Miso Chicken

By Sam Sifton

Updated August 7, 2024

  • Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Simon Andrews.
Media 1 of 1
Total Time
45 minutes
Rating
5(15,789)
Comments
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Making a compound of unsalted butter and the salty, fungal deliciousness of Japanese miso paste is a surefire way of adding immense flavor to a simple weeknight meal. Here the mixture is spread over chicken thighs, which are then roasted to golden perfection. But you could easily use it on salmon or flounder, on corn or potatoes. The recipe calls for white miso, which is more mild than the aged version known as red miso. But you could certainly use red for a more intense result.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

  • ½ cup white miso

  • 2 tablespoons honey

  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)

  • Black pepper, to taste

  • 8 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, approximately 2 ½ to 3 pounds

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

19 grams carbs; 409 milligrams cholesterol; 1059 calories; 31 grams monounsaturated fat; 15 grams polyunsaturated fat; 25 grams saturated fat; 78 grams fat; 2 grams fiber; 1597 milligrams sodium; 68 grams protein; 11 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat oven to 425 degrees. Combine butter, miso, honey, rice vinegar and black pepper in a large bowl and mix with a spatula or spoon until it is well combined.

  2. Step 2

    Add chicken to the bowl and massage the miso-butter mixture all over it. Place the chicken in a single layer in a roasting pan and slide it into the oven. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes, turning the chicken pieces over once or twice, until the skin is golden brown and crisp, and the internal temperature of the meat is 160 to 165 degrees.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
15,789 user ratings
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Comments

Michael in YVR

I opted to use red miso, thinking the boost in flavour would be worthwhile. After sneaking a taste in the slathering-on stage, I worried maybe I'd overdone it; so it wasn't until I encountered the miso again, caramelized and schmaltzed to a fare-the-well at the recipe's end that I realized the true genius of this recipe. This is arguably the most toothsome chicken I've ever tasted. Five stars: most emphatically.

Greg

Skip the butter. Add a tablespoon or two of tahini for richness if you're in the mood. Glorious (and not greasy if, like me, you don't like greasy).

Annie V

I skinned and cut up a whole chicken and marinated it in a half portion of the miso mixture for 24 hours. Subbed brown sugar for honey. It only took 20 minutes for the dark meat and 10 minutes for the light meat to come to temperature, but I think my oven runs hot. Turn halfway through. Deglazed the pan with white wine and reduced it for a sauce, and garnished with cilantro and scallions. Served to friends with green beans and mushrooms sauteed with soy & sherry. Will make often!

Sarah P

If you only have seasoned rice vinegar, hold back a little honey, to taste, and bake at 400F for 30min. I held back roughly 1/2 tablespoon. Chicken was cooked through and beautifully charred.

New Mexican Jen

Meh, the chicken doesn’t take on any flavor, the miso mixture is more like a sauce. It’s ok but not a stand out.

MisterFamiliar

I've made this countless times. It's one of my wife's favorite dishes. So easy to make with bone-in or boneless thighs. The recipe is quite forgiving--I usually eyeball the miso to butter ratio and add just a hint of sweetener for balance. Pairs lovely with some steamed broccoli or other green veggies. Some rice to absorb all the chicken yumminess is a must.

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