4 ingredient sticky soy sauce chicken is utterly delicious, ridiculously quick and easy to make, and absolutely perfect when you want a tasty meal in minutes with minimum fuss.
I love recipes and dishes that deliver loads of flavour with minimum effort; this four ingredient sticky soy chicken is a perfect example. The recipe is the essence of simple, and absolutely perfect for a week night supper after a long day at work. Mix equal quantities of chili sauce, sweet soy sauce and sesame oil, cut chicken – thighs or breast – cooked or raw – into bite-sized chunks, and marinade for a few minutes. Then fry the chicken – the small pieces won’t take any time to cook – pour in the remaining sauce and reduce it down, and you’re ready to serve.
This sticky soy chicken can be served in so many ways: tossed into a leafy salad, adding delicious savoury/umami flavours from the soy sauce; is one of our favourite ways of serving it, making a perfect light lunch or supper. Or add a few carbs with some rice: we’re big fans of our microwave rice steamer, which gives us perfectly cooked rice every time in about a quarter of an hour.
Soy sauce is so useful in so many recipes that we always make sure we have a bottle or two in the cupboard. Found across Asian cuisines, there are actually a myriad of different types available, with each country having their favourite.
8 facts about soy sauce
- Soy sauce is one of the world’s oldest condiments, originating 2,500 years ago in China. There is a huge variety of different sauces.
- Traditionally fermented soy sauce takes a while to mature: from months for everyday products to years for super premium brands. Always buy the real thing, not chemically produced non-brewed sauces. You’ll really notice the difference.
- Different Asian countries have their own preferred recipes. Broadly, Chinese sauce was originally made using only soy beans, while Japanese used a blend of soybeans and wheat grains. Modern Chinese soy sauce is frequently made with a blend of soybeans and wheat flour.
- Just to muddy the waters, Japanese tamari is made using only soybeans and so is gluten free.
- Generally, Chinese sauces have a fuller, saltier flavour, with Japanese sauces being sweeter.
- There are numerous varieties of Chinese soy sauce: light, made from the first pressing of the fermented soy beans, and most used in cooking. Double fermented light sauces have a richer flavour and are used for dipping.
- Dark and double dark have been fermented for longer, and have sugar or molasses added for sweetness. These are used only for cooking.
- Sweet soy sauces which can be used both for cooking (as I have here) and as a dipping sauce. Sweet soy sauce has added sugar and thickening agents.
Instant Pot Chinese rice) and steamed vegetable for a perfect after work mid week supper.” width=”640″ height=”825″>
For another twist on Asian chicken try my fakeaway recipe for easy chicken chow mein, which can be made three ways – with chicken, beef or a vegan tofu version. Or try this chicken with my teriyaki sauce
A quick, easy and delicious chicken dish, made with soy and chili sauces, perfect as a light lunch or simple but tasty supper.
- 1 dsp Sweet soy sauce
- 1 dsp Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
- 1 dsp Sesame oil
- 1 Chicken breast
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Mix sweet soy sauce, chili sauce and sesame oil.
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Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces, and marinate in the sauce mixture for a few minutes.
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Fry the chicken pieces in a non-stick pan, turning regularly, for 10-12 minutes, until nearly cooked through.
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To finish, add the remaining marinade to the frying pan and reduce until thick and sticky.
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Serve, pouring the sauce over the chicken.
This recipe can be made with either raw or cooked chicken; if cooked, allow to marinade and then heat the chicken in a frying pan for a few minutes, turning regularly. Then remove the chicken and reduce the sauce.
You can freeze chicken pieces in the marinade; allow to defrost thoroughly before cooking. This is especially useful if you have large quantities of chicken cheaply available.
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Liz @ I Heart Vegetables
I’m a vegetarian but I haven’t really played around with soy meat options. I think my husband would be excited to have a vegetarian version of one of his favorite type of dishes!
Helen
it would make an awesome tofu glaze Liz!
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert
So easy and so much flavor – this recipe is for me! Thanks so much for sharing. I could eat this on a weekly basis. Pretty photos too!
Helen
We have this fairly often. So quick and easy
Nicola @ Happy Healthy Motivated
I would never believe something so beautiful and delicious looking was made with just 4 ingredients if I wasn’t looking at the recipe card right now! Saving this to make asap!
Helen
I like to make life easy for people. Especially for afterwork dinners.
sue | theviewfromgreatisland
I’m all over anything with the words ‘sticky’ and ‘chicken’…this looks and sounds so tasty! I actually have a mini library of soy sauces in my fridge so this is right up my alley, thanks for a great recipe for a busy night :)
Helen
I am obsessed with my soy sauces and tamaris!
Julia @ Happy Foods Tube
This looks like a great recipe. Gotta say it’s been years since I had a soy meat meal. Love your pics and the soy sauce facts!
Helen
Thanks Julia, this is so simple and easy.
Life as Mum
This looks like my kind of meal. Looks and sounds delicious.
Helen
So quick and easy to make, and very tasty.
miranda
I feel as though I’ve been living under a rock! I’ve never heard of soy chicken. id be interested to try it and see which I prefer.
Helen
The chicken is marinated in the sauce made from soy sauce and three other ingredients. Makes it very tasty.
MELANIE EDJOURIAN
This looks great. I love sweet soy but can’t see it in any supermarkets at the moment which is a shame. It must work well with this dish.
Helen
If you don’t have sweet soy sauce, which you should be able to get in an Asian shop, or on the World Food aisle then use regular soy sauce and sweet chilli sauce.
Melanie
I love the soya sauce facts and that there is only 4 ingredients…makes life much easier :)x
Helen
Always good to make life easy, that way we can enjoy tasty meals even mid week.
Rhian Westbury
Soy sauce is a complete staple for me at home and I always make sure that I have a bottle in the cupboard x
Helen
It is a really good ingredient to have handy, so many uses.
Lilinha
Such a delicious recipe! I love how easy it is to make! Yummy!
Helen
It is good to be able to share delicious recipes that are easy to make.
Stephanie Merry
Wow this looks amazing! I love quick and easy dishes like these, so I’ll have to give it a try this weekend x
Helen
so quick and easy
Rebecca Smith
Yum! This looks totally delicious! Soy sauce is a staple in our cupboard and chicken a staple in our fridge – putting this on the meal plan for next week!
Helen
Hope you enjoy it Rebecca.
Louise
This just looks divine! I’ve been looking for some new chicken recipes to try out so I’ll definitely be giving it a try. Thank you for sharing :)
Louise x
Helen
Thanks Louise. Make it as part of a salad or a more substantial meal.
Annie B
Not a combination or something I’d normally make, but this really sounds super tasty. I may need to add it into our weekly food menu!
Helen
it is so good, as well as quick and easy