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Home » Recipe Index » Breakfast and Brunch » Chicken Tocino

Chicken Tocino

Published: Sep 22, 2014 · Modified: Nov 21, 2019 by Lalaine Manalo · This post may contain affiliate links

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Chicken Tocino marinaded in pineapple juice, ketchup, and spices.  It's perfectly sweet and garlicky and delicious as an all-day breakfast meal.

Chicken Tocino with fried egg and fried rice on a black serving plate

What better way to break our fast than a hearty silog plate? Runny yolks, garlic-studded fried rice, sweet and salty cured meats...mmm, mmm, mmm! Best way to start the day, any day.

"Silog", for the uninitiated, is the colloquial term used to describe a classic Filipino breakfast made up of fried rice (sinangag), sunny side up eggs (itlog), and meat of choice such as beef tapa (tapsilog), longganisa (longsilog) pork tocino (tosilog), and daing na bangus (bangsilog).

cut up Chicken Tocino on a clear glass serving platter

Chicken tocino might be confusing for those who are not familiar with the Filipino food culture as tocino technically means pork or more specifically, the belly part of the pig.

In the Philippines, however, the term tocino is associated with the process of preserving meat in sugar, salt, and spices and includes any type of protein cured in this type of marinade.

boneless chicken thigh meat, pineapple juice, ketchup, salt, sugar, and garlic powder to make chicken tocino

Tocino Seasonings

My pork tocino recipe is marinaded in a simple mix of sugar, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and red food coloring. For this chicken version, I kicked up the flavor by adding pineapple juice for a tangy taste and banana ketchup for color.

boneless chicken thigh meat marinating in a plastic container to make tocino

Tips on How to Make Chicken Tocino

  • Although you can use chicken breast, I recommend boneless leg or thigh meat as their extra fat keeps these cuts moist and juicy.
  • Do not marinate longer than overnight as the acidity of the pineapple juice might denature the proteins and turn the meat mushy.
  • To store for future use, transfer into resealable bags or airtight containers and freeze for up to 2 months. To ensure even cooking, thaw in the refrigerate completely before frying.
  • To cook, place the marinated chicken in a wide pan with about 1 cup of water. Over medium heat, bring to a boil. Cover, lower heat and simmer until meat is fully cooked and liquid is mostly absorbed. Add about a tablespoon of oil and cook, stirring regularly, until nicely browned and caramelized.

chicken tocilog on a black plate

How to Serve Chicken Tocino

  • Serve with garlic fried rice and sunny side up eggs for a hearty breakfast.
  • Sandwich in warm loaves of pandesal for a filling midday snack.
  • Cut into bite-sized pieces, skewer with bamboo sticks, and grill over hot coals until cooked through and nicely charred for fun party food.
  • Add to stir-fried noodles or fried rice for a quick lunch.
chicken tocilog on a black plate
Print Recipe Leave a Comment
4.43 from 19 votes

Chicken Tocino

Chicken Tocino is a Filipino breakfast usually served with fried rice and sunny side up eggs. It's sweet, garlicky, and sure to be a family favorite.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time12 hrs 20 mins
Marinating8 hrs
Total Time30 mins
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: Filipino
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 473kcal
Author: Lalaine Manalo

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • ¼ cup banana ketchup
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 pounds chicken thigh or leg meat, boneless and skinless
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a bowl, combine pineapple juice, ketchup, sugar, garlic powder, and salt, Stir until well distributed.
  • Add chicken and massage meat with curing mixture until evenly colored. Transfer to a covered container or ziplock bag and refrigerate for about 4 hours or overnight to cure.
  • In a pan over medium heat, add chicken including marinade and enough water to cover.
  • Bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer until meat is tender and cooked through, adding more water in ½ cup increments as needed.
  • When the meat is cooked through and liquid is mostly absorbed, add oil. Continue to cook, stirring regularly, until chicken is nicely browned and caramelized. Serve hot.

Video

Notes

Do not marinate longer than overnight as the acidity of the pineapple juice might denature the proteins and turn the meat mushy.

Nutrition

Calories: 473kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 148mg | Sodium: 1374mg | Potassium: 408mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 169IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
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Lalaine from Kawaling Pinoy

Hello! My name is Lalaine and welcome to Kawaling Pinoy where you’ll find Filipino and Asian-inspired recipes, cooking tips, and how-to videos. Read more...

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Comments

  1. Eunice says

    June 29, 2019 at 7:25 am

    How will it last mam?

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      July 23, 2019 at 4:46 am

      Just transfer it to a resealable bag or airtight container and store in the freezer. It should last for up to 3 months 🙂

      Reply
  2. PJ Radovan says

    April 28, 2019 at 5:10 pm

    Hi! Can I use Heinz catsup intead of banana ketchup?

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      April 29, 2019 at 7:43 am

      Yes, you can. Just adjust the sweetness with additional sugar as banana catsup is sweeter than tomato ketchup 🙂

      Reply
  3. Michelle Ubungen says

    December 12, 2018 at 9:44 am

    Im making 8lbs of this for class and I was wondering, can I cook this in a pot, or should the meat be laying flat on a pan?

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      November 21, 2019 at 4:04 am

      A wide, shallow pan is best but can cook it in a pot if you don't have a pan to fit a large batch. Just make sure to stir regularly when the oil is added so the chicken will brown and caramelize evenly.

      Reply
  4. Geena says

    September 24, 2018 at 2:29 pm

    Hi,

    Can I use UFC tamis anghang ketchup? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lalaine says

      September 28, 2018 at 8:28 pm

      Yes, you can but it will just be a little spicy 🙂

      Reply
  5. Geena says

    September 24, 2018 at 2:27 pm

    Hi,

    Can i use UFC tamis anghang ketchup?

    Reply
  6. Emy says

    January 22, 2018 at 8:06 am

    I just made this and it's lovely!
    I removed the chicken from the pot and then reduced the liquid before adding it back in, as it seemed to take too long otherwise.
    I had it with scrambled egg and look forward to trying with garlic rice tomorrow!
    Thanks for sharing the recipes!

    Reply
    • Lalaine says

      July 02, 2018 at 2:21 pm

      Thanks, Emy! I am glad you enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply
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