Super tasty and brilliant as an easy midweek meal, this five spice chicken will have you licking the plate! It's full of flavour and perfect served with rice and extra green vegetables.
I have to admit that my favourite meat is chicken. I cook something with chicken practically every week. It's a perfect meat for carrying different flavours and so so versatile. Chicken is perfect for speedy suppers as well as longer slow cooked recipes.
This five spice chicken is one of those recipes that's easy and quick to make with little hands on time. It doesn't have many ingredients and there isn't a lot of preparation involved.
However, although it's a simple chicken recipe, it is totally delicious. Something magical happens to make this five spice chicken recipe somehow far more tasty than you expect. And of course that is a good thing.
What ingredients do you need to make this five spice chicken?
You don't need many ingredients to make this just:
- chicken legs or thighs - chicken on the bone is best but you could replace it with chicken breasts and reduce the simmer time to 15 minutes
- cooking oil - any relatively flavourless cooking oil is fine
- soy sauce - light soy sauce is best for this recipe
- Chinese five spice powder- a blend of star anise, cinnamon, cloves, fennel and Szechuan peppercorns
- sugar - I use white caster sugar but I think this would work well with soft light brown sugar too
- onions
- mushrooms
- water
Make sure you taste the sauce at the end and if it needs a little more seasoning you can add an extra dash of soy sauce.
What can you serve with 5 spice chicken?
I like to serve this chicken anise with rice but it's great with noodles too. I also like to serve some broccoli or green beans on the side for some extra veggies.
Can you adapt this recipe?
This is such a simple recipe that I wouldn't adapt it much. You could add extra vegetables to the sauce instead or serving them on the side.
If you want a spicier Chinese recipe then just slice up a fresh red chilli and scatter it over the top when you serve. A spoonful of chilli oil is also great served with it.
You could also add a drizzle of sesame oil at the end too.
Can you reheat the leftovers?
I often make a larger batch of this recipe and then reheat the leftovers in the microwave the next day. Always make sure it's piping hot before serving.
Can you freeze the leftovers?
You can also freeze the leftovers for up to three months. Make sure you defrost it thoroughly before reheating in the oven or microwave.
If you reheat in the oven cover the dish with aluminium foil so it doesn't dry out.
The inspiration for this chicken recipe?
I used to be part of a group called the Secret Recipe Club and this chicken anise is from a blog called Oh! You Cook!
Recipe
Five Spice Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 700 g chicken thighs or drumsticks
- 100 ml water
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1.5 tablespoon sugar
- 1.5 teaspoon chinese five spice
- 1 onion diced
- 100 g mushrooms sliced
Instructions
- Heat a little oil in a pan and brown the chicken on all sides.
- Mix together the water, soy sauce, sugar and five spice powder. Pour over the chicken. Bring to the boil and then lower the heat to a simmer for 30 minutes.
- In another pan heat a little more oil and cook the onions gently until they soften and then add the mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes and then add to the pan with the chicken.
- Cook the chicken for another 5 minutes and then serve with rice and some more vegetables.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
More Chinese Inspired Recipes
If you like this five spice chicken then why not try my slow cooker Chinese chicken stew, Chinese spare ribs or my Chinese chicken curry?
You might also like my coca cola chilli chicken recipe.
Sophie33
This sounds very delicious! You know that each 5 spice can be diffzerent & in dome 5 spices there isn't at all anise in it! Yummm!
Corina
Really! I knew they could be different in quantities but didn't know that.
Miz Helen
We love the flavor of anise, this looks like a great recipe, great pick for the SRC!
Miz Helen
Corina
It was really tasty. It's made me want to try more recipes using five spice powder as I don't use it very often.
yummyinsidemytummy
Looks superb
Corina
Thank you.
colleen @ Secrets from the Cookie Princess
Looks delicious!
Corina
Thank you.
BloodyMaryTour
This looks delicious and pretty quick to whip up on one of the nights when I'm super tired after work, yet still want a yummy meal. I think this would taste great on top of some udon noodles 🙂 Feel free to check out my site for some spicy cocktails at http://www.bloodymarytour.wordpress.com
Corina
Yes, it would be lovely with any type of noodles as well as rice. And with a cocktail as well!
petra08
I just made some Chinese five spice mix, this looks like a great way to cook it! 🙂
Corina
This was a lovely simple way to use it. I'll have to make my own mix next time - this time I just used some from a bought jar.
Saundra Contreras (@FamishedFish)
I could almost taste this! How perfect!
Corina
I'm glad you like it.
dena @ohyoucook
You picked a winner! My family loves this recipe. Plus your photo is better than mine ... the mushrooms really jump out at you and say, "Make this now!"
Corina
It was so delicious. Thank you for the recipe and it's lovely of you to say that about the photo.
Jean
Pinned
Corina
Thanks.
Renee's Kitchen Adventures
This looks wonderful and gives me a chance to use the 5 spice powder I have in the spice rack!
Corina
That's what I thought when I came across this recipe! I don't use my five spice enough.
[email protected]
Sounds fantastic to me! 😀 I'll have to pick up some Chinese 5 Spice, as I've never tried it! 😀
Corina
I'm sure you'll love it!
Julie's Family Kitchen
What a delicious sounding recipes, I have everything to make this but the soy sauce.
Corina
Soy sauce is a staple in my food cupboard! So glad you like the sound of this.
Kate
This does sound good. I love new ways to prepare chicken.... The addition of mushrooms had me sold!
Corina
It's really tasty but simple. I love mushrooms too.
Marsha @ The Harried Cook
I love the flavor of five spice powder. This recipe sounds absolutely relish! Thanks for sharing a lovely new SRC recipe!
Corina
I certainly don't use my five spice powder enough but it's really delicious and this was a perfect way to use it.
culinarycam
I am always looking for new ways to make chicken. This looks fabulous.
Corina
Thank you.