Name: Sweet and Sticky Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Fusion
Ingredients: 4 tbs of maple syrup; 3 tbs of balsamic vinegar; 1 tbs of soy sauce; 1 tbs of tomato paste (puree); 1/2 cup (120ml) of water; cooking oil spray (I used avocado); 750g (26.5oz) of raw boneless skinless chicken thighs (trimmed of all visible fat), sliced into strips; 1 tbs of freshly grated ginger root; sea salt and black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder

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Sweet and Sticky Chicken - tender strips of seasoned chicken thigh in a lick the spoon sweet and sticky sauce.

sweet and sticky chicken In frying pan with vegetables and rice in background

Sweet Sticky Chicken Skillet

When it comes to easy family meals, this one is at the top of the list. It is a perfect recipe for any day of the week and perfect with various different sides.

Using simple store cupboard ingredients and all ready and on the table in less than 30 minutes. It's a totally fuss-free meal.

close up of sweet and sticky chicken in black frying pan

Easy Sweet Sticky Sauce

So what's in the sauce? and what makes it sweet and sticky?

There are no complicated hard to find ingredients here and no need for ready-made bottled jars or bottles either, you can put this together as quick as it is to open a jar.

A delicious and yummy glossy sauce that coats every morsel of those tender chicken thigh pieces made from:

Maple Syrup
Balsamic Vinegar
Soy Sauce
Tomato Paste
Water

yes that it, see how easy that was?

sweet and sticky chicken in wooden handled black frying pan with rice and vegetables in background

Can I use Chicken Breast?

You will notice I use boneless and skinless chicken thighs in this recipe. Chicken thigh pieces just absorb more flavour and stay lovely and tender.

That's not to say you can't use Chicken Breast pieces, just be aware that I recommend Chicken Thighs because the final result is so much nicer. Trust me!!

Seasoning Chicken

As well as that yummy sweet and sticky sauce, it's always important to season. Seasoning is really important in any recipe, especially basic salt and pepper. Salt enhances the flavour in any dish, so whenever you cook any recipe, the final step should always be to taste and season with salt and pepper.

As well as basic salt and black pepper we can complement any dish with a mix of spices of that go well with the other flavours. It doesn't need to be extravagant. For example, in this recipe, I just use some onion powder and garlic powder, great flavours for the sweet and sticky sauce.

Hey if you like a bit of spice, don't be afraid to add in a pinch of cayenne or even some red chilli flakes.

My Sauce is not thickening?

Are you using the correct measurement of ingredients for the sauce with no substitutions? Adjusting ingredients or using different items may affect the sauce.

Ensure your heat is not too low, the sauce needs to bubble to reduce and thicken. Also ensure you do not add the chicken back into the pan until the sauce has thickened. You will know it is ready when you run a wooden spoon through the centre of the sauce and it stays apart.

close up of sweet and sticky chicken in frying pan with wooden handle

Sides for Sweet and Sticky Chicken

Need some suggestions for sides for this delicious dish? There are so many different ones to choose from.

Some of our favourites are:

Garlic and Herb Wedges
Perfect Oven Baked Chips
Crushed Roast Potatoes
Lime Coriander Rice
Red Pepper Coriander Rice or even some plain rice.

Loads more options too in the sides section of Slimming Eats

For vegetables, I just went for some sauteed red onion, green pepper, red pepper and spring onions, seasoned and flavoured with a little drizzle sesame oil.

Some other great options are sauteed shredded greens (like cabbage, or Brussels), stir fry mixes or mushrooms etc.

sweet and sticky chicken in white bowl with rice and vegetables

More Chicken Recipes

Want some more chicken recipes? Check out these:

or head on over to my Full Recipe Index with over 850 delicious Slimming Eats and Weight Watchers recipes all fully searchable by meal type, ingredients, and smart points etc

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Recipe Card

Sweet and Sticky Chicken

Yield: SERVES 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Sweet and Sticky Chicken - tender strips of seasoned chicken thigh in a lick the spoon sweet and sticky sauce

Ingredients

750g (26.5oz) of raw boneless skinless chicken thighs (trimmed of all visible fat), sliced into strips
1 tbs of freshly grated ginger root
sea salt and black pepper
½ teaspoon of onion powder
½ teaspoon of garlic powder

For the sweet and sticky sauce

4 tbs of maple syrup
3 tbs of balsamic vinegar
1 tbs of soy sauce
1 tbs of tomato paste (puree)
½ cup (120ml) of water
cooking oil spray (I used avocado)

Instructions

In a jug combine the water, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and tomato puree.
Spray a frying pan over a high heat with some cooking oil spray.
Add the chicken, ginger, onion powder, garlic powder and seasoned well with salt and black pepper.
Fry until lightly golden on all sides. Remove and set aside.
Add the sauce ingredients to the frying pan and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any bits stuck to the pan, this will add flavour to your sauce.
Bubble the sauce on a high heat until it starts to thicken, you will know it is thickened enough if you run a wooden spoon through the sauce and the sauce divides.
Once the sauce is to this consistency, add back in the chicken and continue to simmer until the chicken pieces are well coated in the sauce and cooked through.
Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed.
Serve with your choice of sides and enjoy!!

Notes

Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:

Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
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