Sticky Asian Chicken Recipe (2024)

April 4, 2024

Published April 4, 2024 | Julia Frey (Vikalinka)

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My sticky Asian chicken recipe is the one you need when takeout cravings kick in. Who doesn’t enjoy tender chicken in an sticky aromatic marinade full of stunning flavours? I can show you how to make it at home healthier and cheaper!

This chicken goes so well with our Asian Noodles Salad!

Is it really a surprise that by the time midweek rolls around all we want to do is to come home from work, put our feet up and dial the local takeout number for the usual?

I get you, guys! We work hard and the last thing we want to do is more work when we get home. I am the first to admit I get tempted to order in instead of cooking my own dinner often.

But what is truly keeping me away from ordering takeout is…money. That’s right it’s expensive! It’s also rarely healthy! That is why I love recreating our favourites at home. Curious? Take a look at our ever growing Asian takeout recipe collection.

This chicken recipe is a great homemade version of something I’d usually order in. But unlike the takeout food, it’s inexpensive and won’t make you feel guilty afterwards!

What is even better is that it’s so easy. All you do is marinate it overnight and pop it in the oven after work the following day! Tender, flavourful chicken will be there just when you need it most.

The Marinade

What makes this chicken taste so fantastic is the marinade. It both imparts an incredible flavour and tenderises the chicken, so we kill two birds with one stone.

The aromatic mix I use in this recipe consists of easy to source ingredients like soy sauce, honey, ginger and garlic with a touch of chilli flakes.

If you want to add something very special, mix in 1 tablespoon of Korean Gochujang paste instead of chilli flakes. This condiment used to be quite rare. You’d have to go to a specialty store to find it. Nowadays, you can buy it in most supermarkets.

If this Asian chicken recipe is something you love, be sure to try my Asian chicken wings. Similarly wonderful chicken but conveniently made in an air fryer.

Recipe Tips and Notes

Marinade the chicken for at least 3 hours. Or even better, leave it to marinade in the fridge overnight for especially tender and flavourful meat.
Ensure your chicken pieces are fully submerged in the marinade, and turn the chicken every once in a while to make sure that each piece is completely covered in the marinade.
Baste your chicken half way through the baking for more flavour and to fully coat it in the sticky glaze.
Stick to the cooking temperature and times given to avoid dry chicken. I always recommend using a meat thermometer so you can be confident in removing the chicken when it is perfectly done.
For best results I recommend using bone-in chicken legs and thighs. They will come out juicy and the marinade with make the chicken skins deliciously sticky.
If you must substitute, use skinless, boneless thighs and reduce the cooking time by 10 minutes.

Serving Suggestions

Whenever we order takeout, it’s hard not to go a little too hard and end up with heaps of food. No wonder we can feel so overstuffed after ordering food in.

Making some of these takeout classics at home is a chance to make this right, and to make better choices without sacrificing the delicious flavours we crave.

What I would recommend is making either plain, coconut or fried rice. Add a healthy salad like this rainbow slaw with lemon garlic tahini dressing.

But still, if you are really feeling like a feast is what you need, who am I to judge? I would recommend adding dan dan noodles or chicken yaki udon to fill out your meal.

Storage and leftovers

Any leftover chicken can be kept in the fridge for 4-5 days. Reheat it in the oven covered in foil to prevent it from becoming dried out.

It’s also possible to freeze leftovers for 3-4 months. Make sure it doesn’t sit at room temperature for longer than 2 hours before placing in the freezer.

Favourite Asian chicken recipes

Explore our Asian Chicken Recipe Collection or try one of these:

Chicken Katsu Curry
Honey Soy Chicken
Shoyu Chicken Recipe
Filipino Chicken Adobo