30 Minutes Soy Sauce Chicken Recipe

Soy Sauce Chicken is one of the most iconic dishes in Chinese cuisine—tender, flavorful, and deeply comforting. But did you know you can make a delicious version at home in just 30 minutes? This quick braised method uses a spatchcocked chicken to cut the cook time in half while still delivering all that rich soy-infused flavor. Perfect for weeknight dinners or a festive main course on special occasions.

Soy Sauce Chicken Recipe

Serve: 2 to 4
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:
2 ½ pounds whole chicken
1 tablespoon oil
3 slices ginger
2 stalks scallions
3 cups water
4 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine (or other cooking wine)
1 tablespoon rock sugar (or granulated sugar)
1 stick cinnamon
2 pods star anise
2 bay leaves

Soy Sauce Chicken Instructions

1. Prepare the chicken:

• Use a paper towel to scrub the skin and remove any leftover filaments.
• With kitchen shears, remove the backbone to spatchcock the chicken. Cut a notch into the breastbone to help flatten it. (This step helps reduce the cooking time by nearly half!)

2. Pan-fry the chicken:

• Heat oil in a large pan over high heat. Place the chicken skin-side down and pan-fry for 1 minute until golden brown.
• Flip and sear the other side for another 1 minute.

3. Braise the chicken:

• Add ginger and scallions to the pan. Pour in water, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and Shaoxing wine.
• Add rock sugar, cinnamon stick, star anise, and bay leaves.
• Cover with a lid and braise over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked. (Add a few minutes if your chicken is larger.)
• Uncover, raise the heat to high, and reduce the sauce for 2 minutes while continuously spooning it over the chicken. (The internal temperature should reach at least 165°F / 74°C.)

4. Serve:

• Remove the chicken, slice or shred into small pieces, and drizzle with the reduced sauce. Serve warm and enjoy!

Tips & notes

• Time-saving technique: Spatchcocking flattens the chicken, helping it cook evenly and much faster—perfect for a 30-minute recipe.
• Classic flavor: The dark soy sauce adds rich color while the rock sugar creates a glossy, flavorful finish.
• Symbolism: In Chinese culture, chicken is a must-have at any banquet. There’s a saying: “No banquet is complete without chicken” (無雞不成宴).
• Health benefits: According to traditional Chinese medicine, chicken helps replenish qi, purify blood, and boost energy—especially when braised with warming spices like cinnamon and star anise.