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!!! 😂
I made this last night. Wife: “OK, this is what we’re having for dinner from now on.”
That’s great Tom!
You’ll be cooking from now on Tom!!
Hi Nagi, this is another sensational chicken dish. Is this a marinade you could use in the freezer? Also, have you ever cryovacced marinated chicken. We are going camping and need enough delicious meals for a fortnight
Nagi-you’re the best! What I really mean is, you have the best recipes, directions, videos and, of course, darling Dozer! I have NEVER been disappointed in anything you’ve shared. Sticky Grilled Chicken tonight!
Love (Platonic, of course)
Sandy M
Way to go, Dozer, you’re a trendsetter!!! Chicken looks good too!!
I can taste the recipe I so love from just looking at your photo. Made with thighs as you suggest and all the other tasty variables . . .Hokkien noodles and an Asian salad make it perfect. Superb photography, Nagi ! Dozer: that must have been quite a fashion parade 🙂 !
Looks so good! We don’t have a grill – wondering if this works well in the oven????
This sounds wonderful! Weekend dinner coming up. Could you just confirm the amount of soy sauce – cup/tbsp? Thanks Nagi
Good afternoon Nagi and Dozer,
My husband will just love the chicken done in this sauce Nagi, so thank you for creating something that even a fuzzy, cantankerous Scottish 50 something will finally eat.
Now Dozer and his exploits are my favourite part of your postings. I used to have a chocolate lab, but she died at the start of June. I seen how he fell asleep on luxury, but surely you don’t grudge your baby boy his comforts? Hee hee hee. And as for his robe, well it is so hot for our babies the now and they too must be protected from the sun. I use to put out my son’s wee paddling pool for TIa and the awning over head to try and protect her from the sun as well i could.
From the nutty Scot
Norah x
Thank you for sharing.I love
All your recipes.
Showing Dozer’s doings annoys the hell out of my partner but I just love what he gets up to. Keep it up Dozer!
Your partner sounds like real old misery guts Liz.
Trying this tonight on some friends who by the way Nagi have enjoyed many of your offerings at mine. Thanks
totally make this for dinner tonight Nagi!!!
in the ingredient, not clear on the soya sauce