Name: Honey Soy Glazed Chicken Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 1 h 40 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Ingredients: 4 chicken leg quarters; 4 teaspoons salt; 2 teaspoons sugar; 2 teaspoons ginger powder; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 2 teaspoons chili flakes (or cayenne for spicier, paprika for non-spicy); 1/2 cup honey; 6 tablespoons soy sauce; 8 slices fresh ginger; 2 teaspoons chili flakes (or cayenne for spicier, paprika for non-spicy); 2 teaspoons lemon juice; Handful of vegetables of your choice (green beans, onion, peppers, tomato); Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Foil

If you’re looking for a chicken dinner that’s juicy, flavorful, and a little bit fancy without any fuss, let me introduce you to my go-to Honey Soy Glazed Chicken Recipe. This dish is fantastic because it combines sweet honey, savory soy, and just a kick of spice to create a glaze that’s utterly addictive. Whether it’s a weeknight treat or something you want to impress with, you’ll find this recipe delivers every time – tender chicken with that perfect caramelized finish. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll keep coming back!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Incredibly Juicy Chicken: The foil packet roasting traps all the moisture, so the chicken comes out tender and juicy every single time.
Flavor Explosion: A perfect balance of sweet honey, salty soy sauce, and a spicy kick that wakes up your palate.
Easy Yet Impressive: The steps are straightforward, but the end result looks and tastes like you spent hours cooking.
Customizable Heat Level: You can tweak the chili flakes or paprika to make it mild, spicy, or somewhere in between.

The image shows three pieces of dark brown cooked chicken with a shiny glaze, arranged close together on a white marbled surface. Each piece is topped with light green, thinly sliced curled spring onions and sprinkled with small white sesame seeds. Surrounding the chicken are bright green long beans, small yellow pearl onions, and a few red cherry tomatoes, adding color contrast. The chicken skin looks crispy with a slightly charred texture on some parts, creating a rich, savory appearance. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Honey Soy Glazed Chicken, Honey Soy Chicken, Easy Chicken Dinner, Juicy Chicken Recipes, Simple Glazed Chicken

Ingredients You’ll Need

The ingredients for this Honey Soy Glazed Chicken Recipe are simple but work together like magic. Each one adds a layer to the flavor—the spices bring warmth, honey adds sweetness, and soy sauce contributes that essential umami depth.

Flat lay of four raw chicken leg quarters with smooth skin, fresh whole ginger root and eight thin slices of bright yellow ginger, small white ceramic bowls containing golden honey, dark brown soy sauce, vibrant red chili flakes, pale yellow lemon juice, and separate piles of coarse white salt, light brown sugar, ground ginger powder, and garlic powder, a small heap of fresh mixed vegetables including green beans, a sliced red bell pepper, a halved small red onion, and a ripe red tomato wedge, all ingredients arranged symmetrically in perfect proportions on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p awthu7i m7354615311229779997 - Honey Soy Glazed Chicken, Honey Soy Chicken, Easy Chicken Dinner, Juicy Chicken Recipes, Simple Glazed Chicken

Chicken leg quarters: These have great flavor and stay juicy under foil; dark meat is best for this recipe.
Salt: Essential to season and balance the sweetness.
Sugar: Helps with caramelization and adds a little extra body to the rub.
Ginger powder: Warm and slightly spicy, it complements the fresh ginger slices perfectly.
Garlic powder: Gives that lovely savoriness without overpowering.
Chili flakes: Adjustable heat—you can swap for cayenne or paprika depending on your spice preference.
Honey: The star ingredient for that beautiful glaze and natural sweetness.
Soy sauce: Adds salty richness and depth to the glaze.
Fresh ginger slices: Found in the glaze, these infuse aromatic warmth while simmering.
Lemon juice: Adds brightness and balances the flavors at the end of the glaze.
Heavy duty aluminum foil: Crucial for sealing in juices during roasting; if you don’t have heavy duty, use two layers.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love that this Honey Soy Glazed Chicken Recipe is flexible enough to adjust based on what you have or what mood you’re in. I’ve tried a few variations over time, and every tweak gives it a lovely twist.

Add vegetables in the packets: I often toss in green beans, sliced peppers, or cherry tomatoes to roast alongside the chicken for a one-pan meal.
Use chicken thighs or breasts: While leg quarters yield the best juiciness, I’ve subbed thighs when that’s what’s on hand; just watch the cooking time closely.
Adjust the spice level: If you love heat, cayenne works wonders; for a kid-friendly version, go with smoked paprika to keep flavor without the burn.
Try maple syrup instead of honey: It adds a slightly different sweetness and depth that I found really delightful one autumn evening.

How to Make Honey Soy Glazed Chicken Recipe

Step 1: Prep the Spice Rub

Start by mixing your dry rub ingredients—salt, sugar, ginger powder, garlic powder, and chili flakes—in a bowl. I like to whisk them well until they’re evenly combined, so every bite of chicken gets that perfect seasoning. It’s amazing how this dry rub forms the flavor base that really shines after the slow roasting.

Step 2: Wrap and Roast the Chicken

Prepare four large sheets of heavy-duty foil—if you don’t have heavy duty, doubling up regular foil works well. Place one chicken leg quarter on each sheet and generously rub the spice mix all over each piece. Fold up the foil into loose packets—think of it like creating a little steam chamber for the chicken. Make sure the packets are well sealed but leave space inside for heat to circulate. Then, pop them on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake at 300°F (150°C) for 1 hour 30 minutes. This low and slow roast is the secret to that juicy tenderness you crave.

Step 3: Simmer the Honey Soy Glaze

While the chicken roasts, make your glaze by simmering honey, soy sauce, fresh ginger slices, and chili flakes in a small pot. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer, stirring often until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon—usually about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice for brightness, then set aside to cool. The glaze thickens even more as it cools, which helps you get that sticky, caramelized finish.

Step 4: Broil with Glaze for Finish

Once the chicken’s done roasting, be careful opening those foil packets—the steam is hot and sneaky! Lift the chicken off the juices and place it back on the baking sheet (discard those foil packets and juices). Now, turn your oven broiler on, brush the chicken legs thickly with glaze, and broil for 3 to 5 minutes until bubbly. Pull them out, brush on another layer, then broil for another 3 to 5 minutes until the skin is sticky and blistered. This part is pure magic—it transforms juicy roasted chicken into a beautifully caramelized masterpiece.

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Pro Tips for Making Honey Soy Glazed Chicken Recipe

Seal the Foil Well: I learned the hard way that loose seals can lead to drying out the chicken, so take your time folding tightly but leaving room inside for steam.
Don’t Rush the Glaze Simmering: Simmering it long enough really concentrates the flavors and gets the sticky consistency needed for that gorgeous finish.
Broil Twice for Best Caramelization: Applying glaze and broiling twice creates those perfect blistered patches that give the dish its signature look and flavor.
Rest Before Serving: Let the chicken sit a few minutes after broiling so the glaze sets and the juices redistribute for max tenderness.

How to Serve Honey Soy Glazed Chicken Recipe

A white bowl is filled with a base layer of white rice, topped by a large grilled chicken leg coated in shiny reddish-brown sauce and sprinkled with white sesame seeds. Around the chicken leg on the rice are thin, light green onion curls. On the right side of the bowl, there are some green beans, two small light yellow potatoes, and a yellow pepper slice. At the bottom right, under the chicken, are sautéed purple onion rings. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface with a fork and dark cloth to the right, and a small white bowl of sliced green onions below. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Honey Soy Glazed Chicken, Honey Soy Chicken, Easy Chicken Dinner, Juicy Chicken Recipes, Simple Glazed Chicken

Garnishes

I usually sprinkle the finished chicken with some toasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions. The crunch and fresh bite from the onions contrasts so wonderfully with the sweet, sticky glaze—plus, it makes everything look extra pretty on the plate.

Side Dishes

My go-to sides here are simple steamed jasmine rice and a crisp cucumber salad. The rice soaks up all that leftover glaze, and the cool, refreshing cucumber salad balances the richness perfectly. Sometimes I toss in roasted green beans or quick-pickled carrots to round out the meal.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I like to plate each chicken leg on a bed of coconut rice with a wedge of lime on the side and a drizzle of extra glaze over everything. Adding edible flowers or microgreens makes a lovely, restaurant-style presentation that always gets compliments.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled, store the chicken in an airtight container with a little bit of the glaze on top to keep it moist. In my experience, it stays delicious in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just make sure to separate any extra glaze from the chicken so you can reapply fresh when reheating.

Freezing

I’ve frozen leftover honey soy glazed chicken before with success. Wrap portions individually in foil or plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. It keeps best for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating

To reheat, I pop the chicken under a low oven broil for just a few minutes to warm through and revive that sticky glaze texture. Avoid microwaving if you want to keep the skin crispy and the glaze glossy.

FAQs

Can I use chicken breasts instead of leg quarters?

Absolutely! You can use chicken breasts, but since they’re leaner, watch your cooking time carefully to avoid drying out the meat. I recommend reducing the roasting time and keeping a close eye when broiling to preserve juiciness.
What can I substitute for soy sauce for a gluten-free version?

Tamari is a great gluten-free alternative that provides a similar salty, savory flavor. Just swap it in equal amounts for the soy sauce in the glaze.
Do I have to use fresh ginger slices in the glaze?

The fresh ginger slices add lovely aroma and depth while simmering, but if you don’t have fresh ginger on hand, you can use a teaspoon of ground ginger in the glaze instead. The flavor won’t be quite the same but still delicious.
Can I prepare the glaze ahead of time?

Yes! The glaze can be made a day ahead and refrigerated. Just warm it gently before using to brush onto the chicken for broiling.
Is it necessary to broil the chicken after roasting?

While you can technically skip broiling, broiling is what gives the chicken that irresistible sticky, blistered finish. It’s well worth the added step for flavor and texture.

Final Thoughts

This Honey Soy Glazed Chicken Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it’s one of those dishes that feels like a celebration, yet is so simple to make. The way the honey and soy sauce come together, caramelizing on the chicken skin, never fails to impress my family and guests alike. I can’t recommend it enough if you want a dish that’s packed with flavor, juicy, and has that beautiful sticky finish everyone obsesses over. Give it a try—you might just find your new signature chicken recipe!