• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Grilling 24x7
  • Grilling 24x7
  • About
  • Recipes
    • By Food Type
      • Beef
        • Pellet Grill
        • Charcoal Grill
      • Poultry
        • Chicken
        • Turkey
      • Pork
        • Pork Ribs
        • Pellet Grill
        • Charcoal Grill
      • Seafood
        • Crab
        • Shrimp
        • Lobster
        • Fish
      • Veggies
        • Appetizers
        • Side Dishes
        • Soups and Casseroles
        • Main Dishes
      • Lamb
      • Keto Diet
    • By Course
      • Appetizers
        • Beef
        • Poultry
        • Pork
        • Seafood
      • Soups and Casseroles
      • Salads
      • Side Dishes
      • Main Dishes
        • Beef
        • Poultry
        • Pork
        • Seafood
        • Pizza
      • Dessert
      • Sauces/rubs
    • By Method
      • Cast Iron Recipes
        • Appetizers
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
        • Side Dishes
        • Soups and Casseroles
        • Main Dishes
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
      • Tailgate Recipes
        • Grilled Appetizers
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
          • Veggies
        • Side Dishes
        • Soups And Casseroles
        • Main Dishes
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
          • Veggie
  • Reviews
  • Tips
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
Grilling 24x7 » Recipes » Smoked Chicken Leg Quarters (Char Siu Style)

Smoked Chicken Leg Quarters (Char Siu Style)

by Frank Campanella Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe

One of my favorite recipes for Chicken Leg Quarters is Char Siu Chicken. The sweet and savory flavors combined with that beautiful red color is pure poultry perfection.

overhead char siu chicken on a gray plate

I more commonly see Char Siu made with pork but chicken leg quarters are fantastic and lend themselves well to the flavors in this recipe.

The color of the chicken quarters reminds me of tandoori style chicken but the flavor profile couldn't be more different even though I love both dishes separately.

leg and thigh lined on each other with a chef knife

How To Make Char Siu Chicken Leg Quarters

The ingredients used in this recipe are commonly found in char six but this is my take on the recipe.

Honestly its one of my favorite chicken recipes on the planet and I feel I did it justice.

The smoking method is definitely my twist on tradition because normally char sit would be roasted or grilled over an open flame.

holding up a char siu chicken drumstick

Ingredients

  • Chicken Leg Quarters 4 Leg Quarters
  • Hoisin Sauce
  • Oyster Sauce
  • Sesame Oil
  • Shaoxing Wine
  • Soy Sauce
  • Honey
  • Chinese Five Spice
  • Granulated Garlic
  • White Pepper
  • Red Food Coloring (optional)
step by step instructions to make char siu chicken marinade

Instructions

  1. Remove chicken quarters from package and pat dry with paper towel, Trim off any large pieces of fat or extra skin then set aside.
  2. In a large bowl combine all remaining ingredients whisking together then add your chicken quarters to the sauce and massage to coat chicken quarters on all sides with Char Siu sauce.
  3. Cover the bowl and marinate overnight for at least 12 hours, 24 even better.
  4. Preheat Smoker to 325 Degrees F. remove chicken leg quarters from the marinade and let the excess sauce drip off. Place the chicken on the smoker and begin cooking.
  5. After 30 minutes brush the chicken quarters with remaining char siu sauce then continue cooking.
  6. Once the chicken has reached 160 Degrees F sauce the chicken quarters a second time then continue to cook until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 190-200 degrees F.
smoked chicken leg quarter on the smoker

Pro Tips and Variations

Skin: You can remove the skin before marinating the chicken to let the char siu sauce penetrate deeper into the meat. If you leave the skin on the skin won't be crispy but it does become bite through and helps keep the chicken extra moist.

Roasting Method: You can make char siu chicken in the oven by roasting at 325 for about 1 hour to reach an internal temperature of 190-200 degrees F.

Storage: You can store the chicken leg quarters in the fridge for up to 5 days in a sealed container.

Reheating: Wrap the chicken in foil with a tablespoon of water or stock and heat in the oven at 325 degrees F. for about 20 minutes or until hot.

Marinade: Most recipes only really need a few hours to marinate. This is not one of those recipes. You really need to marinate these leg quarters for a minimum of 12 hours but 24-48 is ideal. your patience will be rewarded.

Chicken: You don't have to use leg quarters, you can use any cut of chicken you prefer from wings to legs to thighs. If you use chicken breast only cook to an internal temp of 160 degrees F.

Pork: traditionally char siu is made with pork tenderloin or pork belly cuts. You can use this same marinate to roast pork if you want to try another protein.

Chicken leg quarter on a bamboo placemats

Frequently Asked Questions

What is char siu sauce made of?

Char siu is a Cantonese sauce used for roasted meats containing sweet and salty ingredients like hoisin sauce, honey, soy and oyster sauce.

Why is Char Siu Chicken Bright Red

Food coloring is used to give char siu its vibrant red color. Its an optional ingredient and will not affect the flavor.

What does char siu taste like?

Char siu há a sweet and salty flavor. Its incredibly moist and full of unique spices from the Chinese 5 spice

a spices of juicy thigh meat on a fork

What to Serve with Char Siu Chicken

Char Siu chicken is great beaches it has so much flavor on its own. you can serve it over something as simple as white rice.

you can also serve it with your favorite veggies or condiments like Korean Pickles and kimchi.

Char Siu is also a commonly used ingredient in one of my absolute favorite Chinese takeout recipes Singapore Street Noodles

overhead pic of char siu chicken over white rice

More Recipes You Will Love

  • Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Hoisin BBQ Sauce
  • Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass with Crispy Skin
  • Spicy Hoisin Vinaigrette
  • Smoked Spam with Pineapple Salsa Recipe
  • Spicy Korean Pickles (Oi Muchim)

Overhead pic of char siu chicken leg quarters with kimchi and Korean Pickles
Print Pin

Char Siu Chicken Leg Quarters

One of my favorite recipes for Chicken Leg Quarters is Char Siu Chicken. The sweet and savory flavors combined with that beautiful red color is pure poultry perfection.
Course Main Course
Cuisine asian, BBQ
Keyword BBQ Chicken, Char Siu, Leg Quarters
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
Marinating Time 1 day day
Servings 4
Calories 583kcal

Equipment

  • Pellet Grill

Ingredients

  • 2.5 lbs Chicken Leg Quarters 4 Leg Quarters
  • 3 tbsp Hoisin Sauce
  • 2 tbsp Oyster Sauce
  • 1 tbsp Sesame Oil
  • 2 tbsp Shaoxing Wine
  • 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
  • 2 tbsp Honey
  • ½ tsp Chinese Five Spice
  • 1 tsp Granulated Garlic
  • ½ tsp White Pepper

Instructions

  • Remove chicken quarters from package and pat dry with paper towel, Trim off any large pieces of fat or extra skin then set aside.
  • In a large bowl combine all remaining ingredients whisking together then add your chicken quarters to the sauce and massage to coat chicken quarters on all sides with Char Siu sauce.
  • Cover the bowl and marinate overnight for at least 12 hours, 24 even better.
  • Preheat Smoker to 325 Degrees F. remove chicken leg quarters from the marinade and let the excess sauce drip off. Place the chicken on the smoker and begin cooking.
  • After 30 minutes brush the chicken quarters with remaining char siu sauce then continue cooking.
  • Once the chicken has reached 160 Degrees F sauce the chicken quarters a second time then continue to cook until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 190-200 degrees F.

Notes

Serving size 1 chicken leg quarter with sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 583kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 237mg | Sodium: 878mg | Potassium: 550mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 190IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 2mg

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook228
  • Twitter
  • Email

Reader Interactions

Comments

No Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Frank Campanella

If you love grilling, smoking and searing then you have come to the right place. Grilling 24x7 is your home for everything BBQ, Grilling and more. 

You'll find unique grilling recipes as well as a collection of bbq sides and sauces to make your next backyard cookout or tailgate a success.

Read More →

The Complete Guide to Grilling Steak - by Frank Campanella - Available wherever books are sold

Most Popular Recipes

  • Smoked Eye round on a sesame seed roll with bbq sauce
    Smoked Eye of Round Roast
  • cast Iron skillet cuban casserole
    Cuban Casserole Using Leftover Pulled Pork
  • Baby back ribs gas grill recipe
    Smoked Pork Ribs For Beginners
  • Smoked Bacon Wrapped Onion Ring Recipe w/ Spicy Sriracha Mayo Dipping Sauce- Grilling24x7.com
    Smoked Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings with Spicy Sriracha Onion Rings

Sign Up For The Best BBQ Recipes



Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2021 Grilling 24x7