Scallion Chicken Legs Recipe – Easy, Flavorful, and Fragrant Dinner Idea

If you’re looking for a dish that’s bold, aromatic, and packed with comforting flavors, Scallion Chicken Legs is the perfect choice. This recipe takes tender chicken leg meat, marinates it with rich Asian seasonings, and finishes it off with the unmistakable fragrance of green onions and shallots. The result? A savory, slightly sweet, and deeply satisfying dish that’s just as good for weeknight dinners as it is for impressing guests.

What makes this recipe stand out is the use of both green onions and shallots. While green onions bring freshness and depth, shallots add a gentle sweetness and a refined aroma. Combined with a simple marinade of oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice wine, this dish achieves restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort.

Whether you’re a beginner in the kitchen or a seasoned home cook, this scallion chicken stir-fry style dish is easy to master. Let’s dive in!

Ingredients

2–3 chicken legs (preferably with skin, deboned and cut into bite-sized pieces)
3–4 stalks green onions, cut into rings
2 medium shallots, thinly sliced into rings
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Marinade Seasonings

1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
¼ teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon rice wine (plus extra for cooking)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

Debone the chicken legs and cut them into medium-sized pieces. Leaving the skin on adds extra flavor and crispiness, but you can remove it if preferred.

Tip: Use kitchen scissors for easier deboning.

Step 2: Marinate the Chicken

Place the chicken pieces in a bowl. Add oyster sauce, light soy sauce, salt, white pepper, cornstarch, sesame oil, and rice wine.Stir thoroughly to ensure the chicken is evenly covered. Cover with plastic wrap and let it marinate in the refrigerator for 30–60 minutes.

Alternative: If you don’t have rice wine, you can substitute with dry sherry or mirin for a slightly sweeter touch.

Step 3: Prepare the Aromatics

Cut green onions and shallots into rings. Keep them separate, as they’ll be added at different stages of cooking. The green onions will release fragrance when simmered, while the shallots will finish the dish with a fresh punch.

Step 4: Cook the Chicken

Heat 1–2 tablespoons of oil in a large pan or wok on medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken and stir-fry until slightly browned on all sides. If you prefer a deeper color, add a splash of dark soy sauce at this stage.

Step 5: Simmer with Rice Wine

Pour in a small amount of rice wine (about 1 tablespoon). Cover the pan, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 3–5 minutes, allowing the chicken to cook through and the sauce to reduce slightly.

Step 6: Add the Green Onions

Add the chopped green onion rings, cover the pan again, and let them simmer for about 2 minutes. This step helps the green onions release their fragrance, infusing the chicken with a fresh, savory aroma.

Step 7: Finish with Shallots

Finally, add the sliced shallots and stir-fry briefly until everything is well combined. The shallots should retain some of their crunch and sweetness, balancing the richness of the chicken.

Step 8: Serve and Enjoy

Transfer to a serving plate and enjoy hot with steamed jasmine rice or stir-fried noodles.

Tips for Success

Marinating: Don’t skip the marinating step—it’s key to tender and flavorful chicken.
Cooking Vessel: A wok is ideal for this recipe, but a heavy-bottomed skillet works well too.
Variations: Try adding sliced bell peppers, carrots, or mushrooms for extra texture and nutrition.
Spice Lovers: Add a few slices of fresh chili or a dash of chili oil for a spicy kick.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This scallion chicken recipe is fast, flavorful, and versatile. It combines the deep umami of oyster sauce with the bright fragrance of scallions, making it a dish that’s simple enough for weeknights yet special enough for gatherings. Once you try it, you’ll want to make it part of your regular rotation!

Scallion Chicken Legs Recipe – Flavorful, Juicy, and Easy to Make