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….)
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 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.
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 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!!
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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.
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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!
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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.
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BASTE GENEROUSLY multiple times! Baste flip, baste flip!
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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!
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
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:
- 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.
Nutrition Information:
More Grilled Chicken Recipes
Life of Dozer
“Everyone” used to mock Dozer and his robe….
Turns out, he’s a Trail Blazer!!! 😂
Very yummy Nagi and so simple. We all loved it. I only do chicken thighs these days. Always so tender and juicy.
Perfect Debbie!! N x
Another great recipe Nagi! Turned out perfect with just a little char here and there and the caramelization yum! I love Dozers robe but I think you are the trail blazer 😉
I was never one for chicken thighs before, but this recipe was AWESOME! The chicken was tender, flavorful, and delicious. It’s made me want to explore more chicken thigh recipes. Nagi, of course, is my go-to! Thanks for another great recipe. Paired it with your macaroni salad (which gets even better over time!), and the meal was a huge hit! I’m telling everyone about it. Can’t wait to explore more recipes!
This is the best! Made it exactly as written and the family loved it! Using this sauce for grilled chicken pineapple kabobs next! Will have to try a few of your side dishes. Thank you for your great recipes and directions… always spot on🙌😀
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!
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!
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!
This is a keeper. The kids loved it!
Perfect Amanda!! N x
Nagi we NEEEEED a cookbook ASAP. This was yum (along with everything else you create 🙌🏾)
It’s on the cards!! N x
2nd that:-)
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
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
Can this marinade be used on ribs
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!
Thanks so much for the great feedback Rhi, that’s awesome! N x
So obsessed with all of your recipes! Just have a question regarding this one- would chicken wings be fine?
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/
So. Good. I doubled the recipe and there were barely any leftovers. Definitely will make it again!!
Perfectly easy and tastes perfectly great!
Everyone thinks I’m a genius when I cook this.
I LOVE hearing this Steven!! N x
OMG! I wish discovered this marinade at the start of summer! So very delicious! We all licked our plates clean! 🤣
I’m so glad you loved it Kel! N x
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.
I LOVE this!!! 😂
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!
That’s awesome Kristin!!
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!
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
Sounds perfect Amy!!
This is the best sauce i have ever eaten .thankyou so much
That’s so great to hear Barbara!