Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs – Filipino Style

These are the ultimate Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs - on a stick. Filipino style is on another level. It's sweet, salty, and full of umami goodness! You will devour 10 of these.

This classic Filipino Street food is the best! You can find them everywhere on the streets of Manila (where I grew up). Luckily, you don't have to go there to make it. I have an easy recipe for you!

This is super easy to make from scratch. The chicken doesn't need much time to marinate. This recipe is awesome with chicken thighs. I made a pork version as well. Here is the recipe for my Filipino BBQ Pork Skewer.

Here are some other recipes you should try. Asian Coleslaw, Garlic Fried Rice, and Asian Garlic Noodles would be so good with this dish.

What you need to make Grilled BBQ Chicken

• Chicken thighs
• Banana Ketchup
• Soy Sauce
• Brown sugar
• Sweet dark soy sauce (kecap manis)
• Apple cider vinegar
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Black pepper

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Substitutions

CHICKEN - Chicken thigh is the best. You can't have grilled BBQ chicken thighs without boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1" pieces. My favorite chicken to work with. It is so forgiving and flavorful.

Chicken breast will work but you won't get the same fat content so overcooking is a risk. No one likes their chicken dry.

BANANA KETCHUP - This ketchup is made with bananas. It is a lot sweeter than regular tomato ketchup. I love using this on my barbecue sauces. You can easily find this in most grocery stores. Go to the Asian isle.

SWEET DARK SOY SAUCE - aka Kecap Manis. This is an Indonesian sweet soy sauce. It gives a dish a great color and flavor. Who doesn't like that? Available in the Asian food aisle in most grocery stores.

SOY SAUCE - Regular or Low-sodium. Tamari if you're gluten-free.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR - Any vinegar should work. White or Rice vinegar. I prefer Apple Cider Vinegar.

Equipment

• Metal or bamboo skewers
• Medium pot for barbecue sauce
• Airtight container to marinate the chicken thighs
• Knife and cutting board

How to make Chicken BBQ Skewers

Make the marinade

• Add all the marinade ingredients to a medium-size pot
• Bring to a low simmer and cook for 15 minutes. The sauce should be sticky, and darker in deep red color. 

Prepare the chicken thighs 

• Cut into 1” bite-size pieces. Set aside. 

Marinate the chicken

• Cool down your sauce.
• Use ¼ cup of the sauce as the marinade. 
• Marinate the chicken thigh pieces for 1 hour or overnight for best results. 
• Keep the rest of your sauce in an airtight container and store it in the fridge. This will be your BBQ sauce for basting.

Skewer the chicken

• If using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes prior to grilling.
• When you are ready to grill, skewer the chicken thighs closely together. 

Grilling the chicken skewers

• Preheat your barbeque, make sure it is on low when cooking the chicken.
• Start basting right away with the reserved marinade to start developing the flavors.
• The chicken skewers should be done in 15 minutes. With an internal temperature of 165 ºF

Other recipes to try with Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs: 

What to serve