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Home Chicken

Sticky Grilled Chicken

By:Nagi
Published:16 Jun '20Updated:8 Apr '21
59 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 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 18 votes
Servings4 - 5 people
Tap or hover to scale
Print
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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59 Comments

  1. Jecca says

    October 1, 2020 at 10:07 am

    5 stars
    This was amazing! We eat a lot of chicken in this house & this was a great way to kick up the flavor. I even made Nagi’s cole slaw recipe as a side & the two paired so well together. You’re the BEST Nagi! Thank you!

    Reply
  2. Debbie says

    September 9, 2020 at 8:11 am

    5 stars
    Made this tonight for dinner. It was delicious! Easy marinade to whip up and cooks on the grill nice. Served with white rice and roasted vegetables. Thanks for another fantastic recipe!

    Reply
  3. Kate says

    July 20, 2020 at 5:26 pm

    5 stars
    I also can’t believe how easy this was to make, I even made a 2nd lot to stash in the freezer for super lazy nights.
    My 4yo son said he prefers this to chicken nuggets so you know its a winner!

    Reply
  4. Amanda Seif says

    July 3, 2020 at 11:44 pm

    This is a keeper. The kids loved it!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      July 5, 2020 at 7:59 am

      Perfect Amanda!! N x

      Reply
  5. Emma says

    June 24, 2020 at 2:34 pm

    5 stars
    Nagi we NEEEEED a cookbook ASAP. This was yum (along with everything else you create 🙌🏾)

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      June 25, 2020 at 3:49 pm

      It’s on the cards!! N x

      Reply
  6. Alex says

    June 16, 2020 at 6:11 pm

    Hi Nagi,

    I am 39 years old and have always had a terrible diet, takeaways, microwave meals etc

    I bought recipe books in the past but never used them.

    Your website has inspired me to start cooking. I have tried about 10 of your recipes so far and EVERY one of them has been absolutely delicious 🙂 my favorite so far is the butter chicken but I am going’s to try this recipe tonight.

    I love how a lot of your recipes used the same staple ingredients.

    Honestly I think you have the best recipe blog on the internet… yes it’s that good 🙂

    If you can inspire me to start cooking, you can inspire anyone,

    Your website is absolutely gorgeous too and the recipes and image load so fast.

    PLEASE release a print book ASAP 🙂

    Greetings from Ireland

    Alex

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      June 17, 2020 at 9:16 am

      That’s so great to hear Alex, I truly enjoy hearing what people think of my recipes!! I do have a cookbook on the cards – stay tuned for that one! N x

      Reply
    • Julie Mcadoo says

      June 20, 2020 at 7:52 am

      Can this marinade be used on ribs

      Reply
  7. Rhi says

    May 18, 2020 at 2:02 am

    5 stars
    Oh my gosh, Nagi! This reminded me of the bbq street food in my country! Its sooooooo good! Ur website is what i use to plan our menu for the week! I used to look at another blogger’s website and I found ur food is tastier so i just use all ur recipes! Thank you for this!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 18, 2020 at 9:29 am

      Thanks so much for the great feedback Rhi, that’s awesome! N x

      Reply
  8. Jennifer says

    April 10, 2020 at 9:05 pm

    So obsessed with all of your recipes! Just have a question regarding this one- would chicken wings be fine?

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      April 11, 2020 at 4:31 pm

      Hi Jennifer, chicken wings take longer to cook. I would do them in the oven with this method: https://www.recipetineats.com/sticky-chinese-chicken-wings/

      Reply
  9. Rozina says

    April 6, 2020 at 3:19 pm

    5 stars
    So. Good. I doubled the recipe and there were barely any leftovers. Definitely will make it again!!

    Reply
  10. Steven @ The Kitchyn says

    April 5, 2020 at 12:44 am

    5 stars
    Perfectly easy and tastes perfectly great!
    Everyone thinks I’m a genius when I cook this.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      April 5, 2020 at 6:29 pm

      I LOVE hearing this Steven!! N x

      Reply
  11. Kel says

    March 12, 2020 at 6:04 pm

    5 stars
    OMG! I wish discovered this marinade at the start of summer! So very delicious! We all licked our plates clean! 🤣

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      March 12, 2020 at 7:04 pm

      I’m so glad you loved it Kel! N x

      Reply
  12. Angela Dash says

    February 13, 2020 at 5:00 am

    5 stars
    A couple of friends and I were discussing Nagis this and Nagi’s that and saying Nagi says, another friend had to ask “who is Nagi”. We were discussing you and your recipes with such familiarity,she thought you were a friend she’d missed out on. All cooking so many of your dishes and we and our family thank you. Oh and I confess I go to Dozer first.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      February 13, 2020 at 4:25 pm

      I LOVE this!!! 😂

      Reply
  13. Kristin Giffin says

    October 2, 2019 at 10:01 am

    5 stars
    Oh, my word, we love this chicken! Only thing I changed was to double the recipe and freeze a batch so we have it ready at all times. Made this with your fried rice. *perfection* (chef’s kiss) We recently moved from California to a state without much spice to the local cuisine. You are saving us, Nagi!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      October 2, 2019 at 2:19 pm

      That’s awesome Kristin!!

      Reply
  14. Barb says

    September 24, 2019 at 7:56 pm

    5 stars
    Omg, how seriously fantastic are these. Cooked on the stove rather than BBQ and holy doley Wow!!!!!!! Everyone please, Nagi for PM and Dozer for First Pooch!

    Reply
  15. Amy says

    September 24, 2019 at 4:04 am

    5 stars
    This is soooo good. The only thing I would change next time is make more 😂 my family couldn’t get enough of it. We had it with baked potato, sweet corn and coleslaw….yum. Did it on a griddle pan on the hob but will definitely keep it in mind for bbqs next summer x

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 24, 2019 at 7:11 pm

      Sounds perfect Amy!!

      Reply
  16. Barbara Rosa says

    September 9, 2019 at 2:34 am

    This is the best sauce i have ever eaten .thankyou so much

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 9, 2019 at 8:55 am

      That’s so great to hear Barbara!

      Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

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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