Honey Garlic Baked Chicken Drumsticks (Printable Version)
Tender drumsticks with sticky honey garlic glaze, caramelized to perfection in under an hour.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 8 chicken drumsticks (approximately 2 pounds), skin-on
→ Marinade & Glaze
02 - 1/3 cup honey
03 - 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
04 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
05 - 5 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
07 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
08 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Garnish
11 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
12 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or green onions
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, olive oil, garlic, vinegar, ginger, black pepper, paprika, and salt until well combined.
03 - Pat chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels. Add them to the bowl and toss to coat thoroughly in the marinade.
04 - Arrange drumsticks on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Reserve remaining marinade for basting.
05 - Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and brush drumsticks generously with reserved marinade.
06 - Return to oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until drumsticks are golden and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 175°F).
07 - For extra caramelization, broil for 2–3 minutes at the end, watching closely to prevent burning.
08 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped parsley or green onions if desired. Serve hot.
# Chef's Tips:
01 -
- The glaze becomes impossibly sticky and sweet in the oven, almost like candy.
- Everything happens in one bowl with a simple whisk and toss.
- These reheat beautifully for lunch the next day, if they last that long.
02 -
- Dont skip the paper towel drying step or the glaze will slide right off.
- That extra broil at the end makes all the difference between good and great.
03 -
- Use a pastry brush for that second glaze, it coats much more evenly than a spoon.
- Room temperature chicken cooks more evenly, so pull it out 20 minutes before starting.