Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji) – Easy Recipe
Classic Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken recipe with bold flavors using 3 main ingredients: Soy Sauce, Rice Wine, and Sesame Oil. Easy to make, perfect with rice, and ready in under 30 minutes!
Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken is one of the most popular dishes at my parents’ restaurant. Every household has their own recipe for three cup chicken. Here in this blog post, I’ll be sharing my mom’s homemade recipe!
If you like Taiwanese food, check out my Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice (Lu Rou Fan), Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken, and Taiwanese Pork and Daikon Soup Recipe.
What Is Taiwanese Three Cup Chicke
Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken, or San Bei Ji (三杯雞), is a beloved staple in Taiwanese cuisine known for its bold, aromatic flavors and rich, caramelized sauce. The name comes from the traditional trio of ingredients: Sesame oil, soy sauce, and rice wine. This dish is typically served sizzling hot in a clay pot, garnished with fresh Thai basil, and enjoyed with a bowl of steamed white rice. It’s hearty, savory, and incredibly satisfying!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy and Quick – Ready in under 30 minutes.
- Authentic Flavor – Bold, umami-packed, and beautifully aromatic.
- Minimal Ingredients – Most are pantry staples or easily found at Asian markets.
- Customizable – You can swap chicken with other proteins.
- Perfect for Meal Prep – Stores well and gets even better overnight.
Substitutions
- Boneless Chicken Thighs: Traditionally, Three Cup Chicken uses bone-in chicken thighs. You can also use chicken breast or chicken wings. Use tofu for a vegetarian twist.
- Taiwanese Rice Wine: Replace with Shaoxing wine if unavailable.
- Soy sauce: You can substitute with tamari or coconut aminos
- Thai basil: Substitute with regular basil if needed, but Thai basil offers the best flavor.
- Spicy kick: use fresh or dried red chilies or a dash of chili oil. If you don’t like spicy, then skip the chilies.
More Recipes You’ll Love
If you make this recipe, please leave a comment below and let me know what you think. Make sure you also tag me @onehappybite on Instagram and hashtag it #onehappybite so I can see your creations!
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken Recipe (San Bei Ji)
Ingredients
- 2 lb chicken thighs
- 4 tbsp sesame oil
- 12 clove garlic, peeled
- 6 ginger slices
- 4 fresh or dried chilies , (optional)
- ⅓ cup Taiwanese rice wine, (or Shaoxing Wine)
- ¼ cup light soy sauce
- 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sugar
- handful Thai Basil
Instructions
- Slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Traditionally three cup chicken uses bone-in chicken thighs. In this recipe I used boneless chicken thighs. You can also use chicken breast or chicken wings.
- In a cooking pan, add sesame oil and heat over medium heat. Add garlic, ginger, and chilies. Stir-fry until fragrant.
- Add the chicken pieces. Cook until brown on all sides.
- Pour in rice wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and sugar. Stir to coat the chicken evenly.
- Reduce heat, cover with a lid, and let it simmer for 15 minutes
- Remove the lid and increase the heat to medium-high. Let it cook for another 5-10 minutes until the sauce thickens and chicken is cooked through.
- Toss a handful of basil in the end and cook for another minute until wilted.
- Serve hot over steamed rice and enjoy!
