Fridge Friend Recipes
Sticky Soft Drink Glazed Chicken recipe
Juicy chicken coated in a glossy sweet-savoury glaze made with soft drink. It is bold, quick to cook, and delicious with rice or greens.
30 min · Medium · Chinese-inspired Jump to method
Ingredients
- 700g Chicken thighs
- 330ml Soft drink
- 2 tbsp Soy sauce
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 1 tbsp Ginger
- 2 Spring onions
- 1 tbsp Cooking oil
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
| Nutrition | Per servingEstimated |
|---|---|
| Calories | 336 kcal |
| Protein | 31 g |
| Carbohydrates | 9 g |
| Fat | 19 g |
| Saturated fat | 5 g |
| Fibre | 0.6 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 520 mg |
Why this works
A high-protein chicken dish with moderate fat and a modest carbohydrate load; sodium and added sugar may be notable depending on the soft drink and soy sauce used.
Lean protein. Chicken thighs provide a substantial amount of protein for satiety, muscle maintenance and repair.
Sodium source. Soy sauce and added salt can push sodium up, which is worth noting for anyone monitoring blood pressure or fluid retention.
Added sugar. The soft drink glaze contributes most of the dish’s sugar, even though the overall carbohydrate content remains moderate.
Method
- Season the chicken thighs lightly with salt and black pepper.
Use a light hand with the seasoning so the soy sauce can still shine later; too much salt now can leave the finished glaze harsh once it reduces.
- Heat a little cooking oil in a large frying pan and brown the chicken for 5 minutes.
Keep the pan at medium-high rather than fierce heat so the thighs colour without scorching, and turn them only when they release easily and show a deep golden-brown crust.
- Add the garlic and ginger, then cook for 1 minute more.
Stir the garlic and ginger just until fragrant and loosened in the fat; if they start to darken, reduce the heat at once to stop a bitter edge developing.
- Pour in the soft drink and soy sauce, then simmer for 15–20 minutes until sticky and cooked through.
Drop the heat to a gentle simmer so the liquid reduces gradually rather than boiling hard, and stop when the sauce clings in a glossy layer and no longer looks watery around the chicken.
- Scatter over sliced spring onions and serve hot.
Add the spring onions at the very end so they stay bright green and fresh, not wilted and dull; serve straight away while the glaze is still sticky and shiny.
More recipes using the same ingredients
Creamy Yoghurt Chicken Curry
40 min · Tender chicken simmered in a gently spiced yoghurt sauce for a comforting, tangy curry. Serve with rice or flatbreads for a satisfying dinner.
Christmas roast turkey dinner
180 min · A classic British roast turkey dinner with roast potatoes, stuffing, gravy and seasonal veg.
Boxing Day Turkey Curry
40 min · A comforting Boxing Day curry made with leftover roast turkey, gently spiced with tomatoes, onions and coconut milk.
Butter and Herb Roasted Chicken
90 min · Succulent roast chicken with a crisp, golden skin and rich butter flavour. Simple seasoning and a buttery finish keep the meat juicy and full of flavour.
Chicken and Aubergine Stir-Fry with Soy-Orange Glaze
25 min · Tender chicken and soft aubergine are tossed with peppers in a glossy soy-orange glaze, finished with garlic and onion for a vibrant, savoury-sweet stir-fry. It’s quick to make and ideal served with rice or noodles.
Chicken and Pepper Masala Bake
55 min · A richly spiced baked chicken dish with sweet peppers, onion and a savoury tomato sauce. The curry powder and coriander bring a warm masala flavour, while the peppers keep it fresh and colourful.
View category
Discover recipes from your fridge contents
Use the FridgeFriend app to recognise the ingredients already in your fridge and help you discover recipes.
