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Lechon Manok (Pinoy Roast Chicken)

Lechon Manok (Pinoy Roast Chicken) features a whole bird soaked in a tangy calamansi and fish sauce marinade, then stuffed with fragrant lemongrass and bay leaves. It roasts up juicy with a savory, citrusy depth and hints of garlic and pepper—perfect for a weekend family meal or a festive gathering.

  • Prep25 mins
  • Cook1 hr
  • Serves6
  • DifficultyMedium
Lechon Manok (Pinoy Roast Chicken)
  1. 1

    Mix the onion, garlic, calamansi juice, fish sauce, salt, black pepper, and brown sugar in a bowl to make the marinade.

  2. 2

    Set the chicken in a roasting pan. Rub the marinade all over the chicken, including inside the cavity. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for about 4 hours. Keep the remaining marinade in the bowl.

  3. 3

    Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

  4. 4

    Trim the lemongrass, removing the tough outer stalks. Pound the inner stalks with a heavy object until bruised. Put the lemongrass and bay leaves inside the chicken cavity.

  5. 5

    Stir the oil into the leftover marinade in the bowl.

  6. 6

    Roast the chicken in the preheated oven, basting occasionally with the oil mixture, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), 60 to 90 minutes.

  7. 7

    Take the chicken out of the oven and let it rest in a warm place for 15 minutes before serving.