Chinese Honey Chicken Drumsticks

Name: Chinese Honey Chicken Drumsticks (Oven or Slow Cooker)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 3 pounds chicken drumsticks; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; salt and pepper (to sprinkle over chicken legs); 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce; 1/4 cup hoisin sauce; 2 tablespoons liquid honey; cooking spray

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These Chinese honey chicken drumsticks are sweet, tangy, and so delicious. It starts with just a simple marinade to make this easy Chinese chicken drumsticks recipe. Cook them up in the oven or slow cooker until perfectly tender. When ready, all you have to do is serve them up, and then watch them disappear.

Closeup shot of Chinese honey chicken drumsticks with rice on plate.

Chinese Drumstick Recipe

Roasted chicken drumsticks were always a big hit when my son was small. I think in our case it had a lot to do with the Flintstones, remember them?

My husband and son used to watch the Flintstone reruns when my son was small. Boy oh, boy did they used to laugh together.

I’m sure this Chinese drumstick recipe is better than any Fred Flintstone ever ate though! The flavors in these slow cooker Chinese chicken drumsticks blend together perfectly.

I love to roast chicken drumsticks in the oven and have made these Chinese chicken drumsticks for years.

Just to switch things up, these chicken legs or drumsticks can be baked in the oven or in your slow cooker with a final step in the oven so the skin comes out crispy. No matter the method, they come out with the perfect balance of sweet and salty.

We recently updated this recipe with a method that produces a better roasted chicken drumstick and I can’t wait to hear what you think. Hopefully, you will agree.

Cooking up meals with chicken legs is a budget-friendly meal the whole family will love. It’s part of our menu rotation at home and we change up the flavor with honey mustard drumsticks and bbq drumsticks.

Need some ideas for side dishes? We love this simple roasted potato recipe or for special occasions, volcano potatoes. If you want a simple Asian side dish, try this white or fried rice or a simple stir fry of vegetables.

Chinese Chicken Drumstick Marinade

These Chinese honey chicken drumsticks are so easy to prepare and taste so delicious, every time you make them.

They’re made with the best Chinese chicken drumsticks marinade using only simple ingredients.

We have used this Chinese chicken marinade for years and still enjoy it. The thickness of the sauce hangs on the chicken perfectly giving so much umami flavor in every bite.

It’s made with three simple ingredients, teriyaki sauce, hoisin sauce, and honey.

Chicken legs on a cooking pan with green onions.

Ingredients for Chinese Drumsticks

This recipe uses basic ingredients that you can easily find at your local grocery store.

Chicken drumsticks: Buy fresh or frozen but be sure to thaw out frozen chicken legs first.
Teriyaki sauce: Use storebought or make your own.
Hoisin sauce: This Chinese-based sauce is available in most grocery stores you can find it at a local Asian market.
Honey: Just a touch of sweetness to balance with the saltiness.
Paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper

The exact ingredients are listed on the recipe card further down the page.

How to Make Honey Chicken Drumsticks

Whichever method you choose, making these drumsticks is very easy.

Step 1: Prep and Season

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Then, line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a rack on the baking sheet. Coat it in cooking spray and set aside.

Rinse the drumsticks and pat them dry with paper towels. Then, sprinkle them with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Step 3: Make the Sauce

Combine the teriyaki sauce, hoisin sauce, and liquid honey and stir until completely mixed.

Step 4: Bake

Evenly space out the drumstick on the prepared rack and bake them for 30 to 35 minutes until the skin is crisp and the internal temperature is 165 degrees.

Step 5: Add the Sauce

When the drumsticks are cooked, use a food-grade silicone brush to coat them with sauce, then bake for an additional 5 minutes.

Remove the drumsticks and coat them with more sauce. Allow them to rest for a few minutes, then serve.

Drizzling sauce over the honey chicken drumsticks.

How to Make Asian Chicken Drumsticks in a Slow Cooker.

Follow the same instructions for seasoning the chicken and making the sauce mentioned above.

Then place the chicken drumsticks into the slow cooker and pour the sauce over the top. Set them to cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.

When the chicken is cooked, broil them in the oven and brush them with the sauce. This step gives them a crisp outside similar to cooking them in the oven.

Substitutions

Don’t have the correct ingredients on hand or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this slow cooker Chinese honey chicken drumsticks recipe.

Change the Cut: You can use chicken thighs or leg quarters in place of drumsticks.
Swap the soy: If you don’t have teriyaki sauce use Worcestershire sauce mixed with a little water. Four tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce mixed with 1 tablespoon of water replaces a one-half cup of soy sauce.
No hoisin? Although not exactly the same, if you don’t have hoisin sauce use sweet and sour sauce instead.

Variations

Teriyaki Hoisin Glaze: Swap out the Chinese drumstick marinade with ½ cup honey, ½ cup soy sauce, ½ cup ketchup, and 1 teaspoon minced garlic.
Marinate the Chicken: Double the sauce ingredients and combine. Then combine with chicken legs in a large resealable bag. Toss around to make all the pieces are coated. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or, if possible, overnight. When ready, remove the chicken from the marinade and cook your chicken as desired. Be sure to discard the marinade.
Meal Prep: Turn this into a freezer meal easily. Combine the chicken and sauce in a freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to one month before cooking. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight prior to cooking.
Spicy: If you love Asian chicken legs a little spicy, add some red chili flakes or sriracha to the marinade.

Expert Tips

Be sure to line your cooking tray with aluminum foil to make for easier cleanup.

If using frozen chicken, be sure to thaw it out in the refrigerator prior to cooking.

If you like crispy skin, be sure to finish the slow cooker version in the oven. This step crisps up the skin perfectly.

FAQs

How long should you cook chicken drumsticks in the oven?

It will vary depending on the temperature but when cooked at a high temperature (425° F) it takes about 30-35 minutes. Use a digital thermometer to determine the doneness of the chicken.

What part of the chicken are drumsticks?

A chicken drumstick is simply the bottom portion of the chicken leg. It is cut at the joint to separate the thigh and drumstick.

What is the cheapest part of the chicken?

When it comes to white meat and dark meat, most dark meat cuts are definitely less expensive. Chicken legs or drumsticks are less expensive than chicken thighs alone. On-the-bone chicken is always less expensive than its boneless counterpart.

Two asian chicken drumsticks on a plate with white rice.

More Chicken Drumstick Recipes

You could not ask for an easier weeknight meal! I love meals like this, the quicker the better! These drumsticks are so delicious! Take a moment to peek at our video and give this recipe for our Chinese chicken drumsticks a try!