Sticky Soy Glazed Chicken (One Pot One Portion)
The magic of this dish comes from the sauce- this sticky soy glaze can be spooned over many a main course but here I’ve gone for golden, pan-fried chicken thighs (though you can also find my soy glazed salmon recipe here too). The whole thing takes about 15 minutes and is a dinner I make again and again.
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Sticky soy glazed chicken is a single-serve, one-pan dinner made with golden pan-fried chicken thighs coated in a glossy, savoury-sweet sauce. Cooked entirely on the hob, this small-batch recipe is designed specifically for cooking for one. The flavour profile is rich and umami-forward, with soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, ginger, and a touch of brown sugar creating a perfectly balanced glaze. Ready in around 15 minutes, it’s ideal for quick weeknight meals without compromising on flavour. It’s practical, fast, and endlessly adaptable for solo cooks.
Why You’ll Want to Make This Recipe
Perfectly Portioned for One
This recipe uses two chicken thigh fillets and a tightly measured sauce, meaning no leftovers and no guesswork. It’s a true one-portion dinner that still feels generous and satisfying.
Quick & Easy
From start to finish, this dish takes about 15 minutes. There’s no marinating required, minimal prep, and the sauce comes together in seconds — perfect for busy evenings.
One Pan, Minimal Washing Up
Everything cooks in a single heavy-bottomed pan. The chicken fries, the sauce reduces, and the glaze forms all in the same pan, keeping washing up to a minimum.
Big Comfort, Weeknight Friendly
That sticky, glossy sauce makes this feel like takeaway-level comfort food, but it’s made at home with simple pantry ingredients — exactly what cooking for one should be.
Eleanor’s Top Tips for the Perfect Sticky Soy Glazed Chicken
- Use skinless chicken thighs rather than breast for juicier results and better sauce cling.
- Start the chicken in a hot pan so you get good colour before adding the sauce.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan — the sauce needs space to reduce and turn glossy.
- Combine the sauce ingredients before adding to the pan so it cooks evenly.
- Baste the chicken continuously once the sauce is added to build layers of flavour.
- If the sauce thickens too quickly, add a small splash of water to loosen it.
- Let the sauce reduce until it coats the back of a spoon for the perfect sticky finish.
Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need
Essential Ingredients
- Chicken thigh fillets (2): Juicy, flavourful protein that stays tender.
- Sesame oil: Adds nutty depth and helps brown the chicken.
- Garlic and ginger paste: Aromatic base for the glaze.
- Oyster sauce: Adds richness and umami.
- Soy sauce: Salty backbone of the sauce.
- Shaoxing rice wine: Brings depth and slight sweetness.
- Rice wine or sherry vinegar: Balances the richness with acidity.
- White pepper: Gentle warmth without overpowering heat.
- Brown sugar: Creates the sticky, glossy finish.
To Serve (Optional)
- Rice or noodles
- Steamed or stir-fried vegetables
- Sesame seeds
- Spring onion
- Fresh coriander
Essential Tools
- Heavy-bottomed frying pan (20–24cm)
- Small bowl for mixing sauce
- Spoon for basting
- Knife and chopping board
Dietary Variations
Gluten-Free
Use gluten-free soy sauce and gluten-free oyster sauce to make the dish fully gluten-free.
Dairy-Free
This recipe is naturally dairy-free.
Adding Protein
You can substitute chicken thighs with tofu slabs, tempeh, or prawns. Adjust cooking time accordingly.
Different Vegetables / Flavours
Add mushrooms, sugar snap peas, or pak choi to the pan once the chicken is flipped. A pinch of chilli flakes or a drizzle of chilli oil adds gentle heat.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I make this with chicken breast instead of thighs?
A: Yes, but chicken breast cooks faster and can dry out, so reduce the cooking time and watch the sauce carefully.
Q: What pan size works best for this one-pot recipe?
A: A 20–24cm frying pan is ideal — large enough for sauce reduction without overcrowding.
Q: Can I double this recipe?
A: Yes, but use a larger pan so the sauce can still reduce properly rather than steam.
Q: How do I know when the sauce is ready?
A: The sauce should be thick, glossy, and coat the chicken and the back of a spoon.
Q: What’s the best way to serve this when cooking for one?
A: Spoon the chicken and sauce over rice or noodles and finish with fresh herbs for a complete, balanced meal.
Quick, comforting, and deeply satisfying, this sticky soy glazed chicken proves that cooking for one can be just as joyful — and far more delicious — than cooking for a crowd.
Ingredients
2 Chicken Thigh Fillets
Sesame oil
1 tbsp Garlic and Ginger Paste
2 tbsp Oyster Sauce
2 tbsp Soy Sauce
1 tbsp Shaoxing Rice Wine
1 tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar/Sherry Vinegar
1/4 tsp White Pepper
2 tsp Brown Sugar
To Serve
Cooked Basmati Rice
Fresh Coriander, chopped
Spring Onion, chopped
Instructions
- Add your chicken thighs to a heavy-bottomed pan with a little sesame oil and place over a medium-high heat.
- Cook for 6-8 minutes on one side until golden then flip.While they’re cooking, combine all the ingredients for your sauce then once the thighs have been flipped, add the sauce to the pan.
- Cook for another 5-6 minutes, basting the chicken in the sauce frequently, until the chicken is cooked and the sauce has reduced and is thick and glossy.
- Serve with freshly cooked rice and top with fresh coriander and spring onions.
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Meal Plans & More...
Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly meal plans, for one! I select 5 one pot one portion recipes that use similar ingredients and include your shopping list plus recipe notes, ingredient swaps and tips and tricks for using up leftovers. Take a look at the first one here...
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Usually I would consider a brothy meal that you eat with a bowl and a spoon a form of comfort food, however, the flavours in this dish are so fresh and vibrant that it has to go in this chapter. I love the fiery freshness of ginger and it’s the predominant flavour in this rich chicken broth. The finished dish isn’t a soup as such, but there is just enough broth to make every mouthful deliciously juicy. It also takes minimal time to make so it’s a useful recipe to have on hand for days when you’re short of time.
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I have an affinity for crunchy slaws, as I think they provide more interest, more texture and are more filling than many other salads. However, I’m not partial to excessive quantities of mayonnaise. Here I opt for coconut milk instead, which delivers the same creaminess in a less monotonous way. The fresh coriander and bite of roasted peanuts keep this slaw lively and interesting and are perfect with the lightly charred curried chicken skewers. This would also be great sandwiched between a burger bun, or on a soft flatbread.
Creamy Green Linguine
In a way, this linguine changed my life. It was the first recipe in the series to take off on social media, bringing new people and new opportunities into my life. It’s an exceptionally simple recipe that uses the same water to cook both the pasta and the vegetables, which you then use to create a velvety, carbonara-esque sauce with the cheese and egg. I’ve retested this and tweaked it since its original conception and, though I can’t promise it will change your life, I can promise it will be delicious.
Vegetable Pancake with a Chilli Crisp Egg
This vegetable pancake has its origin in Korea (where they’re known as yachaejeon) and is the perfect dish to use up odds and ends of any vegetables you have lying around. Cabbage, spring onions, carrots and courgettes work really well and provide a nice balance of moisture and crunch, but peppers, potatoes, mushrooms or leafy greens are good alternatives. Depending on the vegetables you use, you may need more or less water to make the light batter so adjust as necessary.
Prawn & Mango Salad
The perfect fresh, but still flavourful, summer salad! This is a beautiful fragrant salad with a creamy, zingy coconut milk dressing. With just a little bit of chopping and a minute of whisking, you’ve got a gorgeous summer lunch, perfect for working from home, taking lunch to the office or a sunny meal in the garden this weekend.
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I buy a lot of cook books and this is genuinely one of the best l've ever bought. I've tried 6 or 7 recipes so far and they're all winners. I'm well used to scaling recipes down to one portion, but not having to calculate measurements as l go along feels like a little luxury. One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up! Highly recommended.
I have been following Eleanor on IG for a while and have made several of her dishes before the cookbook came out. I was thrilled to see so many new things to try and have already made about 6 of them. Her recipes are approachable, the dishes are delicious, and they make me feel like I can cook! Highly recommend.
If you love eating good home cooked food but can't be bothered to cook just for yourself, then this is the book for you. Using ingredients that are easy to find, then mixing, cooking and eating from the same pan or dish means a minimum of washing up. Every recipe I have tried so far has been delicious and have all turned out well which isn't always the case with many cookery books. Definitely recommend!
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Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
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Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This recipe book is stunning and fulfils its role brilliantly in catering for individuals who want to eat delicious meals, but don't want to prepare family sized portions or devote their entire evening to cooking. Who'd believe you could make an entire roast for one person and only use one pan in the process! She is a genius and I couldn't recommend this book any more highly.
One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up!
This is the book I've been waiting for! I (very happily!) live alone, love to cook and read cookery books, but every recipe is for two people or more. This gorgeous book contains recipes perfectly proportioned for one person (and I'm always a very hungry one person!) which ensures more variety, less food waste, and pure, gluttonous joy.
It's so nice to finally have a recipe book that I can go to if I want a quick easy meal with minimal cleaning up required! Everything l've tried so far is delicious. And I salivate at the thought of everything in there!
Totally reignited my cooking mojo which had been MIA for a while. I'm going to buy my daughter a copy to take back to Uni too as everything is simple and delicious - perfect for a student!
Best cookbook for somebody single!
The fact I know I won't have loads to wash up really feels motivating and l've earmarked so many of the recipes already.
This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?