Sticky Glazed Christmas Chicken
A delightful dish with a sweet and tangy glaze that adds warmth and festivity to any holiday table.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1200 g 1.2 kg / 2.4 lb chicken thighs, skin on, bone in (Note 1)
- 800 g 800g / 1.6 lb chicken drumsticks (or more thighs) (Note 1)
For the Marinade
- 5 tsp 5 tsp orange zest (from 2 oranges)
- 0.5 cup 1/2 cup orange juice (from the zested oranges)
- 0.25 cup 1/4 cup cider vinegar (sub white wine, sherry, or champagne vinegar)
- 0.5 cup 1/2 cup brown sugar (lightly packed)
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1.5 tsp 1 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp 1 tsp ground ginger
- 2 whole 2 whole star anise
- 2 tsp 2 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp 1/2 tsp black pepper
For Serving
- 2 units 2 oranges (cut into wedges or halved then sliced)
- to taste Good value leafy greens (like endive, watercress, for the bed)
- to taste Orange zest curls (Note 3)
Instructions
Marinating
- Mix the marinade ingredients together in a jug.
- Pour this over the chicken placed in a large ziplock bag.
- Massage the bag to coat the chicken evenly in the marinade.
- Ideally, let it marinate for 24 hours, but at least three hours will work.
Cooking
- Preheat your oven to 200°C / 390°F (180°C for fan).
- Line two trays with foil and then parchment/baking paper.
- Distribute the chicken on the trays and pour any remaining marinade over them.
- Roast for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, baste your chicken with the pan juices two or three times as it roasts for an additional 20 minutes.
- When the top tray is nearly ready, swap the tray positions so they finish cooking evenly.
- Just before serving, baste with the sticky juices again.
- Serve on a platter lined with leafy greens, and garnish with orange slices or wedges.
Notes
For the best flavor, allow the chicken to marinate for 24 hours if you can. Make sure to baste the chicken frequently during cooking to achieve that sticky glaze. If you want an even sweeter glaze, you can increase the amount of brown sugar slightly. If you're looking for a twist on this recipe, consider adding different spices such as cloves or curry powder for a unique flavor profile.