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Honey Soy Chicken - Marinade and Sauce (excellent grilled!)
5 from 58 votes

Honey Soy Chicken - Marinade and Sauce (excellent grilled!)

Honey Soy Chicken combines boneless skinless chicken thighs marinated in a sweet-salty honey soy mixture enriched with garlic, vinegar, Chinese cooking wine, and toasted sesame oil. The chicken cooks on the grill or in a skillet, with frequent basting using reserved marinade, producing a caramelized, flavorful exterior and juicy interior. A thickened sauce made from reserved marinade complements the cooked chicken.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Additional Time
1 d
Servings: 5 - 6
Calories: 353 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1.25 - 1.5 kg/ 2.5 - 3 lb chicken thighs Note 1, skinless boneless; or breast
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil , for cooking
Honey Soy Marinade Sauce:
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce , all purpose or light (not dark, Note 2)
  • 2/3 cup honey (sub maple syrup)
  • 1/3 cup cider vinegar (or rice vinegar)
  • 1/4 cup Chinese cooking wine key ingredient, Note 3, or dry sherry
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil , toasted (Note 4)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp garlic , finely minced
Serving Sauce:
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 1/2 tsp cornflour or cornstarch
Garnishes (optional):
  • green onion , finely sliced
  • sesame seeds

Instructions

Marinade Sauce:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Place ingredients in a jug and mix well until honey is completely dissolved.
  2. Reserve 1/4 cup for Basting, refrigerate. (Note 5)
  3. Reserve 2/3 cup for Serving Sauce, refrigerate.
  4. Marinade Chicken: Pour remaining marinade over chicken in a container. Coat chicken thoroughly. Cover, refrigerate 24 to 48 hours (minimum 3 hrs).
Serving Sauce (Makes 1 cup):
  1. Place reserved sauce in a small saucepan. Mix cornflour and water, then add into saucepan.
  2. Simmer over medium for 5 minutes, stirring regularly, until it thickens to a syrupy consistency. Set aside and keep warm. (If it gets too thick, just add a bit more water)
Cook:
  1. Brush BBQ plate or grills with oil and heat to medium high. Or heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
  2. THIGHS: Place chicken on BBQ. Cook the first side for 2 minutes, then flip and dab with reserved Basting Sauce. Cook for 2 minutes, flip and baste. Then flip/baste every 1 minute for total cook time of ~ 10 minutes or until a thermometer reads 75°C/165°F.
  3. BREAST: Cook first side 2 minutes, flip, baste. Cook 2 minutes, then flip and baste every 45 sec or so for total cook time of ~8 minutes (internal temp 66°C / 151°F).
  4. REST: Transfer to serving plate, cover loosely with foil and rest for 5 minutes.
  5. SERVE chicken garnished with sesame seeds and green onion, with sauce on the side so people can help themselves.

Notes

  • Use boneless skinless chicken thighs or breast for easier and faster grilling; bone-in pieces require longer cooking at medium heat with lid down.
  • Light or all-purpose soy sauce is recommended; avoid dark or sweet varieties which overpower the flavor.
  • Chinese cooking wine is essential for depth; suitable substitutes include dry sherry, Mirin, or cooking sake in order of preference.
  • Toasted sesame oil provides characteristic flavor preferred in this recipe.
  • The basting sauce is uncooked marinade; frequent basting is necessary because it doesn't spend enough time on heat to kill raw chicken juices.
  • Cooked chicken stores up to five days refrigerated and reheats well briefly in an oven or microwave.
  • Preparing large batches of marinade and freezing in portions before adding chicken is a convenient make-ahead option.

Nutrition Information

Calories 353cal (18%) Carbohydrates 16g (5%) Protein 39g (78%) Fat 14g (22%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Cholesterol 190mg (63%) Sodium 569mg (24%) Potassium 523mg (11%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 14g (28%) Vitamin A 48IU (1%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 22mg (2%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 5 - 6

Amount Per Serving

Calories 353

% Daily Value*

Calories 353cal 18%
Carbohydrates 16g 5%
Protein 39g 78%
Fat 14g 22%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 190mg 63%
Sodium 569mg 24%
Potassium 523mg 11%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 14g 28%
Vitamin A 48IU 1%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 22mg 2%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.