Honey soy chicken drumsticks are sweet, savory, sticky, and impossible to resist! I marinate chicken legs in the boldest mix of ingredients (honey, soy sauce, garlic) for just 30 minutes before baking them to tender perfection. This is my go-to Asian-inspired game day drumstick recipe that always gets me a ton of compliments!
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Easy and yummy! Super quick prep makes ideal for weeknights. Thanks for the recipe!
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Honey Soy Marinated Drumsticks Recipe
These Asian-inspired chicken legs are finger-lickin’ good thanks to the deliciously sticky sauce. I make the chicken drumstick marinade with honey, soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, and ginger for a flavor that really packs a punch.
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 honey 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!
It’s always a toss-up of whether I’m going to make these or my teriyaki drumsticks, because they’re both so good.
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Marinating Tip!
I find that you only need to marinate these 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 the drumsticks for up to 8 hours in the fridge.
Honey Soy Chicken Drumsticks Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 bone in, skin on chicken drumsticks (*)
- kosher salt (to taste)
- ground 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 bone in, skin on chicken drumsticks, kosher salt, ground black pepper
- In a medium bowl, combine all marinade ingredients.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
- Pour over chicken and massage for 5 minutes. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and leave 30 minutes to marinate.
- 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
- Ginger adds the perfect kick to this marinade, so I definitely recommend using it if you have it.
- 30 minutes is enough for a quick marinade, but the longer the better (up to 8 hours) for maximum flavor.
- 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 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.
Note: Water, salt, pepper, oil, and broth are not counted as ingredients on this site.
How to Make Baked Honey Soy Chicken Legs Step by Step
Prep: Gather the ingredients for this Asian-inspired chicken legs recipe. Slice the onion, chop the garlic, and mince the ginger (if using).
Prep the Chicken: Wash and pat dry 8 chicken drumsticks with a kitchen towel. Then place them in a 10.6×7-inch baking dish and season generously with salt and pepper.
Mix the Marinade Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, ¼ cup of honey, ⅓ cup of soy sauce, 1 sliced red onion, 2 tablespoons of chopped garlic, 2 tablespoons of minced fresh ginger, and 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika.
Marinate the Drumsticks: Pour the honey and soy sauce marinade over the chicken, and massage for about 5 minutes. Then cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and leave 30 minutes to marinate. While the drumsticks are marinating, preheat the oven to 375°F.
Bake: Remove the aluminum foil and place the baking dish in the middle of the oven. Cook for 40 minutes, until drumsticks are nicely browned.
Serve: Garnish honey soy chicken legs with green onions, and serve with the pan juices for a bold finish!
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
Store baked honey soy garlic drumsticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating leftovers in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.
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