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Home Chicken

Sticky Grilled Chicken

By:Nagi
Published:16 Jun '20Updated:13 May '21
75 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

This is the grilled chicken recipe my friends beg me to make every BBQ season. It’s sticky, sweet and savoury, marinated to tenderise and infuse with flavour. The shiny glaze is the cherry on top. The smell when the chicken hits the BBQ is outrageous. Outrageous!

(And you don’t even need a BBQ….)

Basting Sticky Grilled Chicken

Grilled Chicken

I feel like the flavour of this marinade will be familiar to everyone, even if you haven’t made something like it yourself before. It’s a bit like Barbecue Sauce, sort of like a country rub, with a hint of sweet and sour sauce.

My friends describe it as a Country Style Barbecue Sauce Chicken, which is a good way to describe it. But it’s kind of a mouthful to say – so I just call it a Sticky Grilled Chicken!!

This grilled chicken is finished with the most incredible shiny glaze!

Sticky chicken being grilled on the BBQ

Sticky Chicken Marinade & Glaze

Here’s what you need for the marinade which doubles as the basting sauce so you get a really fantastic glaze on the chicken.

Sticky Grilled Chicken ingredients

What I really love about this marinade is that it’s made with pantry staples – and there’s loads of substitution options and ways to customise it. Want a hit of heat? Add a dash of hot sauce! Try a sprinkle of dried herbs, a squeeze of lemon, a touch of ginger, or a good hit of extra black pepper!

Also – I’ve listed substitution options in the notes to the recipe. 😇

Sticky grilled chicken marinade and basting sauce

Sticky Grilled Chicken TIPS!

Want to be the grilled chicken KING in your neighbourhood?? Here are some tips so your chicken will be beautifully golden, ultra sticky and super glossy!!

  1. Boneless CHICKEN THIGHS is the best cut of chicken for this sticky marinade. The length of time it takes for the chicken to cook on the BBQ is perfect to achieve that beautiful golden colour. Breast works too but the caramelisation isn’t quite as good. Bone in pieces like drumsticks and thigh take too long to cook and the chicken can get quite dark before the inside is cooked.

  2. RESERVE some of the marinade to use for basting. You can use the leftover marinade in the bowl, but you’ll need to be careful to ensure the basted side is recooked for at least 1 minute before consuming to avoid any hygiene concerns about raw chicken in the marinade. Much easier to just reserve some clean marinade for basting!

  3. MEDIUM heat – If you want a sticky chicken, you need sugar in the marinade. And sweet marinades have a tendency to burn quite easily on the BBQ. The trick here is to cook is slightly longer on a medium heat.

  4. BASTE GENEROUSLY multiple times! Baste flip, baste flip!

  5. REST the chicken for a few minutes after taking it off the stove, for extra juicy, tender chicken.

No BBQ?

No problem! Bake it or pan fry it – instructions in the recipe!

How to make Sticky Grilled Chicken

Sticky Grilled Chicken in a plate with a side of Macaroni Salad and Rocket Salad

Complete your BBQ!

Whether you’re grilling outdoors midweek or throwing a big BBQ for your friends on the weekend, sides are a must!

Warm weather favourites for this grilled chicken that are ideal for making in big batches and keeping in the fridge for days and days!) include a classic Macaroni Salad (pictured below), Coleslaw or Potato Salad (here’s also a no-mayo version with charred corn and bacon!)

For something a little lighter, try a Lemon Potato Salad (no mayo!), Broccoli Salad, a creamy German Cucumber Salad, a big juicy Greek Salad or Corn Salad with Avocado.

For some side dishes to cook on the BBQ, look no further than Grilled Corn and Grilled GARLIC BREAD!! – Nagi x


Watch how to make it

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Sticky Grilled Chicken

Author: Nagi
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Marinate: 1 d
Total: 1 d 20 mins
BBQ, Grilling, Mains
Western
5 from 27 votes
Servings4 - 5 people
Tap or hover to scale
Print
  • 94
Recipe video above. Sticky, savoury and sweet, this is the marinade I use for grilled chicken that I know is a guaranteed hit with everyone, kids and adults! It tastes like a country-style rub, and it's finger licking' good.

Ingredients

  • 700g/ 1.4lb chicken thighs , skinless boneless (Note 1)

Marinade / Glaze (Note 2 for subs):

  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar , packed
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce , all purpose or light (NOT dark)
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 4 garlic cloves , minced

Instructions

  • Mix Marinade in a large bowl.
  • Scoop out 1/2 cup and reserve for basting ("Glaze").
  • Add chicken, turn to coat. Marinade overnight (minimum 3 hours, up to 48 hours, or freeze).

Grill:

  • Brush BBQ with vegetable or canola oil, then preheat to medium.
  • Pick up chicken, allowing excess Marinade to drip off.
  • Place on BBQ, cook 4 minutes until nicely caramelised.
  • Turn chicken, then brush generously with Glaze. Cook 4 minutes.
  • Flip, brush with more Glaze, flip again and brush with Glaze.
  • Remove chicken onto plate, cover loosely with foil.
  • Rest 3 minutes before serving, sprinkled with parsley if using. Pictured in post with Macaroni Salad!

Stove/Oven:

  • Stove - follow up steps in a non stick pan, heated to medium high with 1 tbsp oil (cook in batches if needed).
  • Oven - use this recipe: Sticky Baked Chicken

Recipe Notes:

1. Chicken - this marinade is best with boneless thigh because it caramelises perfectly in the time it takes for the chicken to cook. Bone-in chicken pieces take longer to cook by which time the marinade gets quite dark! Breast also works great - pound to even thickness, then about 3 minutes on each side. Finish by basting lots!
2. Marinade / Glaze - plenty of sub options here, this is a really flexible recipe:
  • Ketchup - Aussie tomato sauce, BBQ sauce or other similar sauces
  • Brown Sugar- white sugar, or 2 tbsp honey, maple syrup, or any other sweet thing in similar liquid form
  • Soy Sauce - light or all purpose soy sauce, don't use dark it will be too intense. Fish sauce would also work but reduce to 1 tbsp.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar - sub with any clear(ish) plain vinegars eg plain white vinegar, white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, champagne vinegar etc.
  • Worcestershire sauce - add 1/4 tsp black pepper then add an extra dash of all the other ingredients. A sprinkle of onion and/or garlic powder on the chicken before coating in sauce would also help.
  • Add ins - dash if your favourite hot sauce wouldn't go astray! Pinch of herbs (mixed, oregano, thyme), cayenne pepper for heat, sprinkle of paprika for warmth, cumin or coriander for South-West edge.
3. Nutrition assumes half the marinade ends up discarded.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 297cal (15%)Carbohydrates: 14g (5%)Protein: 35g (70%)Fat: 11g (17%)Saturated Fat: 2g (13%)Cholesterol: 166mg (55%)Sodium: 743mg (32%)Potassium: 528mg (15%)Sugar: 12g (13%)Vitamin A: 119IU (2%)Vitamin C: 1mg (1%)Calcium: 26mg (3%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
Keywords: Grilled chicken, Grilled chicken marinade, Sticky grilled chicken
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @RecipeTinEats.

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75 Comments

  1. Mel says

    November 13, 2022 at 1:37 pm

    5 stars
    This smelled so good on the BBQ and we loved the flavour – a great outdoor dish that we paired with your Macaroni Salad – Delicious all around!

    Reply
  2. KYLIE SAINTCLAIRE says

    November 3, 2022 at 5:47 pm

    5 stars
    So so good! Absolutely love your work Nagi 👏

    Reply
  3. Jules says

    September 13, 2022 at 7:39 pm

    My wife commented MOST favourably on the sauce (it spilled over onto the vegetables), even before she got to the chicken 🙂
    Nagi, you’ve done it again. TY
    Am a big fan of your work 🙂
    As a PS, next time I won’t reserve any of the marinade, as the remainder of the marinade provided enough for basting.
    Chees

    Reply
  4. Tracy says

    June 11, 2022 at 2:11 pm

    5 stars
    Another keeper

    Reply
  5. Megan says

    May 23, 2022 at 2:53 am

    5 stars
    Have I already reviewed this? Maybe! Is it worth re-iterating my love for it? YES! This is genuinely the best grilled chicken recipe I’ve ever had. I live in an apartment complex, and strangers actually walk past asking what I’m making and where to find the recipe. I have put so many friends and family onto this recipe. It’s just the best and dominates over bottled bbq sauce!

    Reply
  6. Tory says

    March 9, 2022 at 1:56 pm

    5 stars
    Love this recipe, make it all the time! But I accidentally put in 2tbs of Worcestershire sauce instead of 4 teaspoons! I don’t have enough ketchup to do another batch will it be ok? Do I need to adjust anything else? Help!!! 😂

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      March 9, 2022 at 6:05 pm

      Hi Tory – that is only 2 teaspoons too many so it should be ok – just taste it and see if you need to add a bit more sugar to balance it! N x

      Reply
  7. Mosepele says

    August 11, 2021 at 3:04 am

    Yummy 😋 I love this

    Reply
  8. Jenny says

    July 4, 2021 at 8:36 am

    5 stars
    Hi Nagi! I love all of your recipes but this is one of my all time favorites. My family also loves it so I make it about once a week. I also love the Dozer stories. He is a cutie!

    Reply
  9. Kim says

    June 10, 2021 at 12:41 am

    5 stars
    Yum! This marinade is lovely! I used chicken breasts and chicken breast cutlets and cooked in cast iron and the family loved it.

    This will be great on the grill. I’m going to do this with tofu next so I can enjoy it too 😉

    Reply
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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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