Savoury, sticky, lightly tangy and super flavourful. These honey soy chicken drumsticks are not only budget-friendly, they're also super easy to make! The perfect crowd pleasing dinner on busy weeknights. Also, come on, who doesn't like honey soy chicken!?
This is a punchier and sweeter version of my Homestyle Soy Sauce Chicken which is very comforting and a regular on the dinner table at many Asian homes.
I know these days you can just get honey soy marinated chicken from the supermarkets. But they just don't have that punch or depth of flavour IMO.
What sets this recipe apart (and my secret ingredient) is the dash of rice wine vinegar. Ever wondered why BBQ sauce is just awesome with almost anything? It's great on burgers, ribs (yum!), roasted chicken and the list goes on.
That's because BBQ sauces have savouriness, sweetness, smokiness (depending on the type you get) and most importantly, it has acidity. The combination of these elements is what makes you want to go back for more.
This recipe embodies those delicious elements and that's why I think you're going to love this.
Ingredients
- Sesame oil adds a fantastic aromatic nutty flavour to the honey soy chicken drumsticks. If you don't have this handy, just sprinkle some sesame seeds (hopefully you have that in your pantry!)
- Rice wine vinegar is, as the name suggests, vinegar made of rice. The taste is milder than the western kinds of vinegar (such as white wine). This recipe is rich in savouriness (umami!) and sweetness from the honey so a little acidity will help balance the overall flavour nicely.
- Chicken drumsticks of course, can swap for chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on. Would not recommend using chicken breasts as it can get dry easily.
- Ginger will add a little heat and aroma.
Step by step instructions
The great thing about this honey soy chicken drumsticks recipe is that there is very little hands-on cooking. Making this an ideal weeknight dinner or a lazy weekend dinner.
Alright, first thing, combine all of the honey soy marinade ingredients in a bowl. Then in a zip lock bag or a large container, add the chicken drumsticks and pour the marinating sauce all over the chicken.
Seal the bag or cover the container and let it marinate for at least 1 hour. Even better if overnight. If you're super stretched for time, a little time is better than no time. It makes a huge difference!
About 10 minutes before you're ready to cook, preheat oven to 200°C/400°F.
Bake the marinated chicken in the oven for 35 minutes in a baking dish, lined with baking sheet (baking paper). Then, take it out of the oven, pour the remaining marinade into the tray and flip each drumstick, glaze the chicken with the marinade. Back into the oven at grill/broil setting for 5 - 7 minutes.
Repeat one more time.
That's it! Told you this is a super easy recipe!
To serve, sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds and finely sliced spring onions/scallions. Not only will it add more flavour, it looks good too. 😉
Serving suggestions
Fantastic with a simple and refreshing side of salad such as the Red Cabbage Salad or some sauteed greens. This will also go nicely with some rice too for a more substantial meal.
Look at just how juicy these drumsticks are! After every bite, I like to drizzle some of the tangy honey soy sauce. It's just delicious.
Other cooking methods
Mix chicken drumsticks with honey soy marinade then proceed with the following cooking methods.
On the stovetop marinate chicken for at least 1 hour. Use a deep pan or skillet with a lid (or use foil paper to cover). Sear both sides of the drumsticks with a tablespoon of oil (about 5 minutes on each side). Then, pour reserved marinade into the pan, place the lid on and cook for 30 minutes. Remove the lid, allow the sauce to reduce to a sticky and silky consistency.
Slow cooker place everything into the slow cooker and cook for 3 - 4 hours on high. No need to marinate the chicken here. 10 minutes before serving, place drumsticks with sauce onto a baking dish in a single layer and grill/broil for 5 - 10 minutes in the oven or until the sauce starts to caramelise and get all sticky and yum.
Pressure cooker marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour then cook on high (chicken and marinade) for 15 - 20 minutes then grill/broil in the oven for 10 minutes.
Air fryer marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour. Lay drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer and cook on high for 10 minutes, flip, cook for a further 10 minutes. Whilst chicken is cooking, cook and reduce the marinating liquid in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once the sauce starts to boil, reduce heat down to a simmer. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until sauce is thick and glossy. To serve, pour sauce over drumsticks.
Enjoyed this recipe? Let me know your thoughts/questions by dropping a note in the comments section below! I'd love to hear from you 🙂
Happy cooking!
Gen
📖 Recipe
Honey soy chicken drumsticks
Ingredients
- 1 kg /2.2lbs chicken drumsticks
Honey soy marinade
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon honey substitute: dark brown sugar
- 1½ tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon oil
- ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ tablespoon fresh ginger grated
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 1 spring onion/scallions finely sliced
Instructions
- Combine marinade ingredients and chicken drumsticks in a zip lock bag or a large bowl.
- Mix well and ensure chicken is well coated, cover (if using a bowl) and marinate for 1 hour or overnight. (note 1)
- Bring marinated chicken up to room temperature before moving onto the next step. Take the chicken out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking will do the trick.
- Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F.
- With a pair of tongs, place chicken drumsticks onto a lined baking tray. Reserve and set aside the marinating liquids. You'll need it later.
- Place the tray of chicken onto the middle rack of the oven and bake for 35 minutes.
- Take the chicken out of the oven, flip drumsticks over and pour the reserved marinade all over the drumsticks. Pop the tray back into the oven and change the oven setting to grill/broil. Grill/broil for 7 minutes.
- Take the chicken out of the oven, flip drumsticks over, brush marinade over the chicken and return onto the top rack of the oven. Grill/broil for a further 7 minutes.
- To serve, transfer drumsticks onto a serving dish, drizzle sauce over the chicken and sprinkle sesame seeds and spring onions/scallions.
Video
Notes
- On the stove top Marinate chicken for at least 1 hour. Use a deep pan or skillet with a lid (or use foil paper to cover). Sear both sides of the drumsticks with a tablespoon of oil (about 5 minutes on each side). Then, pour reserved marinade into the pan, place the lid on and cook for 30 minutes. Remove the lid, allow the sauce to reduce to a sticky and silky consistency.
- Slow cooker Place everything into the slow cooker and cook for 3 - 4 hours on high. No need to marinate the chicken here. 10 minutes before serving, place drumsticks with sauce onto a baking dish in a single layer and grill/broil for 5 - 10 minutes in the oven or until the sauce starts to caramelise and get all sticky and yum.
- Pressure cooker Marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour then cook on high (chicken and marinade) for 15 - 20 minutes then grill/broil in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Air fryer Marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour. Lay drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer and cook on high for 10 minutes, flip, cook for a further 10 minutes. Whilst chicken is cooking, cook and reduce the marinating liquid in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once the sauce starts to boil, reduce heat down to a simmer. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until sauce is thick and glossy. To serve, pour sauce over drumsticks.
Nutrition
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