I’ve used this simple honey soy marinade for salmon, chicken, pork chops, fried rice, and even a flank steak. It adds a sweet and spicy Asian zing to anything you grill and it never disappoints.
Years ago I had some thin cut pork chops sitting in the fridge and I was in the mood for an Asian-inspired dish. So I went to the pantry and pulled out some soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and sweet chili sauce to improvise a basic Asian-style marinade.
The pork chops came out AMAZING and my family loved the marinade. I knew immediately I had a winner on my hands.
So I tinkered with the recipe, mixing up the ratios and ingredients until I finally found the perfect combination that has never disappointed.
You’re definitely going to want to bookmark this recipe because you’re probably going to use it over and over again. It’s super versatile and you can literally make it in less than five minutes.
What You Need
The ingredient list of this honey soy marinade recipe is pretty basic. Here's what you’ll need:
- Soy Sauce - the backbone of this marinade provides a salt, savory, umami taste
- Honey - a touch of sweetness to offset the savory soy
- Sesame Oil - adds a slightly sweet and nutty earthiness
- Olive Oil - adds an amazing richness and slightly bitter element
- Sweet Chili Sauce - provides that all important spiciness and pop of flavor
- Fresh Garlic - skip the jarred stuff, fresh is always better
- Fresh Ginger - adds a zesty and warm flavor with subtle hints of citrus and pepper
Just mix all those ingredients up and you’re ready to go. Easy peasy.
Where to Use Honey Soy Marinade
Anytime you want to add a little Asian-inspired flavor to a dish this marinade/sauce will be your best friend.
Here are a few of my favorite dishes where I use honey soy marinade:
- Grilled salmon
- Pork chops
- Asian-style chicken wings
- Boneless chicken breast
- Boneless chicken thigh skewers with pineapple
- Grilled flat iron steak
- A dipping sauce for dumplings or eggrolls
- A finishing sauce for fried rice
- Vegetable stir-fry
I like to make more than I'll need so I always have some ready to go. If you store it in the fridge in an airtight container it will last for a few weeks.
Honey Soy Marinade
Ingredients
- ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- 4 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon ginger minced or grated
- 6 cloves garlic minced or pressed
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a glass mixing bowl and stir until completely mixed.
- Use as a marinade for your favorite protein or as a sauce.
Notes
- This simple marinade is so versatile. You can use it on almost any protein including salmon, chicken, pork, or steak. It even makes a yummy dipping sauce for dumplings.
- I prefer low sodium soy sauce, but regular will work just as well.
- Fresh garlic and ginger are key and they give your marinade a nice kick of freshness. Stay away from that jarred garlic.
- Make an extra large batch and store the excess in a squeeze bottle and keep it in the fridge so you can easily add some Asian zing to any meal.
Nutrition
I'm not a trained chef, just an average guy who taught himself how to cook. I make easy meals that anyone make themselves. If I can cook it, so can YOU!
Odetta says
OMG I tried this with marinade with chicken thighs and it was amazing!!
Mike Collins says
Glad you enjoyed it!!