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    You are here: Home » Meal Type » Main Dishes » Honey Garlic Baked Chicken Drumsticks

    Honey Garlic Baked Chicken Drumsticks

    March 25, 2021 By Danielle Esposti 3 Comments

    May contain affiliate links.See our Privacy Policy and disclosure.

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    Pinterest collage for a chicken drumsticks recipe with honey garlic marinade.
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    Pinterest collage for a recipe for honey garlic baked chicken drumsticks.

    Did someone say “finger lickin’ good?” Honey Garlic Baked Chicken Drumsticks leave other chicken in the proverbial herbs-and-spices “dust” on that count. These sweet and sticky legs are an insanely cost-effective crowd-pleaser. 100% no fuss, but be prepared for a wee bit of muss.

    Baked chicken drumsticks with honey garlic sauce on a blue platter with small garnish bowls of sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
    Jump to:
    • How to Bake Chicken Drumsticks
    • Tips for Making This Recipe Perfectly
    • What to Serve with Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks
    • This Recipe Is…
    • More Easy Bone-In Chicken Recipes
    • Recipe

    I’ve been singing the praises of bone-in chicken for awhile now, but I feel I’ve been remiss in shining a spotlight on the unsung hero of said creature: the drumstick. And all credit due to the chicken wing drumette and the searing logic of a child for making me realize the error of my ways.

    You see reader, I recently broke down and purchased an air fryer. (Wait’ll you see the alchemy I shall weave. Muahahaha!) and was testing chicken wings. We were enjoying some of our favorite buffalo-style when my carnivorous, sauce-covered son ripped the meat off a drumette like a caveman and exclaimed he wanted “ostrich chicken wings” so there was more meat.

    *Ding* Chicken Legs. Bigger. Meatier. Hand-held (and therefore still “fun”). More surface area for sauce. More crispy skin. And for some “inexplicable” reason (don’t get me started about the football-industrial snack complex), significantly more bang for your buck in a family pack than chicken wings. Inspiring to say the least.

    To be clear, these Honey Garlic Drumsticks are baked, not air fried; but the point is my meat-eaters moved through these legs like foxes in a henhouse. By the end, we had nothing but full bellies, sticky fingers, and a pile of bones to show for it. (Plus, no ostriches were harmed in the making of this recipe.)

    Side view, honey garlic baked chicken drumsticks on a blue platter.

    How to Bake Chicken Drumsticks

    Get out your wet naps! These sweet, savory, and sticky Honey Garlic Drumsticks are a meaty treat. Simple sauce prep and an easy bake make these a perfect main dish for a weeknight. Plus, they pair with an almost endless array of sides for a worry-free dinner.

    For a quick and easy visual, view and save this recipe as a web story!

    1. Combine sauce ingredients and whisk together.
    2. Place drumsticks in a casserole dish, add sauce, and marinate for 2-10 hours in the fridge.
    3. When you’re ready to cook, preheat the oven to 425°F.
    4. Bake for 30-35 minutes, turning once halfway through. Crisp in the broiler for 3-5 minutes at the end.
    5. Plate the chicken and drizzle with sauce; garnish and serve immediately.
    • Honey garlic marinade in a pyrex measuring cup next to a platter of raw chicken drumsticks.
    • Chicken drumsticks marinated in honey garlic sauce in a casserole dish.
    • Side view, baked chicken drumsticks with honey garlic sauce in a casserole dish.
    • Drizzling honey garlic sauce over baked chicken drumsticks.

    Tips for Making This Recipe Perfectly

    • Always pat dry before saucing to remove excess moisture and achieve crispier skin.
    • Speaking of crispier skin, I highly recommend giving this dish a few extra minutes under the broiler to crisp and caramelize.
    • Prep in the AM to allow for a lengthier marinade. Super easy to just pop in the oven at the end of your workday.
    • Flip the chicken halfway through marinating (if time and opportunity permits).

    What to Serve with Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks

    • Serve over white rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice (to mop up all of that delicious honey garlic sauce!)
    • With garlic green beans, roasted cauliflower, simple roasted asparagus, or sautéed zucchini.
    • Enjoy it picnic-style with cold sides like bacon coleslaw and Italian potato salad.

    This Recipe Is…

    • PALEO: use coconut aminos and coconut sugar in place of the dark brown sugar
    • GLUTEN FREE: be sure to use gluten-free tamari (or coconut aminos) for the marinade.
    • FREEZER FRIENDLY: combine the chicken and the marinade in a gallon ziplock bag. Press out the air, then seal and stash in the freezer for up to 2 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before transferring to a casserole dish and baking as directed.

    More Easy Bone-In Chicken Recipes

    • Artichoke Chicken with White Wine Pan Sauce
    • Instant Pot Chicken Wings
    • Cast Iron Skillet whole Roasted Chicken
    • One Pan Apple Chicken with Cider Mustard Pan Sauce
    • Creamy Rosemary Garlic Chicken
    Baked chicken drumsticks with honey garlic sauce on a blue platter, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.

    Did you make these Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks? I’d love to know how they turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.

    While you’re at it, let’s be friends – follow me on Pinterest and Instagram for the latest and greatest.

    Recipe

    Side view, honey garlic baked chicken drumsticks on a blue platter.

    Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks

    5 from 2 votes
    Author: Danielle Esposti
    Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin Recipe
    Get out your wet naps! These sweet, savory, and sticky Honey Garlic Drumsticks are a meaty treat. Simple sauce prep and an easy bake make these a perfect main dish for a weeknight. Plus, they pair with an almost endless array of sides for a worry-free dinner.
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 35 mins
    Marinating Time: 2 hrs
    Total Time: 2 hrs 45 mins
    Servings : 4
    Calories: 509

    Ingredients

    • ½ c soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos
    • ¼ c honey
    • 1 tbsp dark brown sugar, or coconut sugar
    • 2 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
    • 1 tbsp sesame oil
    • 1 tbsp grated ginger
    • 1 tbsp minced garlic
    • 3 lb chicken drumsticks
    • sesame seeds, to garnish
    • sliced green onions, to garnish

    Instructions

    • Combine the soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, olive oil, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic in a measuring cup or small bowl. Whisk until well combined.
      Pouring honey garlic marinade over raw chicken drumsticks in a casserole dish.
    • Arrange the drumsticks in a casserole dish in a single layer, then pour the marinade over the chicken. Work the marinade into the chicken using your (clean and dry) hands. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, and up to 10. Turn the chicken every few hours, time and opportunity permitting.
      Raw chicken drumsticks in a casserole dish marinating in a honey garlic sauce.
    • Position a rack in the center of the oven, then heat the oven to 425°F.
    • Transfer the chicken to the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, turning once halfway through, or until the temperature registers 165°F using an instant read thermometer. For extra crispy skin, flip the oven to broiler and broil on high for 3-5 minutes.
      Side view, baked chicken drumsticks with honey garlic sauce in a casserole dish.
    • Plate the chicken and drizzle with sauce; garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions and serve immediately.
      Baked chicken drumsticks with honey garlic sauce on a blue platter with small garnish bowls of sliced green onions and sesame seeds.

    Nutrition Information

    Serving: 2drumsticks, Calories: 509kcal (25%), Carbohydrates: 18g (6%), Protein: 47g (94%), Fat: 28g (43%), Saturated Fat: 6g (30%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 180mg (60%), Sodium: 1615mg (67%), Potassium: 68mg (2%), Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 17g (19%), Vitamin A: 4% (4%), Vitamin C: 12% (12%), Calcium: 10% (10%), Iron: 13% (13%)
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @oursaltykitchen or tag #oursaltykitchen!

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    Disclaimer: This post and the recipe card may contain affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission (at no cost to you!) if you make a purchase using these links. Rest assured, we only endorse products we own and truly love!

    3 Comments
    Filed Under: Gluten Free, Kid Friendly, Main Dishes, Paleo

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Beck & Bulow

      December 24, 2021 at 7:05 am

      5 stars
      This is the best veal dish that I ever had!!!! Even my son, who’s not a big meat fan, loved it. I followed the recipe almost to the end….did not have to thicken the sauce Visit us: https://www.beckandbulow.com

      Reply

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