Honey Garlic Baked Chicken Drumsticks (Printable Version)
Tender drumsticks coated in a sweet and savory honey garlic glaze, baked to golden perfection.
# Ingredient List:
→ Chicken
01 - 8 chicken drumsticks (about 2 lbs), 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
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
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 reaches 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 5 minutes. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped parsley or green onions if desired. Serve hot.
# Tips from hearthlykitchen:
01 -
- The glaze transforms into this magic sticky sauce that coats your fingers perfectly
- My kids actually fight over the last piece which basically never happens with chicken
- Everything comes together in one bowl and one sheet pan making cleanup shockingly easy
02 -
- Lining your baking sheet with parchment paper saves you from scrubbing hardened honey off metal later
- The glaze burns quickly under the broiler so literally stand there and watch it those last few minutes
03 -
- Patting the chicken completely dry before marinating helps the glaze stick better
- Room temperature chicken cooks more evenly so take it out 20 minutes before baking