Baked Honey Chicken Drumsticks

These Baked Honey Chicken Drumsticks are moist and juicy but easy to make the recipe. It is ready in under an hour and packed with flavor! This perfect recipe is quick and healthy and serves as a lunch or dinner.

HONEY BAKED CHICKEN DRUMSTICK RECIPE by Rena

This sweet and savory Baked Honey Drumstick recipe is one flavorful chicken recipe! Made with honey, coconut aminos, a combination of warm and subtly sweet spices, and baked to perfection. This easy baked chicken recipe will quickly become a family favorite especially since it’s so easy to prepare!

The homemade honey marinade is so simple to make, coming together in a matter of minutes! Then it’s poured over the drumsticks and baked to golden-brown perfection.

And while many baked chicken recipes can be boring, this dish is packed with flavor, this easy dish will make your tastebuds sing. The honey marinade helps ensure that the chicken is perfectly moist every time. Serve with a side of steamed rice and veggies for a complete meal.

Ingredients For Baked Honey Chicken Drumsticks:

Chicken drumsticks: Love using drumsticks because they are so flavorful, but bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, boneless chicken thighs, or even breasts can be substituted. If using boneless chicken thighs or breasts, note that the cooking time will be shortened.
Honey: The sweet element of this savory chicken recipe comes from honey. Honey is a natural sugar and when paired with the coconut aminos and warm spices, helps create that perfect sweet-savory flavor of the dish.
Coconut aminos: This is an excellent alternative to soy sauce. Soy sauce tends to be high in sodium, sugar, carbs, and gluten; like to use coconut aminos. Coconut aminos is an excellent soy-free, gluten-free, lower-sodium, and is more delicious than soy. You can find coconut aminos down the sauce aisle or near the Asian sauces of most local grocery stores.
Sesame oil: Used to add a strong, nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with the sweet and savory elements of this dish.
Seasonings: The marinade is a mix of garlic powder, onion powder, ginger powder, salt, and pepper. These warm and subtly sweet flavors all pair well together and complement the sweetness of the honey.
Cornstarch: Used to help thicken the glaze. If you need to make this dish gluten-free, feel free to use potato starch subbing in 4 teaspoons for every 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.
Kosher salt and pepper: Used to taste. Feel free to use table salt, keeping in mind you’ll need to use less as the flavor is more concentrated.

Instructions For Baked Honey Chicken Drumsticks:

To start, make the marinade. Place honey, coconut aminos, sesame oil, garlic powder, onion powder, ginger powder, and cornstarch in a small jug or mixing bowl. Whisk vigorously until all ingredients are combined.

Next, place drumsticks in a large Ziplock bag and add marinade. Allow chicken to marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight.

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400°F.

Transfer chicken and marinade to an oven-safe baking dish and bake for 45 minutes. Flip every 15 minutes, basting with the sauce as you turn.

Serve with a side of rice, sprinkle with sesame seeds and enjoy!

HOW TO STORE, FREEZE, AND REHEAT THIS HONEY DRUMSTICK RECIPE:

Storage: Place cooled drumsticks in an airtight container or Ziplock bag and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezing: Allow chicken thighs to come to room temperature, then place in a freezer-safe, airtight container or bag, and freeze for up to 1 month.
To reheat: Allow frozen chicken drumsticks to thaw overnight in the fridge, then come to room temperature on the counter. When ready to consume, place on a baking sheet and place in a 275°F oven until warmed through.

TIPS:

Bake chicken until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F.
Prefer using drumsticks, but you may use bone-in, skin-on thighs, boneless skinless thighs, or even boneless skinless breasts.
Maple syrup would be a good substitute for the honey, just know the flavor will change slightly.
Serve with steamed rice and veggies and top with sesame seeds.

Other recipes you might like to try: Keto Garlic Greek Chicken, Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken, Coconut Grilled Thai Chicken