Honey Garlic Baked Chicken (Printable)

Golden drumsticks glazed with honey and garlic, baked until tender and caramelized for an effortless meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 8 chicken drumsticks (about 2 lbs), skin-on

→ Marinade & Glaze

02 - 1/3 cup honey
03 - 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
04 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
05 - 5 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
07 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
08 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Garnish

11 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
12 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or green onions

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, olive oil, garlic, vinegar, ginger, black pepper, paprika, and salt until well combined.
03 - Pat chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels. Add them to the bowl and toss to coat thoroughly in the marinade.
04 - Arrange drumsticks on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Reserve remaining marinade for glazing.
05 - Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and brush drumsticks generously with reserved marinade.
06 - Bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until drumsticks are golden and cooked through. Internal temperature should reach 175°F.
07 - For extra caramelization, broil for 2-3 minutes at the end, watching closely to prevent burning.
08 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped parsley or green onions if desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The glaze caramelizes into this gorgeous sticky coating that makes restaurant quality chicken right at home
  • Everything comes together in one bowl with minimal prep work for maximum flavor payoff
02 -
  • The glaze will bubble up aggressively as it cooks—use a rimmed baking sheet or you will have a sticky situation on your oven floor
  • Patting the chicken completely dry before marinating is the single most important step for crispy skin
03 -
  • Line your baking sheet with foil underneath the parchment for double protection against sticky spills
  • Use a pastry brush for the mid cook glazing—it gets into every crevice better than a spoon

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