Honey Soy Chicken Drumsticks are sweet, savory, sticky and impossible to resist! The drumsticks are marinated in the boldest mix of ingredients for just 30 minutes before being baked to tender perfection. This is my go-to game day recipe that always gets me a ton of compliments!
These might just be the most flavorful drumsticks you ever make. With ingredients like honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic and ginger in the marinade, you just know it’s gonna be good! To be more exact, these drumsticks are finger-licking-good thanks to the sticky sauce all over them. On game day (which is like a holiday in my house), I love easy recipes like this that I can toss together and not fuss over. The drumsticks marinate for just half an hour then the oven does all the work for me. It’s great for making right before guests arrive. I love a good no-stress recipe!
What’s in this honey soy chicken drumsticks recipe?
This marinade is totally worth drooling over. Here’s a quick look at what makes it so good!
- Soy Sauce: I like using low sodium soy sauce to cut back on the salty flavor just a little bit. You can also use tamari or coconut aminos if preferred.
- Sesame Oil: The subtle nutty flavor that this provides is amazing! In a pinch, olive oil also works just fine.
- Honey: There’s just enough honey to cut through the savory, salty soy sauce in the very best way.
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How to Store and Reheat
To be honest, I almost never have any leftover drumsticks! But when I do, I keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. And when it comes to meat on the bone, I like to reheat leftovers in the oven until warmed through rather than the microwave.
How to Freeze
Let the drumsticks fully cool to room temperature prior to freezing in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, let them first thaw in the refrigerator for a few hours prior to reheating.
Notes and Tips
- I like to garnish these honey soy chicken drumsticks with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. They’re great served on a bed of rice or cauliflower rice and a side of veggies.
- I find that you only need to marinate the drumsticks in the honey and soy sauce for around 30 minutes to achieve a nice bold flavor. Because this sauce doesn’t contain high levels of acid, you can safely marinate them for up to 8 hours.
Top Reader Review
“Very easy to make, I did bake an additional 6 min or so. Was very good. I will definitely be making this again.” – Nancy H.
Honey Soy Chicken Drumsticks Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- sea salt and black pepper to taste
For the Marinade:
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil or olive oil
- ¼ cup honey
- ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 onion sliced
- 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger optional
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika optional
Optional Garnish:
- green onions
Instructions
- Wash and pat dry the drumsticks with a kitchen towel. Place in a 10.6×7-inch baking dish and season with salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 375°F.8 chicken drumsticks, sea salt and black pepper
- In a medium bowl, combine all marinade ingredients. Pour over chicken and massage for 5 minutes. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and leave 30 minutes to marinate.1 tablespoon sesame oil, ¼ cup honey, ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce, 1 onion, 2 tablespoons chopped garlic, 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Remove aluminum foil and place the baking dish in the middle of the oven. Cook for 40 minutes until drumsticks are nicely brown.
- Remove from the oven and garnish with green onions. Serve with the pan juices and your favorite side dish.green onions
Notes
- Chicken drumsticks are fattier than breast meat.
- While baking, the chicken juices mix with the sauce to create flavorful pan juices you can drizzle back over your drumsticks when serving.
- Serving size is 2 drumsticks per person.
I’m sorry and I know the recipe now is no doubt delicious, but I had already made the recipe way before you’d made the changes to the confusing amounts of the ingredients.
It wasn’t great. But given the new measurements, I’ll try again with the revised amounts.im looking forward to how it’ll taste.
I am so sorry it didn’t work out for you!
I really want to make this but I am confused about the measurements. It says 1/4 cup tablespoon of the ingredient, which is it? Lol! Can’t wait to try this when the measurements are clear.
Cups!
Hi, is it 1 cup oil our 1 tablespoon?
1 tablespoon!
Very easy to make, I did bake an additional 6 min or so. Was very good. I will definitely be making this again.
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, Nancy!
Not a fan
Sorry to hear that, Cathey!
This recipe was okay, my boyfriend hated it. Took one bite and said that it was gross and that he didn’t like the after taste and the smell was making him nauseous. Our 2 daughters ate it right now, I probably won’t make again. Thank you for the recipe though.