself. I hope you like this recipe as much as we do! Thanks for your question.
Lynn says
I've made this 3 times, soo good!..Froze the last batch, excellent.!!!
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks, Lynn!
Susan DeWalt says
The only problem with this recipe is the temptation to make it too often. It is so easy and really delicious. I serve it with coconut rice and a green veggie on the side. Love it!
Flavour & Savour says
That made me laugh--but it's so true! Thanks for commenting!
Colleen Schneider says
Wonderful, easy recipe. We thoroughly enjoyed this flavorful dish. We will definitely make again!
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks Colleen,
It's a favourite of ours too. So easy! I often make a double batch and freeze half of it with the sauce. Thanks for commenting!
Sophia says
Hi there!
Just curious to see what kind of basil did you use? I have regular sweet basil and I have Thai basil as well. Does it matter?
Thanks in advance!
PS. I love all your recipes đŸ™‚
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Sophia,
I used regular sweet basil, but I'm sure Thai basil would be fine as well. Thanks for your kind words!
Mary Smith says
Do you use the marinade or throw it out? I know this is probably a dumb question but had to ask.
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Mary,
There are no dumb questions! There are probably many people who would like to ask the same one! No, I don't re-use the marinade, as it has been in contact with raw chicken. Thanks for stopping by!
Sue says
I would use the marinade to cook rice or veggies in.
Linda says
I was wondering if you spoon on some of the marinade during the baking process? This is ok, since any bacteria will be killed in the oven.
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Linda,
I find the marinade for this is quite thick and most of it sticks to the chicken, but if you have some left in the bag, I think it would be fine to baste the chicken with it as soon as it goes in the oven, so, as you said, any possible bacteria would be killed. Hope you love it as much as we do! Here's a coincidence: I just took a bag of it out of my freezer to pack up for our camping trip a few minutes ago, then saw your comment. Thanks for your question!
Jason says
Since I do not have an oven safe skillet, Is it possible to skip the searing on the skillet and just use a normal baking pan to bake the chicken? If so, how long do you suggest I leave the chicken in the oven for and what temperature should I use?
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Jason,
Yes, you can skip the searing and bake them in the oven. Boneless thighs cook quickly. Heat your oven to 375°F. and bake for about 20 minutes. Check with a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken has an internal temperature of 165°F. Enjoy!
Jessica says
I know this is an old post but I wanted to share what I did. đŸ™‚ First I made this the way it's written and the marinade is SO FRIGGIN' GOOD that I knew I had to find other ways to use it. I made the marinade into a sauce, added ground turkey and put the whole thing over zoodles. OMG. So good and another way to use this amazing recipe! đŸ™‚ Thank you!
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Jessica,
Oh Yum! That's a fabulous idea! Thanks so much for sharing it with us all! Such a healthy meal and I'll bet it tastes incredible. Must try!!
Kelvin says
Anyone tried omitting sugar?
Chloe says
I know this is an old question, but I've made this recipe several times. A few times I forgot the sugar. The recipe was still delicious and I honestly couldn't tell the difference.
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks for the tip, Chloe!
Robin says
I am wondering this too. Did you try leaving the sugar out?
Connie Kim says
Hello, just a question about the nutrition. Your recipe includes a calorie count of 248 calories is that per chicken breast?
Thank you, Connie
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Connie,
The calorie count is for one chicken thigh. While you can use breasts, I calculated it on boneless, skinless thighs, as that is what is in the photo.
Sydney Elser says
I'm meat free so I switched the chicken for cauliflower and it was amazing !! I want to put this marinade on everything !
Flavour & Savour says
That's a brilliant idea, Sydney! I'm going to try that. Thanks so much for sharing!!
Janice Clarke-Reiter says
Your instructions say, "Heat a large oven-proof skillet over medium to high heat. Add oil and wait until it ripples" but I don't see oil listed among the ingredients. Should there be a specific amount of oil or simply oil to cover the bottom of the skillet?
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Janice,
Thanks! I add just enough to make a very thin layer on the bottom of the skillet. Depending on the size of skillet you're using, it's usually about 1 tablespoon. Thanks for your question!
Sylvia Peach says
I don't know what I did wrong, but this dish was just as bland as could be - so disappointed. I followed the recipe exactly, no subs. The marinade tasted great (before I added the chicken of course) so I was expectant that it would be great. However, when it cooked there were no delicious aromas wafting around and the chicken thighs had no marinade flavor at all. I'm just stumped. Only thing I can think of, is perhaps the 4 hour marinade time that I used was not enough. Yet other people have said that was enough time - makes me wonder if folks know what good food should taste like. Could an addition of a soy sauce or a vinegar might penetrate the meat better?
Thanks anyway!
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Sylvia,
How disappointing for you, especially when you read how much others have liked this recipe. The Thai flavours in this recipe are more delicate than some--lemongrass, coconut milk, cilantro and hints of ginger and jalapeño. I described this dish in the post as being "slightly spicy." I'm so sorry it didn't meet your expectations.
Sheila in MD says
Hi There-
I want to try this in the next few days and was reading the comments. I see in this comment you refer to lemongrass but I don't see lemongrass as an ingredient? Should we be adding lemongrass to the marinade? Thanks!
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Sheila,
Thanks for your question about adding lemongrass, and thanks for your patience when I mess up!! I must have been thinking about another Thai recipe when I replied to that comment. No, there is no lemongrass in this recipe. Hope you like it as much as we do!
Jenn says
I don't have an oven safe skillet is it fine to fry for a few minutes and then put the chicken onto a baking dish into the oven?
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Jenn,
Yes, definitely!
Elizabeth Parsons says
The cilantro overpowered every other flavor. I only used 3 chicken thighs and 4 wing pieces. It was sooooooo green. I think that it needed more time to sear. not sure if I will try it with the cilantro again.
Flavour & Savour says
HI Elizabeth,
Oh--that's disappointing for you. Do you think you may have had too much marinade for the amount of chicken you used? I agree with your ideas--when you make it again, give it a little more time to sear and brown, and you can certainly reduce the amount of cilantro to your liking. Thanks for commenting.
Crissy says
This chicken was delicious! It has so much flavor, the two people who didn't like this either have terrible taste in food or messed up a totally easy recipe, I can't wait to make this again, I served it with cauliflower rice and salad.
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks so much, Crissy! I just made this again yesterday. That's a great idea to serve it with cauliflower rice and salad. Fill your plate with veggies, right? Thanks for sharing!
Diane says
Not a fan of coconut milk, what could be substituted . Thanks Diane
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Diane,
I suspect you could easily substitute cream successfully, or even almond milk. Let me know if you do try it, as I'm sure other readers would like to know, too!
Liz Bayer says
Do you have any advice in making this a crockpot dish?
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Liz,
What a great idea! I haven't tried this, so I'd have to experiment before offering advice on how to adapt it. I do know that you'd have to thicken the sauce. When I try it, I'll post it! If you try it and have any suggestions, please share! đŸ™‚
Joanne says
Having this tonight and I can't wait. That marinade was to die for
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks, Joanne! I'm glad you like it!
Sarah says
Best chicken I have ever had. I burned my hand pretty badly on the pan making it. But it was OK since the meat was so tender, I only needed a fork to eat it.
Flavour & Savour says
So glad you liked it, Sarah! Sorry to hear about your hand. I hope it heals soon! Thanks so much for your comment.
Colleen Burnett says
This was delicious. Made marinade using half the sugar. Marinated both cauliflower and chicken thighs(separate dishes) and being lazy, skipped the frying and baked in the oven at 375 for 35 minute, 45 for the cauliflower. This is a keeper.
Flavour & Savour says
Great ideas, Colleen! Thanks for sharing how you adapted the recipe. Love the idea of marinating the cauliflower too!
Anita O. says
I made this with bone-in, skinless thighs, and baked them for 40 minutes. I also basted the chicken a couple of times during cooking. Great flavor, moist, and convenient make-ahead! I love anything with cilantro so this is a definite make-again!
Flavour & Savour says
Glad you liked it, Anita! I appreciate that you shared your adaptations. Great idea to baste the chicken, since you used skinless thighs. Thanks so much for commenting!
Ashley says
I LOVE this recipe! I am a huge fan of a local Thai restaurant - I used to go there one a week and always order the Thai BBQ Chicken! This recipe was just incredible and I was so proud of my self for making something comparable that I can have whenever I want! I did not put the lime or jalapeños - but I did add a tiny bit of turmeric and some some soy sauce the second time I made it and it was just amazing! The third time I added an organic powder curry blend from my local coop along with the other things I listed and it was so delicious! There are so many ways to be creative with this recipe and I am just ecstatic to have found it! I am a cilantro lover and couldn’t get enough! I also once added double the garlic, some chives, crushed peanuts and I dipped it in a Thai chili sauce! (I just can’t get enough- I freeze with the base recipe and add when making it what I feel like at the moment)! I usually make it with white jasmine rice and broccoli and it is just so perfect! Also, I did not have any way of processing the ingredients so I just chopped them up fine and it worked beautifully! Thank you so much for doing this! I am so happy to have found your recipe!
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks so much, Ashley. And thanks for sharing the ways you have adapted my recipe, too! I'm going to have to try some of your ideas myself. Thanks for commenting!
Karin says
Definitely recommend grilling this instead of baking. The charring you get from the grill takes the chicken to a whole new level!
Floyde Dehanne says
Made this in my Ninja foodi using the grill rack and air cooking attachment as opposed to using the grill in sweltering summer heat (used the air cooking attachment NOT pressure lid lol) and that chicken was perfectly seared and bursting with awesomeness, in fact, by the end of the dinner party I had over 5 phone numbers in my pocket and 3 other date requests in vm lol. Try it you WONT regret it!
Wendy says
Read all the reviews, including the less favorable ones. So - just to be safe, made the recipe exactly as it reads, but added a heaping tablespoon of chili paste to,the marinade for so extra heat and spice. Shall I just say - perfection....!
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks Wendy! Extra heat is always good!
Angela says
I made this for my son last night along with the Thai coconut rice and some steam/roasted squash/zucchini/asparagus/red bell pepper and made a crunchy thai salad with peanut dressing. I did use the lime in the marinade, rather than serving on the side. He and I enjoyed it very much. This recipe is a keeper! Thanks.
Flavour & Savour says
Glad you loved it, Angela! It sounds like you made a fabulous meal! Thanks so much for sharing your ideas!
Kia says
Hello
I used boneless skinless chicken thighs. The chicken came out amazing! The only problem I had was I did not get any char on the chicken breast when I seared them. I used a cast iron skillet. Maybe I could have broiled the chicken in the oven the last 2 minutes of cooking ? Any tips for the next time ? Thank you so much
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Kia,
Great to hear this turned out so well for you. Yes, broiling for a couple of minutes at the end would help develop some colour, or searing in your cast iron skillet on a higher heat might help too. Hope these tips help you!
Robin says
I was unable to get boneless chicken thighs....any thoughts on adjustments to time/temperature?
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Robin,
Sear them as in the recipe instructions, then bake for about 30 minutes at 375°F. or until a meat thermometer reads at least 165°F. Enjoy!
Diana says
Loved this! I read all the comments, and decided to make it just as written. We will be having this regularly!! So delicious.
Flavour & Savour says
It's consistently one of the most popular recipes here on the blog. Glad you liked it too, Diana!
Tabby says
Made this last night and it was awesome!
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks for letting me know, Tabby! Glad you liked it. We love this one, too!
Kat C says
How far ahead can you make just the marinade? I'd like to make it and have it in the fridge ready to go for later in the week when I decide to make the dish, which sound delicious!
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Kat, This is a great recipe to make ahead. You can make the marinade ahead of time. As long as it's refrigerated, it should last 3 days or so. I often make the marinade, add fresh chicken and freeze the chicken right in the marinade. Enjoy! This is a really popular recipe.
Kat C says
Thank you for your reply, I don't have any room in my freezer right now! Will make the marinade today and report back after baking or grilling the chicken. My mouth is watering!
Flavour & Savour says
I know the feeling about having a full freezer, especially at this time of year when there are so many berries to save for the winter. Not complaining, however!!