Description
This baked chicken drumstick recipe features a sticky, sweet, and spicy honey-chili glaze. It’s an easy and satisfying meal perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
- 8–10 pieces chicken drumsticks, about 2 lbs (900g)
- 0.5 cup (120ml) honey
- 2–4 tbsp (30-60ml) Sriracha or chili garlic sauce, to taste
- 0.25 cup (60ml) soy sauce
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp (15g) fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tbsp (15ml) rice vinegar
- 1 tsp (5ml) sesame oil
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Pat drumsticks dry with paper towels to ensure crispy skin.
- Whisk Glaze: In a large bowl, combine honey, chili sauce, soy sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, rice vinegar, and sesame oil; whisk until smooth and glossy.
- Marinate Chicken: Add drumsticks to the bowl and toss to coat. Marinate for at least 15 minutes, or refrigerate for up to 12 hours for deeper flavor.
- Preheat Oven and Arrange: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. Arrange drumsticks in a single layer, ensuring they do not touch for even roasting.
- Bake Chicken: Bake for 20 minutes, then flip drumsticks and baste with pan sauce. Continue baking for another 15-25 minutes (total 35-45 minutes), until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the glaze is sticky and caramelized with deeply golden skin. (If glaze browns too quickly, loosely tent with foil.)
- Serve Hot: Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
For best flavor, marinate drumsticks for up to 12 hours. Avoid overcrowding the pan to ensure crispy skin; this helps the chicken roast evenly instead of steaming. If the glaze starts to brown too quickly during baking, loosely tent the pan with foil. Drumsticks are often budget-friendly; stock up and freeze extras. Can be adapted for keto/low-carb (use sugar-free sweetener) or plant-based (use cauliflower or tofu).
- Prep Time: 28 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 drumstick
- Calories: 290 calories
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg