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Closeup shot of Chinese honey chicken drumsticks with rice on plate.
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Chinese Honey Chicken Drumsticks (Oven or Slow Cooker)

Chinese Honey Chicken Drumsticks made with an easy marinade cook up perfectly seasoned and juicy chicken legs in the oven or slow cooker. They cook up so sweet and tangy, all you have to do is serve them up, and then watch them disappear.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Karin and Ken

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds chicken drumsticks
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt and pepper to sprinkle over chicken legs

Sauce

Instructions

Chicken Legs In Oven

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  • Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with tinfoil and a rack lightly coated in cooking spray. Set aside.
  • Rinse drumsticks and pat dry with paper towels.
  • Sprinkle drumsticks with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
    Chicken in a bowl with seasoning added.
  • Place the chicken legs on your prepared sheet spaced evenly apart.
  • Bake for between 30-35 minutes (DRUMSTICKS), 35-40 minutes (CHICKEN THIGHS) and 40-45 minutes (CHICKEN LEGS). Skin should be crisp and internal temperature should be 165 degrees.
    Cooked chicken on a baking tray.
  • While the chicken cooks, combine the teriyaki sauce, hoisin sauce, and honey in a medium-sized bowl.
  • Once cooked, coat them with your sauce, using a brush if possible.
    Brushing sauce on chicken drumsticks.
  • Bake for another 5 minutes.
    Cooked asian chicken drumsticks on the cooking tray.
  • Remove from oven and coat with more sauce.
    Tongs picking up a piece of honey chicken drumsticks to serve.
  • Allow to sit for a few minutes before serving.
  • Serve with additional sauce and on the side if desired. Enjoy every bite!
    Asian chicken drumstick with bite takien.

Slow Cooker

  • Get out drumsticks and toss with garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Stir until drumsticks are coated with seasonings.
    Ingredients to make chinese drumsticks on a cutting board.
  • Place seasoned drumsticks in your greased crock pot.
    Chicken legs in the slow cooker.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together whisk the honey, soy sauce, ketchup and garlic.
    Sauce for honey chicken drumsticks mixed together.
  • Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken.
    Pouring the sauce over the top of the chicken.
  • Cook on high for 4 hours (or low for 6 hours) or until the chicken's internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
  • Chicken drumsticks cooked and ready to eat inside the slow cooker.
  • Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil.
  • Remove drumsticks from the crock pot and place them on a baking rack on the baking sheet.
    Chicken legs on a baking tray with green onions.
  • Broil at 550ºF for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Chicken will begin to brown.
    Chicken legs on a baking tray on the counter.
  • Remove chicken from the oven and brush BBQ sauce over them.
    Drizzling sauce over the honey chicken drumsticks.
  • Broil again for 3 minutes. Flip them and brush the other side. Broil for an additional 3 minutes. Dark spots will form, but be sure not to overcook and burn them.
  • Brush with more BBQ if you choose and serve.
    Plate of honey chicken drumsticks on a plate.

Video

Notes

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.