Description
Succulent honey garlic baked chicken drumsticks bring Mediterranean flavors to dinner tables with minimal effort. Crispy skin and juicy meat promise a delightful meal families will crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 chicken drumsticks (or 6 chicken legs; about 4 lbs / 1.8 kg)
- 5 tbsps (75 ml) honey (or maple syrup)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) lemon juice (or lime juice)
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) sesame oil
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1 inch (2.5 cm) ginger root, peeled and grated (or ¼ teaspoon powdered ginger)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Marinate: Whisk marinade ingredients in a medium bowl until smooth and fragrant, creating a cohesive flavor base.
- Prepare Chicken: Pour marinade into a large Ziploc bag with chicken drumsticks, remove air, and seal completely. Massage thoroughly to ensure even coating.
- Chill and Infuse: Refrigerate marinated chicken for several hours or overnight, allowing flavors to deeply penetrate the meat.
- Preheat and Arrange: Heat oven to 375°F. Transfer marinated chicken and liquid to a baking dish, spreading pieces evenly to guarantee consistent cooking.
- Roast to Perfection: Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes, watching for a golden-brown exterior and confirming internal temperature reaches 185°F using a meat thermometer.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from oven, let drumsticks rest briefly to redistribute juices. Plate with pan drippings and accompany with complementary side dishes for a complete culinary experience.
Notes
- Marinading Magic: Whisk ingredients vigorously to blend flavors completely, creating a smooth, aromatic base that deeply penetrates the chicken.
- Bag Sealing Technique: Remove all air from the Ziploc bag to ensure maximum marinade contact and prevent potential bacterial growth during refrigeration.
- Overnight Flavor Infusion: Refrigerate for at least 4-8 hours, preferably overnight, to allow seasonings to fully penetrate and tenderize the chicken drumsticks.
- Temperature Precision: Use a meat thermometer to confirm internal chicken temperature reaches 185°F, guaranteeing safe consumption and perfect juicy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 382
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg