Drunken Chicken

Drunken Chicken

juicy and flavorful

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 15m
Cook Time: 25m
Total Time: 24h
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
4.9 (19 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

For chicken and stock:

For brine:

Nutritional Information

218
calories
13g
fat
4g
carbohydrates
14g
protein
71mg
cholesterol
225mg
sodium
Drunken Chicken

Recipe Description

Drunken Chicken is one of those mouthwatering, make-ahead dishes that is so emblematic of Chinese cooking. A Shanghainese specialty, steamed chicken legs are marinated with a fragrant mix of Shaoxing rice wine and chicken stock and served cold. And it couldn’t be easier to make at home.   

First, debone the chicken legs, keeping the skin on. As a swap, try asking your butcher to debone the chicken for you. Save the bones for the stock. Make the chicken stock using the reserved chicken bones, water, and ginger. In the meantime, season the chicken with salt, then roll it up lengthwise and wrap in foil, twisting the ends to form a bundle. Steam the chicken bundles, then cool in a bowl of ice-cold water. This step stops the chicken from overcooking and tightens the skin for a bite when cooled. Finally, make the brine and soak the chicken for 24 hours. Slice and serve. It’s a terrific make-ahead appetizer.       

To make the Drunken Chicken, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Drunken Chicken

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Prepare chicken legs

    5 min
    Step 1 - Drunken Chicken

    Debone 2 chicken leg quarters. Keep the skin on. Save the bones to make a chicken stock for this recipe.

  2. 2

    Make chicken stock

    1h
    Step 2 - Drunken Chicken

    To a small pot, add the chicken bones, 2 ½ cups of water, and 2 large slices of ginger. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, and cook over low heat for at least 1 hour. Allow to cool. You need 1 ½ cups of chicken stock for this recipe. As a swap, skip this step and use store-bought chicken stock instead.

  3. 3

    Wrap chicken in foil

    5 min
    Step 3 - Drunken Chicken

    Rinse the deboned chicken legs, drain the excess water, and pat them dry. Tear off two sheets of aluminum foil, each 12 inches long. Place each piece of chicken on a sheet of foil and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon salt. Roll up the chicken lengthwise, wrap in foil, and twist the ends to form a bundle. They should look like 2 wrapped candies.

  4. 4

    Steam chicken

    25 min
    Step 4 - Drunken ChickenStep 4 - Drunken Chicken

    Steam the chicken, covered, over high heat for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the chicken sit in the steamer with the lid tightly closed, for another 5 minutes.

  5. 5

    Cool chicken

    10 min
    Step 5 - Drunken Chicken

    Transfer the foil wrapped chicken to an ice bath, and let it sit until the chicken is completely cool, 10-15 minutes.

  6. 6

    Make brine

    2 min
    Step 6 - Drunken Chicken

    In a non-reactive container, large enough to keep the chicken submerged, add 1 ½ cups chicken stock, 1 ½ cups Shaoxing wine, 1 ½ teaspoons sugar, 2 ½ teaspoons sea salt, and 1 tablespoon dried goji berries.

  7. 7

    Marinate chicken

    24h
    Step 7 - Drunken Chicken

    Once the chicken has cooled, unwrap and immerse the chicken in the brine. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.

  8. 8

    Serve

    Step 8 - Drunken Chicken

    Slice the chicken and serve cold or at room temperature. Store the leftovers in brine in the fridge for up to 3 days. Enjoy!

Want the perfect Drunken Chicken? Give this delicious and easy recipe a try, and be sure to let us know what you think! Don't forget to share your culinary creations with us on social media by tagging @cookmerecipes.

About the author

Bethany Lim

Bethany is very passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and clean diet. She’s trying to cut meat out of her diet as much as possible and focuses on cooking vegetarian food and fish. Bethany gets a kick from finding ways to add new twists to classic dishes. What’s more, thanks to her Asian roots, she’s great at combining different cuisines to come up with something extraordinary. Bethany’s recipes will inspire you to add new colors and flavors to your everyday meals.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
4.9 out of 5 (19 reviews)
Brittany Johnson
May 20, 2025
Verified

Amazing! Made it for my family get-together and everyone loved it. The flavors are just superb and so easy to prepare!

Theresa Becker
April 23, 2025
Verified

This Drunken Chicken was so easy to make. I loved serving it at my friends dinner last week.

Tom Bennett
April 18, 2025
Verified

Delicious!

Jessica Taylor
March 23, 2025
Verified

My kids loved it, perfect for family night

Hélène
March 18, 2025
Verified

I made Drunken Chicken for a family gathering and wow, it was a hit! Really easy to whip up, I let it chill overnight and it turned out perfect. My husband couldn't stop raving! It's like, super impressive but actually quite simple. Totally gotta try this one!

Amy Roberts
March 8, 2025
Verified

Simply stunning dish!

Sarah
October 25, 2024
Verified

Super tasty dish

Megan
June 24, 2024
Verified

Tried this recipe for a party, and everyone loved it! So easy!

Nina
May 19, 2024
Verified

This Drunken Chicken is so great! It's my husband’s favorite and reminds me of our trip to Shanghai. Loved making it together on weekends!

Claire
May 18, 2024
Verified

Superb!

Daphne
May 15, 2024
Verified

Made this drunk chicken for a chill night with my pals. The flavors? Just wow! Super easy to prep and it wowed everyone. Felt like a pro chef in my own kitchen

YayForCooking
April 12, 2024
Verified

I made this for our anniversary and it was a big hit! So simple and super tasty, we loved it!

Megan
April 9, 2024
Verified

Simply fantastic chicken

Fluffy
February 9, 2024
Verified

Superb chicken dish!

Fiona Smith
December 23, 2023
Verified

This Drunken Chicken was a hit at our family reunion! So easy to make and packed with flavor. Loved it!

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