Honey and Soy One Pot Chicken

Honey and Soy One Pot Chicken recipe

Being at home with my family for 9 and a bit months has been a learning curve. Not always a good curve, but a learning one. Things I have learned are a) bloody hell 3 men and a dog eat a lot b) 5 meals a day is a thing when you’re a 22 year old boy c) I have a short temper and d) drinking every evening is acceptable to appease aforementioned short temper. I have exhausted all my best recipes during the numerous lockdowns so have been on a snaffle for something new, simple and good value. The Honey and Soy One Pot Chicken is all of the above, and more.

Chicken thighs are a total godsend when it comes to feeding the 5000 *Clyde and the boys*. They’re great value, bone in or bone out, and they are by far the tastiest option for me when chicken’s called for. In this Honey and Soy One Pot Chicken it’s a bone in situation. I’ve allowed for 2 per person, but they were big old thighs, you may need more if yours are smaller. They’re marinated in soy, honey, a touch of sesame oil and rice wine vinegar, all my favourites, then baked in the pan with the rice for a one pot supper dream. The chicken is flavourful and tender and the rice is tasty with some wonderful crispy bits. And it’s a generous serving, as always in our house.

If this simple dish makes your life a bit easier then I’ve at least helped a bit to make your lockdown slightly less stressful. If not then balls to you, at least it made my family happy.

Plenty of thighs here, great value and bloody delicious; alongside my favourite soy, honey, sesame combo, these 3 make anything taste amazing. The chicken benefits from at least a couple of hours marinating time, but an hour will do if time is tight, likewise if you’re super organised you can leave these overnight in the fridge.

Start with the marinating business. Pour the honey, soy, sesame oil and rice wine vinegar into a large food bag.

Next into the flavour bag is the garlic and ginger. I am now so lazy I have a jar of mixed garlic and ginger together. But fresh ginger and garlic is wonderful if you have it to hand.

Squidge the bag around to mix the marinating ingredients then add the chicken to the bag and squidge around again.

Place the bag in the fridge for at least 2 hours, more if time permits. When you’re ready to cook your one pot supper, pre heat the oven to 170 degrees fan assisted then take your one pot and add a splash of oil and heat over a medium flame. You don’t want it to be too hot or the honey in the chicken marinade will burn.

Remove the chicken from marinade, letting the excess drip off and discarding the remainder, then place it, skin side down in the pan to brown.

Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, taking care not to burn the skin, then turn over and cook for a further couple of minutes. If the chicken is browning to quickly, turn the heat down a little.

Remove the browned chicken to a plate then finish browning the rest of the chicken.

Turn the heat down under your pan and stir in the rice, coating the rice in the pan juices.

Cook for a minute then pour in the chicken stock, stir again and bring up to the simmer.

Place your browned chicken on top of the simmering rice, put the lid on and put into the pre heated oven for around 35 minutes.

When the time’s up, the chicken will be tender, the rice soft and full of flavour with some lovely crispy bits around the edge. Take the lid off and pop the pan back into the oven for a final 5 minutes to give the chicken a final crisping.

And that’s it. Nothing more than a modest sprinkling of coriander, or any other herb you fancy, and some sort of greenery. Tuck into large platefuls of comforting chicken and rice.

This isn’t a glamourous meal, it’s an absolute mid-week win. I know it’s only Monday, but in lockdown, every day’s the same.

Lots of love to you and yours.

Lucy x

Honey and Soy One Pot Chicken recipe

Serves 4 hungry people

You will just need a casserole dish or lidded pan

8 chicken thighs, bone in, skin on

80ml runny honey

80ml soy, a light one is best here

1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

1 tablespoons sesame oil

1 tablespoon crushed garlic, fresh or from a jar

1 tablespoon grated ginger, fresh or from a jar

2 tablespoons oil, I used wok oil

300g rice, I used basmati

500ml chicken stock

Salt and pepper

Green vegetable to serve, chopped coriander to garnish

Pre heat your oven to 170 degrees fan assisted.

Take a large food bag and measure in the honey, soy, vinegar and sesame oil. Add the garlic and ginger and squidge the whole lot together to mix. Put the chicken thighs into the bag and mix around to ensure the chicken is well covered. Leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours or longer if you have the time.

When the time’s up, pop your casserole dish onto the hob and heat over a medium flame with a splash of oil. Place the marinated chicken thighs (throw away the marinade), skin side down into the hot pan and cook for around 3 minutes or until the skin’s starting to crisp. Keep an eye on the skin, the honey will burn in the hot pan, so turn the heat down accordingly. Turn the chicken over and cook for another couple of minutes before removing to a plate. Finish browning the rest of the chicken.

Turn the heat down to low and tip in the rice. Stir well to coat in the pan juices and cook for a minute. Pour in the chicken stock, stir well and bring up to the simmer. Season with a tiny bit of salt and plenty of black pepper. Place the browned chicken thighs on top of the rice, pop a lid on and place into your pre heated oven for around 35 minutes by which time the chicken will be cooked through and the rice tender.

Remove the lid and cook for a final 5 minutes to brown the skin. Serve with a green vegetable of your choice, scattered with some fresh coriander.