It was developed by the Deshunzhai (德顺斋, Déshùnzhāi) Restaurant in Dezhou in the era of Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty.

[2] When the Qianlong Emperor (1711–1799) of the Qing dynasty traveled to Dezhou, he ordered the Han Chinese to cook braised chicken and praised it as "a miracle of all dishes".

In the early 1950s, more than 20 descendants of the Han Chinese had built a partnership to produce the braised chicken.

The dish quickly became popular: travelers spread the word about the delicious chicken, and soon it gained national fame.

In 2006, the production of Dezhou braised chicken was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Shandong Province.