Make these baked honey soy chicken drumsticks - spicy, easy to make, and packed with flavor. With just a few ingredients, you get a delicious meal that's perfect for any occasion!
Who doesn't love a good and easy chicken recipe? I do love chicken, and these honey soy chicken drumsticks are so good!
Roasting drumsticks is easy - no cutting or deboning, quick in the oven, and incredibly versatile. There are endless marinade options - adjust flavors to your liking, whether sweet, sour, spicy, or salty. Even just salt, pepper, and paprika guarantee a delicious meal.
Check out more favorite chicken recipes: Cast-Iron Chicken Breasts, Nando's Chicken Legs, or the Slow Cooker Chicken Legs, for instance. Learn How to Cook Chicken Drumsticks on the Stove, or make Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Drumsticks, Spicy Curry Drumsticks (in the Oven), or Baked Chicken Drumsticks.
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Recipe ingredients
The drumsticks: You can also make this recipe using thighs or quarters; just adjust the roasting time accordingly; they will need a bit longer as they are langer.
Honey soy marinade: All you need are a few cheap and tasty ingredients like honey, soy sauce, hot chili paste (Sriracha, Gochujang paste, or simple hot chili sauce from a bottle), sweet and hot paprika, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
How to marinate the drumsticks?
Mix all the ingredients used for the marinade in a small bowl. Check Baked Chicken Drumsticks for more marinating ideas.
Place the meat in a Ziploc bag. Add the marinade to the bag, close the bag, and rub the marinade into the legs.
Marinate in the refrigerator for a few hours. I would leave them in the fridge for at least 2 hours, but you could also leave them overnight or prepare them in the morning and bake them in the evening.
How to bake honey soy drumsticks?
Step #1: Remove the honey soy drumsticks from the fridge and let them sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes.
Step #2: Preheat the oven. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and place the drumsticks on it.
Step #3: Bake for 30-35 minutes, turning halfway, until cooked through.
Step #4: Check doneness with an instant-read thermometer – the internal temperature should be 165°F/ 74°C. Or cut one drumstick near the bone; the flesh should be white and the juices clear. If they’re not, give them 5 more minutes in the oven, then check again.
Good to know!
You don't have to wash the poultry before cooking. Some people do, but it is absolutely unnecessary. Any bacteria will be destroyed during the cooking process, and any bacteria found on the bird will just spread in your sink if you wash it. For more information on that, see How to Roast a Whole Chicken in the Oven.
How to serve?
My favorite side dish for any kind of roasted chicken is potatoes - Oven-Roasted Potato Wedges or Cornmeal Potatoes. Or try the Cast-Iron Skillet Potatoes. And a green salad with Yogurt Dressing. However, crusty bread makes a great accompaniment as well.
I love some roasted broccoli on the side, Green Beans with Garlic Sauce, or a Simple Cabbage Salad when it comes to vegetables.
Honey Soy Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks Note 1
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1-2 teaspoons hot chili paste to taste, Note 2
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder
- 1 teaspoon hot paprika powder
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Make the marinade: Place honey, soy sauce, chili paste, both sorts of paprika powder, and lemon juice into a small bowl. Whisk well.2 tablespoons honey + 3 tablespoon soy sauce + 1-2 teaspoons hot chili paste + 1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder + 1 teaspoon hot paprika powder + 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Marinate drumsticks: Place the chicken drumsticks into a Ziploc bag. Add the marinade, close the bag, and rub the chicken drumsticks with the marinade. Place the bag in a bowl, the bowl in the fridge, and let the chicken drumsticks marinate for 2-4 hours (up to 8 hours).8 chicken drumsticks
- Bring to room temperature: Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 20-30 minutes before cooking. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius/ 400°F/ 200°C (fan oven 350°F/ 180°C).
- Bake drumsticks: Place the marinated chicken on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until cooked through.
- Check doneness with an instant-read thermometer - the internal temperature should be 165°F/ 74°C. If you don't have one, make a small cut at the thickest part of the leg, near the bone - the flesh should be white and the juices clear. If the chicken is not done yet, return it to the oven and check again after about 5 minutes. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Chicken: This recipe works with thighs or chicken quarters too, but adjust the roasting time since they're larger. Always check for doneness before serving.
- Any hot chili paste you like, for instance, Sriracha, gochujang paste and so on.
angiesrecipes says
Very flavourful and delicious...love that marinade!