20-Min Soy Garlic Chicken Recipe

Soy Garlic Chicken is everything you want in a quick, flavorful weeknight dinner—savory, garlicky, and beautifully glazed. The sauce is a perfect balance of salty, sweet, and rich umami, and the chicken stays juicy thanks to a clever slicing trick. You will only need a few simple ingredients and 20 minutes of your time. Let’s make it!

Soy Garlic Chicken Recipe

Serves: 2 to 4
Prep time: 6 minutes
Cook time: 14 minutes

For the chicken:
4 pieces (1 ½ pounds) chicken thighs, boneless
Pinch of salt
Pinch of white pepper, or replace with black pepper
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon oil
6 cloves garlic, minced

For the sauce:
4 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons rice wine, or replace with water
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey

Soy Garlic Chicken Instructions

1. Prepare the chicken:

• Slice each chicken thigh about 1 inch apart without cutting all the way through. This helps the chicken absorb more flavor and cook faster.
• Season both sides with salt and white pepper.
• Lightly dust both sides with cornstarch and shake off the excess.

2. Make the soy garlic sauce:

• In a mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice wine, brown sugar, and honey until well combined.

3. Cook the soy garlic chicken:

• In a pan over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil and place the chicken skin side down.
• Pan-fry for 4 minutes until golden brown. Flip and fry the other side for another 4 minutes.
• Add the minced garlic and pour in the soy garlic sauce.
• Flip the chicken back to skin side down, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Uncover, flip again, and reduce the sauce for 1 minute, basting occasionally.
• Ensure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).

Tips & notes

• Soy sauce adds savory depth and saltiness.
• Rice wine helps eliminate any gamey flavor and adds aroma.
• Brown sugar contributes a rich caramel flavor and helps thicken the sauce.
• Honey adds a floral sweetness and gives the glaze a beautiful shine.