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    Home » Keto, Paleo, or Gluten Free

    Updated: Feb 27, 2024 · Published: Nov 3, 2023 · by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · 33 Comments

    Vietnamese Grilled Chicken

    Jump to Recipe

    Vietnamese grilled chicken breasts are crazy good and crazy easy to make. Thanks to a salty, sweet, sour, and slightly spicy marinade & homemade BBQ basting sauce this chicken is so flavorful. The easy-to-find Asian ingredients epitomize the bold flavors of Vietnamese cuisine. Be ready to be WOWed!

    Vietnamese Grilled Chicken Breasts on a plate topped with fresh herbs.

    If you like boneless skinless chicken breasts but want something new to make on the barbecue, this is the best recipe. This recipe packs a punch thanks to a rich marinade that adds acid, salt, and heat. Serve it with some Asian Avocado Slaw for a wonderful meal.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients for Vietnamese Chicken
    • How to Make Vietnamese Grilled Chicken
    • Why use Thin Chicken Breasts?
    • What to Serve with Vietnamese BBQ Chicken
    • Vietnamese Grilled Chicken Breasts

    Ingredients for Vietnamese Chicken

    With the combination of spicy chili garlic paste, tamari, sesame, fish sauce, lime, and ginger this chicken is anything but boring. Do not be scared off by the list of ingredients.

    You should able to find all these items in my local grocery store. Online shopping also makes this a very accessible yet exotic recipe. Here is what you need to make this Asian-inspired recipe.

    Chicken and marinade ingredients
    • Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - thin cutlets work best for both soaking up the marinade quickly & cooking fast on the grill.
    • Tamari - gluten-free soy sauce.
    • Brown Sugar - light or dark is fine.
    • Fish Sauce - for salty & briney flavor this condiment is a popular Asian ingredient.
    • Garlic Chili Paste - the spicy condiment adds a ton of flavor.
    • Garlic - for additional pungency.
    • Ginger - this spice is a common Asian ingredient.
    • Lime Juice - for tart acidity & the citrus juice adds freshness.
    • Ketchup - the base for the thick Asian-style BBQ basting sauce.
    • Rice Vinegar - for tartness in the BBQ sauce.
    • Sesame Oil - a nutty touch to balance the sweet & tart.
    • Cilantro - fresh herb to finish the dish.

    See the recipe card below for amounts & full recipe instructions.

    How to Make Vietnamese Grilled Chicken

    Here are the easy steps for this Vietnamese chicken recipe.

    1. Prepare the Marinade
    2. Marinate the Chicken Breasts
    3. Warm the Grill & Mix the BBQ Basting Sauce
    4. Grill & Baste the Chicken
    5. Serving Suggestions

    Why use Thin Chicken Breasts?

    1. The result is a quicker marinade as the chicken takes on the flavor faster
    2. The grilling time is faster and we find it easier to time, to ensure juicy results
    3. They are easier to cut and that helps if you have kids who are mastering their knife skills
    4. Thin chicken is great to add to salads and this is fantastic in salads

    NOTE: you can make Vietnamese Chicken with boneless skinless thighs as well. For the amount of marinade, use 6 thighs.

    1 - Prepare the Marinade

    The fish sauce marinade is so easy to make. Combine marinade ingredients in a pourable glass measuring cup or bowl. Whisk to combine.

    In a single layer, place chicken breasts in a deep baking dish.  Ensure it is deep enough to hold the marinade once poured in. Slowly pour the marinade over the chicken breasts. 

    2 - Marinate the Chicken Breasts

    Let the chicken breast pieces marinate for 30 minutes, flip the chicken, and then marinate for a final 30 minutes.  This can be marinated for longer but the beauty of this recipe is it can be ready quickly. The deep flavors in the marinade can infuse into the thin chicken breast cutlets fast and be ready to cook in just one hour. 

    Pour marinade over chicken breasts
    Pour marinade over chicken breasts

    3 - Warm the Grill & Mix the BBQ Basting Sauce

    Warm up your gas grill or start the charcoal for your grill. Once it is at medium heat, the chicken is ready to go on the grill. 

    Basting sauce ingredients

    Combine basting ingredients in a bowl and whisk. Set aside for later when grilling.

    If you do not have sesame oil, here are SUBSTITUTES FOR SESAME OIL that you can use instead and this will still be super flavorful and amazing. 

    Vietnamese Grilled Chicken Breasts in marinade & basting sauce ready

    4 - Grill & Baste the Chicken

    Grill for 5 minutes on each side on medium heat. Keep the lid open since these will cook fast. The chicken should separate from the grate and no longer stick when it is ready to be flipped to the other side. Grill another 5 minutes on the other side. 

    To learn more about why and when you grill with the lid open or closed, read my post -Grilling with the Lid On or Off - All You Need to Know

    Baste with sauce and grill one minute longer so the sauce caramelizes but does not burn.  Do not leave it unattended or the sugar from the sauce will brown or burn quickly. Flip to the second side, baste, and cook for 1 final minute.

    chicken breasts ready for the basting sauce
    chicken breasts ready for the basting sauce

    HOW DO I KNOW THE CHICKEN IS READY? Chicken should read 165° on an internal meat thermometer when cooked.  Once it reaches this temperature, it is done BBQing.

    5 - Serving Suggestions

    Remove the chicken from the grill to a serving platter and top with fresh cilantro. Let the chicken rest for 3 minutes before cutting into it. Resting the meat allows for the juices to redistribute & results in chicken that is moist and juicy.

    Vietnamese Grilled Chicken Breast & Pickled Vegetables

    What to Serve with Vietnamese BBQ Chicken

    • QUICK PICKLED VEGETABLES 
    • INSTANT POT STEAMED BROCCOLI
    • AMAZING ROASTED GREEN BEANS WITH EVERYTHING BUT THE BAGEL SESAME SEASONING 
    Vietnamese Grilled Chicken Breast

    Product Recommendations for this Recipe:

    San-J Tamari Soy Sauce - Gluten Free Soy Sauce, Tamari Sauce, Brewed Soy Sauce, Vegan, Kosher, Non-GMO, No Artificial Preservatives, Made with 100% Soy - 10 Fl Oz, 2-Pack
    $16.99
    San-J Tamari Soy Sauce - Gluten Free Soy Sauce, Tamari Sauce, Brewed Soy Sauce, Vegan, Kosher, Non-GMO, No Artificial Preservatives, Made with 100% Soy - 10 Fl Oz, 2-Pack
    Buy Now
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
    07/16/2025 02:52 am GMT

    Huy Fong Chili Garlic Sauce, 8 oz
    $2.49
    Huy Fong Chili Garlic Sauce, 8 oz
    Buy Now
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
    07/13/2025 11:52 pm GMT

    Thai Kitchen Premium Fish Sauce, 23.66 fl oz - One 23.66 Fluid Ounce Bottle of Fish Sauce Crafted for Dressings and Marinades for a Sweet, Tangy and Spicy Flavor
    $9.26
    Thai Kitchen Premium Fish Sauce, 23.66 fl oz - One 23.66 Fluid Ounce Bottle of Fish Sauce Crafted for Dressings and Marinades for a Sweet, Tangy and Spicy Flavor
    Buy Now
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
    07/16/2025 07:11 am GMT

    Simply Organic Ground Ginger Root, 1.64 Ounce, Non ETO, Non Irradiated, Non GMO, Complements Both Sweet & Savory Dishes
    $5.79
    Simply Organic Ground Ginger Root, 1.64 Ounce, Non ETO, Non Irradiated, Non GMO, Complements Both Sweet & Savory Dishes
    Buy Now
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
    07/15/2025 02:22 am GMT

    The Short Order Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. This helps with the costs of running the blog. Thank you! 

    Vietnamese Grilled Chicken Breasts on a plate topped with fresh herbs.

    Vietnamese Grilled Chicken Breasts

    Angela
    Thin chicken breasts are marinated for at least one hour in a salty, tangy, and sour marinade. When grilled the Asian basting sauce adds the final punch of flavor.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook
    Prep Time 1 hour hr
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Vietnamese
    Servings 3
    Calories 341 kcal

    Equipment

    • Outdoor grill

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 thin boneless skinless chicken breasts

    Marinade Ingredients:

    • ¼ C Tamari gluten-free soy sauce
    • ¼ C light or dark brown sugar
    • 2 TB fish sauce
    • ½ teaspoon ginger powder
    • 1 teaspoon hot chili-garlic paste
    • 1 ½ TB fresh lime juice
    • 3 teaspoon garlic minced

    Basting Sauce Ingredients:

    • ⅓ C ketchup
    • 3 TB light or dark brown sugar
    • 3 TB rice vinegar
    • 1 TB sesame oil
    • 1 TB water
    • 1 teaspoon hot chili-garlic paste
    • fresh minced cilantro optional for topping
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • In a single layer, place chicken breasts in a deep baking dish. Ensure it is deep enough to hold the marinade once poured in.
    • Combine marinade ingredients in a pourable glass measuring cup. Next, whisk to combine and then pour over the chicken breasts. Let marinade 30 minutes, flip chicken, and then let marinade for a final 30 minutes
    • Combine basting ingredients in a bowl and whisk. Set aside for later when grilling. Turn on a gas grill to warm it up or start a charcoal grill. Once it is at medium heat, the chicken is ready to go on the grill.
    • Grill 5 minutes on each side on medium heat, with the lid open. The chicken should separate from the grill and no longer stick when it is ready to be flipped to the other side. Grill another 5 minutes on the other side.
    • Baste with sauce and grill one minute longer so the sauce caramelizes but does not burn. Do not leave unattended as the sugar from the sauce will brown quickly. Flip to the second side, baste, and cook 1 final minute.
    • Chicken should read 165° when cooked. Remove to a serving platter and top with fresh cilantro.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 341kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 27gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 2405mgPotassium: 641mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 176IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 55mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword barbecue, dairy-free, easy, gluten-free, grain-free, grill, sour, spicy
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Tag @theshortordercookblog (Instagram & Facebook) or @shortorder_cook (Twitter). 

    I would love to see your latest creations and kitchen adventures.

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    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. TIffany says

      July 22, 2019 at 9:41 am

      This looks tasty - and love the simple ingredients - need to add this to our menu ASAP!

      Reply
    2. Haley Kelley says

      July 22, 2019 at 10:45 am

      These look sooooo good... I am adding them to my pinterest board so I can make them soon!

      Reply
    3. Katie says

      July 22, 2019 at 12:41 pm

      The sweet, sour and spicy combo sounds awesome!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        July 22, 2019 at 6:42 pm

        It is pretty awesome in every sort of way.

        Reply
    4. Nikki says

      July 22, 2019 at 12:55 pm

      This sure looks Yummy! and not too hard! I'm always on the look out for super easy recipes. I'll will have to give this a try!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        July 22, 2019 at 6:42 pm

        It is super easy and super DELICIOUS!

        Reply
    5. Suzan | It's My Sustainable Life says

      July 22, 2019 at 1:34 pm

      Love, love, love this. It's dinner time as I'm writing this, so now I'm thinking maybe I still have time to make this tonite! Thanks for sharing & looking forward to enjoying 🙂

      Reply
      • Angela says

        July 22, 2019 at 6:41 pm

        Thanks a ton! It is so quick to make, you probably could make it tonight! Let me know what you think!

        Reply
    6. Lisa Manderino says

      July 22, 2019 at 1:42 pm

      This looks delicious, I love grilling in the summer!

      Reply
    7. Beth Balberchak says

      July 22, 2019 at 4:04 pm

      Looks delicious! I'm definitely pinning this for later.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        July 22, 2019 at 6:40 pm

        Thank you

        Reply
    8. Elizabeth says

      July 22, 2019 at 6:21 pm

      Wow, this looks so delicious. I'll have to give it a try!

      Reply
    9. Melissa Jones says

      July 22, 2019 at 6:22 pm

      That looks great!

      Reply
    10. Jody says

      July 22, 2019 at 7:51 pm

      Wow this looks amazing I will have to give it a try. Spice is always good

      Reply
    11. Leigh Ann says

      July 22, 2019 at 8:08 pm

      These look so good! I'm going to have to give them a try.

      Reply
    12. Robin Frields says

      July 23, 2019 at 6:06 am

      Your recipes always look so delicious! We eat a lot of chicken here and I can't wait to try this one!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        July 23, 2019 at 4:24 pm

        You are so kind, thanks!

        Reply
    13. Shirley says

      July 23, 2019 at 6:19 am

      This looks absolutely delicious! And easy! I like that. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

      Reply
    14. T.M. Brown says

      July 23, 2019 at 8:17 am

      This looks delicious! I read this when hungry, so now I'm rethinking what we might have for dinner tonight. This would be a hit in our house!

      Reply
    15. Stacey says

      July 23, 2019 at 11:38 am

      I love grilling chicken, and this sauce sounds so good! I need to persuade my husband to fire up the grill. Yum!

      Reply
    16. Amy says

      July 23, 2019 at 12:00 pm

      I love Vietnamese food so I'm excited to try this recipe out. My best friend own a Vietnamese restaurant so I usually just go to his place but maybe I'll make this and invite him over 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        July 23, 2019 at 4:25 pm

        Oh wow, great. Now that will put it to the test!

        Reply
    17. Tricia Snow says

      July 23, 2019 at 4:27 pm

      Looks like a nice switch from regular BBQ! Thanks!

      Reply
    18. Magan says

      July 23, 2019 at 4:52 pm

      Looks so good!

      Reply
    19. Karla Petersen says

      July 24, 2019 at 7:27 am

      These look amazing. I have such a hard time grilling chicken. I ALWAYS burn it. I think I get impatient and don't let the charcoal get to a "medium" heat. But I keep trying. This will be next, I hope.

      Reply
    20. Liz says

      July 24, 2019 at 9:34 am

      This looks so good! I'm not a huge fan of cilantro, so I would leave that out, but the rest sounds great!

      Reply
    21. Ruth Iaela-Pukahi says

      July 29, 2019 at 1:44 am

      Oh, that looks sooooo delicious!!!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        July 29, 2019 at 6:58 am

        Ruth, Thank you!

        Reply
    22. Monica says

      July 29, 2019 at 7:07 am

      I'm going to make this marinade this week so the hubby and I can start grilling!

      Reply
    23. SOTERIA Loadedpenvibes says

      December 29, 2019 at 11:06 am

      wow.... i sure love this website

      Reply
      • Angela says

        December 29, 2019 at 11:24 am

        Thank you so much for saying that! Glad you love it and hope you continue to visit and find new things often.

        Reply
    24. Toon says

      August 04, 2021 at 10:55 am

      5 stars
      This looks so good! I pinned it so I can make it later on!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        August 04, 2021 at 11:55 am

        Thank you.

        Reply

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