Vietnamese roast chicken offers a delicious twist on the classic bird. Infused with authentic Vietnamese flavors, it is easy to make and bound to delight the whole family.
Because it is cooked in an Air Fryer, this dish is both quick and light, making it perfect for busy weeknights or for impressing dinner guests. You can also try my classic air fryer chicken drumsticks recipe
You can use any cut of chicken, but I highly recommend thighs – they are unmatched for flavor.
What flavors can you expect?
This Vietnamese roast chicken will win you over with its balanced, exotic profile. Soy sauce, fish sauce, and oyster sauce provide savory depth, while sugar, honey, and lime juice contribute a bright, sweet tang.
Ginger, garlic, and sambal add a gentle kick, and a sprinkle of cilantro keeps everything fresh. The result is flavorful yet wonderfully nuanced.
Why cook the chicken in an Air Fryer?
Cooking this recipe in an Air Fryer has several advantages.
First, it cooks in a fraction of the time. Second, the Air Fryer needs very little oil, so the dish is lighter than roast chicken made the conventional way.
Finally, the circulating hot air leaves the meat juicy and the skin irresistibly crisp and golden. In short, pure happiness. You can also try my air-fryer crispy pork
Key ingredients for Vietnamese air-fried roast chicken
- Light soy sauce: brings saltiness as well as depth and color to the dish
- Fish sauce: a fermented fish-based sauce that adds salty, umami richness, deepening the Asian flavors and adding another layer of complexity
- Oyster sauce: this thick, savory sauce adds sweetness, intensity, and another hit of umami that ties the flavors together
- Sambal Oelek: sambal oelek is an Indonesian chili paste that lends a spicy, slightly fruity kick, waking up the whole dish
Vietnamese Air-Fryer Roast Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 kg bone-in chicken thighs
- 40 ml light soy sauce
- 60 ml fish sauce
- 25 g granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 3 teaspoons sambal oelek
Instructions
- Whisk together all the marinade ingredients, add the chicken, and refrigerate overnight (or for at least 2 hours if pressed for time).
- Preheat the air fryer to 195 °C. Arrange the chicken skin-side down in the basket and cook for 12 minutes.
- Flip the pieces skin-side up and cook for a further 6–10 minutes, or until the skin is deep golden and the chicken is cooked through.
