Chinese 5 Spice Chicken

Have you ever tried Chinese 5 Spice Chicken? This recipe is super budget-friendly, oh-so-flavorful, and the new best thing in my kitchen! We love to make this meal complete with quick & easy sides of Instant Pot white rice and pan-roasted broccoli!

A couple of years ago I was feeling like I was in a massive dinner rut. Every Sunday consisted of Instant Pot chicken wings, chicken breasts, or whole roasted chicken on the grill with sides of asparagus or seasonal vegetables.

There’s nothing wrong per se, with grilled chicken and vegetables, but I was ready for something else. It didn’t have to be some crazy spectacular meal. It just had to be different.

I started experimenting with spices and struck gold on my first two attempts. The first was Jamaican jerk chicken. The second is this Chinese 5 spice chicken recipe.

Easy Chinese 5 Spice Chicken

One of the reasons I like Chinese 5 spice chicken so much is because when you use this spice, it’s the only spice you need (other than salt).

Sure, you can make some great-tasting meals when you mix a few basic seasonings together. And as I teach in my course Grocery Budget Bootcamp, you can really save a lot of money by making your own spice blends at home. For example,

• Thyme + rosemary + coriander + dill = homemade Montreal steak seasoning
• Beef bouillon + onion powder + celery powder + onion flakes = homemade dry onion soup mix
• Chili powder + garlic powder + cumin + oregano = homemade taco seasoning

But if you’ve never had Chinese 5 spice before, prepare yourself for a flavor explosion! Literally.

Ingredients For Chinese 5 Spice Chicken

This delicious spice blend consists of five spices that individually can make or break a meal (ever had too many cloves in your pumpkin pie?). Here’s the line-up:

• Anise
• Fennel
• Cinnamon
• Cloves
• Black pepper

Now, anise and fennel are two spices I (personally) absolutely cannot stand on their own. They taste very similar to black licorice and growing up, I was a red licorice gal.

In my experience, black licorice is like cilantro. You either love it or hate it. I tried black licorice once, spit it out, and knew I’d never eat it again.

My personal disdain for black licorice aside, there’s something magical that happens when you mix anise and fennel with cinnamon, cloves, and pepper. They actually taste GOOD!

Chinese Five Spice Chicken Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1. Except for the chicken, add all ingredients to a food processor or blender and puree until you have a mostly smooth paste/marinade.

Step 2. As a rub: Smear the sauce under the skin and over the entire surface of the chicken.

As a marinade: Combine chicken and sauce in a plastic bag (I use these), remove the excess air, and let it sit in the fridge overnight, or at least 8 hours.

Step 3. Cook chicken using your preferred method, OR preheat the oven to 400F and place chicken pieces in large, shallow baking pans. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until juices run clear.

Note: I recommend Butcher Box for your meat. You can read my honest review of their products here.

Chinese Five-Spice Powder FAQS

Side Dishes for Chinese 5 Spice Chicken

If you’re left wondering what can you make with this delicious chicken, here are some suggestions:

• Vegetable Fried Rice
• Pan-roasted Broccoli
• Cauliflower Rice
• White Rice
• Lemon Butter Asparagus
• Sauteed Green Beans

Closing Thoughts for Chinese Five-Spice Chicken

• Don’t pass up Chinese 5 spice at the grocery store (unless it’s crazy expensive, and then buy this affordable option on Amazon or find it at a local ethnic store instead)
• Don’t be overwhelmed (or underwhelmed?) when you’re stuck in a dinner rut.
• Do make this Chinese 5 spice chicken.

I promise you won’t regret it!

More Seasoning Recipes

• Cajun Seasoning
• Homemade Chili Seasoning
• Seasoning Salt
• Blackened Seasoning

Watch How to Make Chinese 5 Spice Chicken