Shortcut Char Siu (Chinese Barbecue Pork)

A quick and easy recipe for Chinese Barbecue Pork (Char Siu) using a combo of store-bought sauces so no extra work is required but the result is a delicious meat that comes out so tender and tasty!

A quick and easy recipe for Chinese Barbecue Pork (Char Siu) using a combo of store-bought sauces so no extra work is required but the result is a delicious meat that comes out so tender and tasty!

One of my favorite noodle dishes (apart from our very own Pansit, of course!) is Singapore Mei Fun.

Whenever my family and I have a craving for Chinese dishes, you can be sure it would include an order of Singapore noodles.

I just love the curry flavoring and the spicy kick from this dish!! It’s so good! So I determined to finally try to make this dish from scratch so I can share it with my family and friends.

However, there’s just a little hitch – in order to replicate my favorite takeaway, I needed to learn how to make Char Siu pork as that is one of the ingredients of the Singapore Mei Fun.

A quick and easy recipe for Chinese Barbecue Pork (Char Siu) using a combo of store-bought sauces so no extra work is required but the result is a delicious meat that comes out so tender and tasty!

Since I don’t plan to buy an entire char siu pork just so I can make my Mei Fun, I thought there must be some quick and easy way to make it at home without me having to buy all the ingredients and make it from scratch.

I did a little bit of internet search and discovered that a ready-made char siu marinade is actually available in Asian stores. I immediately went to the Chinese store near us and bought it.

At home, I already had some hoisin and oyster sauces which I thought I could perhaps combine with the char siu sauce to add more flavor to it.

A quick and easy recipe for Chinese Barbecue Pork (Char Siu) using a combo of store-bought sauces so no extra work is required but the result is a delicious meat that comes out so tender and tasty!

The rest was easy. I made a combo of these sauces and brushed it all over the pork tenderloin I bought the other day and let it rest overnight in the fridge to allow the meat to absorb all the flavor.

The next day, I roasted the meat in the oven until the pork was tender. I was scared it would taste awful but I was surprised that it tasted so close if not exactly the same as the char siu I used to buy in Manila.

Now, I can not only make my favorite Mei Fun when I want to, I can also use this barbecued pork on a variety of dishes including adding it to a ramen soup!! YUM!

So when you, like me, fancy eating Chinese-style barbecue pork, have no fear – make this short-cut recipe and soon you’ll be eating a truly delicious roasted pork. Enjoy it with rice or some noodles!

Shortcut Char Siu (Chinese Barbecue Pork)

Manila Spoon
A quick and easy recipe for Chinese Barbecue Pork (Char Siu) using a combo of store-bought sauces so no extra work is required but the result is a delicious meat that comes out so tender and tasty!
4.82 from 11 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 4 People

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound Pork Tenderloin
  • 1/3 cup Char Siu Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Hoisin Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Oyster Sauce
  • 1-2 tablespoons extra Char Siu Sauce

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl, combine the different sauces (except the extra char siu sauce). Brush the sauce all over the pork tenderloin. Marinate for several hours or preferably overnight.
  • Take the meat out and bring it to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 375F.  Roast the meat for about 40 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 150F. Flip the meat halfway through and roast until done. Brush on the remaining Char Siu sauce, turn off the heat and leave the meat in the oven to rest for a couple of minutes. Take out of the oven and let rest for another 3-5 minutes before slicing. Serve or use immediately.

Notes

If you don’t like or cannot find oyster sauce, simply double the hoisin sauce. Other char siu recipes don’t use oyster sauce so no problem if you can’t use it. I added it for extra flavor but it’s not absolutely essential. 
Adjust the amount of sauce if your pork tenderloin is more than 1 pound.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
A quick and easy recipe for Chinese Barbecue Pork (Char Siu) using a combo of store-bought sauces so no extra work is required but the result is a delicious meat that comes out so tender and tasty!

Last updated on February 6th, 2024 at 10:04 pm

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17 Comments

  1. Kat
    February 2, 2018 / 2:27 am

    I think this would work well with boneless country pork ribs as they have a bit of fat.

    • abigail
      Author
      February 2, 2018 / 12:28 pm

      That is true!! Let us know when you try it. Thanks!!

  2. February 2, 2018 / 1:01 pm

    5 stars
    I want to reach in and grab one…that glaze on those ribs looks amazing!

    • abigail
      Author
      February 2, 2018 / 1:20 pm

      That glaze is amazing indeed! Thanks!

  3. February 2, 2018 / 1:27 pm

    5 stars
    I love Char Siu Pork, but never thought I could duplicate it at home! I love your shortcut version and can’t wait to try it!

    • abigail
      Author
      February 2, 2018 / 1:39 pm

      I thought I couldn’t do it either so I am glad it turned out well and I love this shortcut version, too. Thanks!

  4. Linda Techell
    July 15, 2020 / 6:26 pm

    5 stars
    I know this comment is 2 yrs later but I searched for recipes during the pandemic, when my beloved asian restaurants were shut down. The recipes are awesome and so easy I could successful follow the recipes! I didn’t know how to cook the items but I know how they should taste. Luckily, work and live near large asian grocery stores in Jackson Heights and Sunset Park, NY. I use some of the Char Siu to make Pad See
    Ew.

    • abigail
      Author
      July 15, 2020 / 7:36 pm

      Better late than never, right? Seriously, thanks for taking the time to write a feedback and so glad this recipe was helpful! I would use this next time for pad see ew, too. Thanks for the tip Linda!

  5. Beth Sachs
    March 8, 2021 / 9:07 am

    5 stars
    Oh wow this BBQ pork looks so juicy and tender. My kids are going to love it!

  6. SHANIKA
    March 8, 2021 / 9:34 am

    5 stars
    Wow! This Shortcut Char Siu (Chinese Barbecue Pork) looks incredible! So tender! I love how easy this looks. Such a great dinner option!

  7. Mirlene
    March 8, 2021 / 9:34 am

    5 stars
    One of my favorite ways to cook pork. The flavor must go through the roof. And that texture is absolutely amazing!

  8. Shashi
    March 8, 2021 / 9:50 am

    5 stars
    Oh my – that sauce looks and sounds so fantastic! It pairs beautifully with pork and I’d love to try it with chicken too!

  9. Beth
    March 8, 2021 / 9:55 am

    5 stars
    Yum! This looks so tasty and flavorful! My family and I are going to love this recipe! So excited to give this a try!

  10. Tom
    April 15, 2021 / 7:24 pm

    5 stars
    I made this recipe for dinner tonight. The pork was very tender and tasty. Thank you, will be making this again.

    • abigail
      Author
      April 16, 2021 / 10:32 am

      Yay! So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for letting us know!

  11. Cesarina Hughes
    April 19, 2021 / 4:59 am

    5 stars
    We made this for dinner tonight. An easy and very delicious meal. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

    • abigail
      Author
      April 19, 2021 / 10:32 am

      Yay! So glad to know that! Thanks for letting us know. It is yummy indeed.

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