The Best Flavorful Thai BBQ Chicken | Gai Yang

Thai BBQ Chicken or Gai Yang is so easy to make and bursting with flavor!

My favorite method to make Thai BBQ Chicken is in the air fryer since it cooks so quickly. You can also cook Gai yang in the oven, stovetop or grill! I have included cooking instructions for all 4 methods below.

Wangshin Fish Sauce is a PREMIUM Fish Sauce that I love using for Thai BBQ Chicken!

Wangshin Fish Sauce is fermented for 2 years in Korean traditional clay pots. Unlike how most factories make fish sauce – Wangshin doesn't use any external pressure. To harvest the richest flavor, only natural gravity is used to pressure the anchovies and salt patiently in order to harvest one drop a day for the excellence.

Even the color of Fish Sauce shows the difference: Wangshin's aged fish sauce is pure and light like a well-aged whiskey.

Get 10% off on Wangshin Fish Sauce on Amazon US with my code SAVORYWANG Linked HERE

Ingredients

• 4 lbs Chicken (I used a mixture of thighs and drums)
• 1 tsp White Peppercorns or White pepper powder
• 1 tsp Coriander Seeds
• 1 stalk Lemongrass (White portion sliced thinly)
• 8 cloves Garlic
• 1 tbsp Palm Sugar or Regular Sugar
• 3 tbsp Seasoning Sauce or Soy Sauce
• 1 tbsp Oyster Sauce
• 2 tbsp Fish Sauce (I used Wangshin Fish Sauce)

Serve with:

• Nam Jim Jaew dipping sauce
• 1 Tomato (sliced)
• 1 Cucumber (sliced)
• White Rice
• Green onions or cilantro (garnish)

Instructions

• Combine the white peppercorns and coriander seeds into your mortar and pestle or food processor.
• Once the peppercorns and coriander are grounded finely, add the lemon grass and garlic and pound in mortar or blend.

• Then mix in the rest of the ingredients : 1 tablespoon Palm Sugar, 3 tablespoon Seasoning Sauce, 1 tablespoon Oyster Sauce, 2 tablespoon Wangshin Fish Sauce

• Combine the marinade with the chicken and set aside for at least 10-30 minutes. The flavors will be even more amazing if you marinate overnight!

Air Fryer Cooking Instructions (Oven Cooking instructions below)

• Preheat air fryer to 380, and add in the chicken skin side up. I used boneless chicken thighs with the skin on. Check at the halfway point on the progress. Depending on your air fryer , it may take 15-18 minutes to cook fully.**Please see below for cooking times for other cuts of chicken. 
• Drumsticks:Air Fryer (20-25 minutes total) - 380°F for 6 minutes, flip over and cook another 6 minutes and flip again and cook for another 8-10 minutes.Bone In Chicken Thigh:Air fryer (20-25 minutes total) – 380°F for 5 minutes skin side down, flip over and cook an additional 15-20 minutes skin side up.Boneless Chicken Thigh:Air Fryer (15-18 minutes total) – 380°F for 15-18 minutes skin side up.Chicken Breast:Air Fryer (16-19 minutes total) – 360°F for 10 minutes, flip and cook another 6-9 minutes.
• Once your chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 deg, It's ready!
• Enjoy!

Oven Cooking instructions

• Preheat your oven to 380°F and cook for 35-40 minutes
• Boneless Chicken thigh:(20-25 min total) – 380°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over and cook an additional 10-15 minutes skin side up. Bone in Chicken Thigh:(30-35 minutes total) – 380°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over and cook an additional 20-25 minutes skin side up.Drumsticks:(30-35 minutes total) – 380°F for 20 minutes and flip over and cook another 10-15 minutes.Chicken Breast:(20-25 minutes total) – 380°F for 10 minutes, flip and cook another 10-15 minutes.
• Once your chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 deg, It's ready!
• For extra crisp skin, turn up the heat to 400 until desired brownness is reached
• Enjoy!

Stovetop Instructions

• Boneless Chicken Thighs - Skin Side down 5 mins, flip and cook 5-6 min skin side upBone In Chicken Thighs - 10 Minutes skin side down, flip and cook 5-8 min skin side upDrumsticks - 8 Minutes larger skin side down, flip and cook 8 mins skin side up
• Once your chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 deg, It's ready!
• Enjoy!

BBQ Cooking Instructions:

• Preheat your grill to medium high, and use a brush to apply oil to the grates to prevent sticking.
• Place chicken onto the grill and turn every 3-4 minutes or so to prevent burning. 
• Cook for 10-15 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165F
• Enjoy!

Serve with:

• Serve with Nam Jim Jaew dipping sauce, sliced tomatoes, cucumbers and white rice.

📖 Recipe Card