Sticky Chicken
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This is one of those dishes that, somedays, you just gotta have. Sticky Chicken has been around about as long as folks have been cooking. The recipe has evolved and been tweaked over the years but the flavorful sticky marinade that clings to the chicken is still every bit as good as folks remember from the days when Granny used to make it for Sunday dinner.
This recipe for sticky chicken is pretty simple, mix up some ingredients, bring them to a boil, pour them over chicken pieces and bake. It’s a home run with kids as well as adults, too!
You’ll need: Brown sugar (dark or light, whatever you have), garlic powder, ketchup, honey, and soy sauce.
You’re also going to need about 3-5 pounds of bone in chicken with the skin still on it.
Traditionally, folks use legs and thighs for this but my Kroger had bone in split chicken breasts for buy one get one free – so I have four HUGE Chicken breasts halves that cost me about $2.50 and that is what we’re using!
Put everything in a sauce pot and stir it up really good. Place over medium high heat.
You can do medium heat but I like to get things rolling.
Patience is a virtue and all that but I find that my patience is best used in dealing with people, critters, and my spotty internet connection.
Bring it just to a boil and then remove from heat.
Place your chicken pieces in a 9×13 baking dish and pour all of the sauce over.
In my last post, we sang Leslie Gore around about this time. So today, we need to sing Buddy Holly.
Every day, it’s a getting closer! Going faster than a roller coaster! love like yours will surely come my way. hey hey hey hey hey!
This has nothing whatsoever to do with Sticky Chicken so I’m not even gonna try to tie it in.
If staying on point was a requirement of my job, I’da lasted one blog post.
Not good with the whole monotony thing. I gotta sparkle a bit
If you tuned in to the Leslie Gore Video in my Fried Dill Pickles Post and now my Buddy Holly video you may be wondering why someone born whenever I was born (sometime in the past 20-50 years or so) is such a huge fan of music from an era I wasn’t actually present in.
Simple: I have exquisite taste in music.
Oh, and also My Mama and Daddy took good care of their records . My brother, sister, and I spent half of our childhoods rocking out to Leslie Gore, Buddy Holly, and then Elvis. In between we were big fans of Disco Duck just to keep it well rounded.
What music did you listen to growing up?
I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
Place this in a 350 degree oven and bake, uncovered, for 90 minutes total.
After 45 minutes…flip all of the chicken over in the dish.
An hour and fifteen minutes into cooking, flip pieces again and baste with some of the sauce in the pan. Bake another fifteen minutes.
NOTE: cooking time is the same if you use legs and thighs.
Booyah! Sticky chicken!
This dish was extremely difficult to photograph because I really just wanted to eat it.
“Click click, ok, photo session is done! Let’s eat!”
I’m serving some green beans with it (recipe coming soon) and simple Mahatma Saffron Rice. Rice goes great with this because the chicken is so flavorful.
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Ingredients
- 3 -5 pounds bone in chicken with skin (folks usually use legs and/or thighs)
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup honey
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- In a sauce pot, combine ketchup, honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, and garlic powder over medium heat.
- Bring it just to a boil while stirring. Remove from heat.
- Arrange chicken pieces in 9x13 dish. Pour entire amount of sauce over chicken, turning pieces with tongs to coat.
- Place in oven, uncovered, for 90 minutes, turning after 45 minutes.
- Fifteen minutes before cooking time is up, flip pieces once more and baste with sauce.
Print This Recipe
UPDATE: Can I make this with boneless skinless breasts?
I’ve had so many people ask this question that I finally got around to trying it last night. I threw a few boneless skinless chicken breasts in the baking dish with my bone in, skin on pieces. I basted it just like the other pieces and flipped and cooked it the same way. It was good and it can certainly be done but it doesn’t come out like sticky chicken. You’ll have a good tasting chicken breasts, but the sauce doesn’t stick to it or form a glaze on it. You’re pretty much just cooking chicken in the sauce. It is good, but it really isn’t sticky chicken. I would suggest holding out until you have the bone in/skin on pieces
Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap,
but by the seeds you plant.
~Robert Louis Stevenson
Submitted by Diane. Submit your quote by clicking here.
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Posted by Christy Jordan
on Jun 6 2012. Filed under Chicken, Southern Classics.
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How can this be made diabetic friendly? It sounds wonderful, but I have to watch the sugars/carbs.
I make something similar to this, but I don’t make it sweet. Without measuring I used Worchester sauce, bbq sauce, salt and pepper, onion powder and or dried onion flakes and garlic power. This also works well with pork chops and can be done in the slow cooker. I also use frozen skinless, boneless chicken either breast or chicken finger size, whatever I have on hand.
I listened to my parents’ forties music, big band and swing stuff. I was a bit of a music snob listening to jazz and classical music. Elvis came to do a concert less than 30 miles from my Tennessee home and I decided I didn’t want to go. That was dumb. Ended up being a music major and we were all mostly music snobs, but you got to admit some of the songs were really dumb in those days.
I’ve been wondering how my Moma made this, she’s no longer here to ask. So thanks for the recipe Christy. I love this chicken.
This sounds great & easy! Now to talk the guys in the house into letting me try something new, always on the lookout for wasy chicken recipes.
Oh, I grew up listening to early 80′s music…..and all sorts of music!
I grew up listening to country music until I hit my teens, then listened to 60s rock music. Always loved Elvis, my mom did, too. Some of his records were played on country stations.
I love your recipes. I actually met Leslie Gore at the Venitian Room in Dallas years ago…. my older sister took me to see her. I never met Buddy Holly, but my stepdad was in the Army with The Big Bopper and knew him well. Thank you for sharing so much of you with us.
This looks really good! I’m wondering why I haven’t heard of this dish before? I live in SW Missouri-that’s close to the south!
I was born in 1952, and my mother played quite a bit of music. She loved Johnny Cash and the country hits of that time, and Elvis of course. I remember she always did her ironing on Sat. at the same time as American Bandstand was on, so she could watch her show and work too.
How long would I bake this using boneless skinless breasts? I poach and shred fairly often, but have no clue how to bake it properly.
Nobody in my family ever made a chicken recipe like this (though it is sorta similar to homemade bbq sauce). I make sticky chicken but my recipe is nothing like this either.
My parents liked 50s and 60s music so I heard that as well as the top 40 of whatever year it happened to be (80s and 90s music is mostly when I had my own stereo to control), plus I took dance lessons so I listened to classical music and movie and Broadway soundtracks too.
Looks so good, Christy…..love your recipes!!
Enjoyed those songs too, Christy….But it wasn’t
during my parents time, they were popular when I
was in high school. Leslie Gore’s LP’s are still among
my collection of old 45′s and LP’s from the 60′s.~
Right there with Ricky Nelson and Pat Boone!!!
Blessings,
Diane
should clarify the 50s and 60s meaning MOTOWN, not Elvis or Beatles.
First of all, you do have great taste in the oldies. I still have my Leslie Gore album (yes, that dates me.) Last summer I stopped by the Surf Ballroom and Museum in Clear Lake, Iowa, the venue Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper played the night their plane crashed. Have meant to do that for years and finally took the time…well worth it. Anyway, thanks for ALL you do on Facebook.
Yum, I so love sticky chicken! I make it several times a year! I’ve used thighs, legs, breasts, the whole chicken all of it is wonderful! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
I love those green plates you have. My mom had those same ones when I was growing up. Brings back memories!
My mouth is watering! I can’t believe I’ve lived all these years in the South and never heard of Sticky Chicken. But Law-mee…I WILL be trying this. Looks so delicious!
My Mama used to make the ketchup/coke chicken a lot. It just fascinated us! She was a wonderful cook and you’ve said yourself Christy, nobody can ever cook anything like Mama did. Oh how I would love to have some of her biscuits right now….or cornbread….or….
I was born in 1955 so I became aware of things in the late 50′s and did most of my growing up in the 60′s. I do remember though, sometime in the late 50′s, my sweet Mama sweeping the living room, dancing along to the radio with Elvis and “Blue Suede Shoes”. I can still see her now…young, barefoot, wearing rolled up jeans, a little plaid sleeveless shirt, and her hair tied up in a ponytail. I shared that memory with her many times after I was grown. She always seemed to enjoy hearing it. Oh how I miss her!
I hope you get to try it soon Rebecca, and I hope you like it!!! Love hearing about the memories of your Mama!!!
Christy – I don’t like to eat the skin – so how would it do with skinless chicken? It sounds like it would be good with pork chops or hamburger balls too. Thank you for the receipe. Judy
Just wanted to say howdy! Thanks for the music and the recipes.
Howdy Rita!!! ~HUGS~ to you!
Will you be doing another cookbook? I simply love your first book and I noticed some recipes aren’t in the first book. I sure hope you consider doing another cookbook!!!
Love ya,
Sue
Already turned it in to Workman Publishers and it comes out in Spring of 2013! Hope you enjoy it!
Love you too!
Christy
Oh Christy, I can tell this recipe is delicious because, believe it or not, but I use a very similar sauce on tofu. It’s really good. The sauce ingredients are almost identical but in different proportions. Mine has no brown sugar but does have a little vinegar. Yum yum! Here’s my tofu recipe. I get the feeling you’re not that into tofu, but it is a good recipe if you ever are interested
http://cheesewithnoodles.blogspot.com/2012/02/baked-tofu-bites.html
I’m not personally a Tofu person but I’m a big fan of all the great options it offers folks who may not otherwise have them! Thank you! Who knows, I may be converted one of these days!
I completely understand why it can skeeve people out because it did the same for me for a while until I had good tofu
We do eat meat and just see tofu as another option, ya know?
Stickey chicken sounds really good but I agree with Tania being diabetic I could never fix this would love to though. I grew up listening to southern gosple some of my old favorites is The Bill Gather, The Crows, The Paynes just a few of many others.
Your mention of “Disco Duck” really took me way back to the bowling alley where my husband and I were league bowlers. I was very “expectant” don’t you know… (giggle) We didn’t dare use the “P” work out loud back then. The irony was that every time Disco Duck was played on the juke box, I’d line my “balls” up and make a strike every time. I actually “turkeyed” one time. (If you all don’t know what a “turkey” is in bowling, sing out. LOL Can’t wait to try this chicken receipt. My g’ma used to make something similar but don’t think she even knew what soy sauce was. LOL She probably used Worcestershire and added salt. I am soooo enjoying your site! Please keep posting. ((Hugs)) (from the Tarheel State!)
Oh my goodness, I know what a Turkey is!!! I hope you enjoy the recipe Rose and have a blessed day!!
Hi Miss Christy,
Do you have the recipe for the rice, or is it out of a box? It looks SOOOOO good with the chicken! I look forward to trying the meal! Thanks!
Did you mention a new green bean recipe? I make sweet and sour ones quite often. Thanks.
I was in 8th grade on” the day the music died”. I cried for days. In 2010 ,on a cross country trip, my husband and I visited Lubbock, Texas and the Buddy Holly Museum. Now, we realize just how young he was- and how quickly he became famous but was still working hard. Thanks for featuring him today!
I have to give this receipe a go. I will probably substitute the brown sugar for brown sugar splenda.
Ricky Nelson usually takes me back to that special place.
I hope you enjoy it once you get a chance to try it Tommy!!
Christy: Have you ever made in the slow cooker. Especially now the weather is warming up. It would be great to cook and not heat the house up. Love all of your stuff. Love all the old songs also.
I haven’t ever made it in the slow cooker, I just always throw it in the oven. If you try it let me know how it turns out.
I am diabetic but I am going to try it with sugar free honey (yes there is such a thing at walmart) splenda brown sugar and then follow the rest of the recipe. You can also get low sugar ketchup. It should turn out just the same I use the sugar free products all of the time with great success.
Great idea Linda!!! Let me know how it does once you get a chance to try it!
I’ve never heard of sugar free brown sugar? Where do you buy it?
Made this tonight and it was devoured!!!! I have never had it although I’m from the south but thought this is a ‘must try’. WOW!!!!! It is yummy! TFS
I am so glad to hear you liked it Cheryl!!!!
I grew up listening to John Denver and Peter Paul and Mary…good ol’ folk music!! I still love folk and bluegrass also! This recipe looks delicious! can’t wait to try it!
I hope you get the opportunity to try it soon Laura…can’t wait to hear how you like it!!
Christy, just wanted to let you know how much I loved your book. I collect cookbooks (I have over 1000) and just recently bought yours on my IPad to use with a Kindle app. I have been reading it while on vacation on Hilton Head Island, which is a perfect place to learn about Southern Cooking. I almost can’t wait to get home so I can bake! I love all your family stories behind your recipes. I think I am going to have to buy a ” real” copy to have too! can’t wait for your next book. I am also just signing up for your newsletters. Loving your website too.
Oh my goodness, thank you so much Margaret!!! I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying the book and I can’t wait to hear what you decide to make first!!
Christy, I arrived home from HHI, SC this week. The first thing I did was buy a hardback of your cookbook to add to my collection. I made your Banana Pudding recipe for my family for a Father’s Day weekend dessert and it was a huge hit! My husband loved it. I wanted to make something extra special for him. This is his first Father’s Day since he had a brain hemorrhage a few months ago. I wanted to show him extra love and appreciation since I am so blessed that he is here and all okay! I love how you tie in special meals to show love to your family and friends. That is the whole reason I started collecting cookbooks and cooking. It was a hobby for me that helped me care for my family too, Thanks for your book and family stories and it is so great that you spend so much time responding to these messages. You must be an incredibly busy woman-you make me feel lazy
Counting down until the next book! YEA!
I grew up listening to 50′s music, nothing like it to this day. Elvis was my idol and I got to go see him 3 months before he died. That is something I will never forget. The chicken sounds yummy Christy, can’t wait to try it, and I just love your website.
I hope you get to try it soon Kathy!! I can’t wait to hear what you think!!
I made the chicken tonight and it was delicious!! Thanks for this and all the other wonderful recipes that you share!
I am glad it was a hit Cindy!!!
Made this tonight with thighs and legs and it was great! Didn’t cook it as long was the only change. A new favorite
I am so glad to hear you liked it Brandi!!!
This looks scrumptious. And I love the video. My daddy was a Buddy Holly fan and used to sing this to me when I was very small. A wonderful memory of a wonderful man! Thanks!
I hope you get to try it soon Ally!! Keep those memories close…and sing often!
Christy, we grew up on country music and American Band stand,and GOOD country cooking, I love to cook and enjoy your recipes so much, most of them take me back to my growing up years, Christy did you ever have butter rolls? This is where you make your pastry and spread butter and sugar on it and drop them in boiling milk with butter and sugar in it and vanilla, I have my own version now that I bake in the oven, Keep up the good work Girl !!!!!!!!!!!
Christy – the food looks delish, but it was the Green Spring by Corelle that brought a lump to my throat! That was the dishes my Mama had when I was growing up. Though I was raised in East TN, my Mama was a true southern lady having been born, raised, married and lived in Savannah, GA for half her life. She’s gone now and oh how I miss her cooking! Your recipes (and those of your Mom/grandmothers) remind me so much of her. Thank you so much for the picture of the plate – it sure did bring a smile to my face and remind me of the good ‘ole days!
looks good.. but there is alot of salt in soy sauce, even the low salt one still alot for one half cup.. any substitue?
Christy, I made your sticky chicken last night…AMAZING! I have to tell ya my story. We’re sitting down to supper and my five yr. old says “Mommy who mades this chicken?” I did, Kennedi. Five minutes later…”Mommy did you really make this chicken?” Yes, Kennedi. A few minutes later….”Mommy will you make this chicken again!” Ha! All three kids loved it and my husband thought it was the best baked chicken EVER! Christy, you might just make a cook out of me yet!
Oh my goodness, I know that made you the proudest Mom in the world!!! I am so glad to hear it was a hit.
My mother made Sticky Chicken Wednesday. She saved me, ONE bite, literally, so that I could try it. It was the BEST bite of chicken I’ve EVER eaten. I am making this recipe tomorrow. Thank you for sharing your recipes with us. We love them!!
I made this tonight, it was delicious! I used a whole cutup, so there was white and dark meat! To me, the dark is better!!! Thanks for a new EASY recipe!!!!
I put this together Saturday nite … three words, ” Oh My God!”. Absolutely delish, and so easy to make.
I am so glad to hear that you liked it Bonnie!!!!
Can’t wait to try this one. I’m not a fan of soy sauce so I will use worcestershire sauce instead. Thanks.
I will be trying this soon 4-sure. I listened to Bobbie Sherman, The Monkees and Donny Osmond.
I hope you like them Carie!!
Made this tonight and it was a *huge* hit! If it can get something past my 10 yr old son, it’s definitely a keeper. I have kids 5,10,13 and 16. When I asked if this was a recipe to save my 10 yr old was the first one to exclaim YES! I always buy huge packs of boneless skinless breasts when they go on sale and I love dump recipes. I’m thinking this would be a prefect dump recipe for the crock-pot!
Yay!! I am so glad it was kid approved. I have a picky eater too and know just how hard it can be to find things they like!!
I loved seeing a plate filled with yellow rice. When people complain about the cost of food shipped in from far away locations, I tell them it makes me happy. I still try to buy local, but if it weren;t for the globalization of our food sources how many of us would have had a chance for fresh pineapple and mangos.
I remember as a kid when my mother drove me down to my grandmother’s home in Alabama, she would pick up a case of Mahatma Saffron/yellow rice along with other items (stone-ground grits, seeds for her garden) that couldn’t be found where my dad was stationed (army). Then she would ration out that case of yellow rice for special meals about twice a month. If it weren’t for globalization, so many people, who don’t have the priviledge of being Southern, would have missed out on some wonderful foods.
I made this last night, and what a hit it was!!! So easy too. I served it with brown rice, and the sauce was perfect on it. Thanks so much.
After looking through your list of recipes, I think Chocolate Cobbler is next.
I am so glad to hear that you liked the chicken Kathie!!! I hope you like the cobbler, it is one of our favorites!!
Made this for my sweetie over the weekend. He RAVED about it! I served it with potato salad and we both stuffed ourselves! Thanks for another great recipe!
I am so glad that you liked it Lee!!!!
as to the diabetic question – there is a “fake” honey that my husband can eat, as long as you watch the labels on the ketchup, etc to keep the grams low. Someone told me about the “fake” honey, but the ONLY ONLY place to buy it is at Wal-Mart, you have to stand and stare at the shelf for awhile before you’ll see it. He uses it on biscuits and I use it in recipes – it’s exactly like honey …. good luck!
This sounds so much like something my grandmother used to make… I’m going to have to make a batch! As far as music goes… I was adopted by older parents so I was lucky because they introduced me to swing music, big bands… and then I was lucky enough to be around for what followed! There was always some kind of music in our house! Thank you for making me smile :0)
Oh before I forget to ask you AGAIN… do you know of a cake that is made in a sheet pan that has a cinnamon topping. When I was a very young girl, our next door neighbor used to make this amazing cake and I’m still searching for the recipe!
When I glanced at the title I thought it said “Stinky Chicken”. When I checked it out I found it to be Sticky not Stinky. Cant wait to try this on chicken and some country style ribs.
Thanks Christy! Don’t know why I’ve never heard of Sticky Chicken; but it’s on the menu for this week. Can’t wait!