Chicken Bicol Express

The Classic Bicolano Pork dish at Chicken Bicol Express has all the flavors you like, but it's quicker, healthier and more budget-friendly. It is delicious with creamy, spicy and steamed rice

Chicken Bicycle Express is a delicious part of the classic Bicycle Express in which boneless chicken meat replaces the usual pork cubes. It offers the same big, bold flavors you like in the traditional version but is a healthier and more budget friendly option.

Like the pork version, the chicken bite-sized pieces are first roasted in aromatics and shrimp paste and then cooked in coconut milk and plenty of pepper. The resulting dish is excellent, with creamy, spicy, and wide piles of steamed rice!

This Bicol Express with Chicken is easy to make with simple ingredients and in less than an hour. You will have a wonderful dish ready in no time!

It is a wonderful addition to any special gathering on Saturday night. The recipe can easily be doubled (or tripled) to feed the crowd and the party is sure to be a hit!

Cooking tips

• This recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken thighs, but I imagine that the inside of the bones will work as well. Just cut the chicken into small pieces (be careful with the bones!) So that you get delicious surfaces in the delicious sauce.
• If you want to control the heat, use less chillies or scrape the seeds before cutting to get the taste of chillies without any spices.
• The recipe uses sauteed shrimp paste. If you’re in the U.S. and have only access to the bottled “neon pink” shrimp paste, you might want to rinse it and drain well before using in the recipe to rid of the extra saltiness and the bright color that might otherwise bleed into the dish.
• For a smooth, creamy sauce, cook in a simmer as boiling the coconut milk or heating it too quickly will make it curdle or separate.

How to serve and store

• Chicken Bicol Express is delicious as an important dish for lunch or dinner. Enjoy it with steamed rice to complement the creamy, spicy flavors!
• Because it contains coconut milk, it spoils faster than most foods, especially in hot weather. Refrigerate leftovers for 3 days or freeze for 2 months.
• Reheat in a saucepan at 165 F or in the microwave at 2 to 3 minute intervals until completely heated.