Honey Soy Chicken Drumsticks (Air Fryer)

Name: Honey Soy Chicken Drumsticks
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 14 medium chicken drumsticks ( (about 2 lbs )); Salt and ground black pepper to taste; ½ teaspoon chicken powder; Cooking spray; ¼ cup unsalted butter; 5 garlic cloves, minced; 2 tablespoons ground ginger ((fresh is fine)); 3½ tablespoons honey; 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 2 tablespoons soy sauce; ½ cup water; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; Sesame seed, scallions, and herbs to garnish

These honey soy chicken drumsticks are to-die. Pretty to look at and addictive to eat. We’ve had this on rotation on a monthly basis since the first lockdown.

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The Easy sticky chicken recipe is perfect for busy nights. You need to season the drumsticks, pop them in the air fryer, and let the bad boy do the work. In 30 minutes or less, you’ll have a perfectly cooked air fryer chicken drumstick ready to be smothered in a sticky Asian sauce.

Are you hungry yet?

This recipe will pair well with my quinoa salad or any rice dish.

Why you should make this recipe:

It’s as easy as dump, bake, glaze

It’s budget-friendly

Perfect for the whole family

Stores pretty well

Great for leftovers

Pairs with many dishes

Hands down flavorful

It’s versatile and easy to flavor to your liking

Ingredient list

ingredients for chicken drumsticks with honey

Some of the ingredients you’ll be needing for this Sticky sesame chicken recipe are ;

Chicken drumsticks: preferably bone-in and skin-on. I used about 2 lbs for this recipe. Feel free to use less or make as much and freeze them for later.

Seasoning: kosher salt, ground black pepper, and chicken bouillion were my seasoning of choice. See below for other seasoning combos to try.

Butter: this is used for the sticky chicken sauce. Aside from flavor, the butter gives the chicken that glistening making it irresistible.

Garlic: I prefer fresh, but if ground garlic is all you have on hand, that’s fine too. Skin the part where you saute the garlic and combine it in the soy mix instead.

Ginger: the spicy aroma and peppery flavor of fresh ginger mingle beautifully with the rest of the ingredients. I used a combination of both fresh and ground. Either is fine.

Honey: for sweetness and flavor. Use brown sugar if you don’t have one on hand.

Balsamic vinegar: the complex sweet and sour taste of balsamic vinegar not only adds flavor to this recipe but also helps cut down the saltiness of the soy sauce.

Soy sauce: the umami flavor of the soy sauce blends perfectly with the honey.

Cornstarch: This is used to thicken the sauce. Make sure to mix in liquid before adding it to the pan.

How to cook chicken drumsticks in the Air fryer

Pat the chicken drumstick with a paper towel.

chicken drumsticks with seasoning — Adding seasoning

Place drumsticks in a bowl or a plastic bag and drizzle with olive oil.

Sprinkle kosher salt, ground black pepper, and chicken powder over drumsticks. Give the bag or bowl a few tosses to coat the drumsticks.

baking chicken legs in an air fryer — Air fry the drumsticks

air fryer chicken with soy glaze — Smother the chicken quarters in the balsamic glaze

Place drumsticks in a heated air fryer basket and bake. Flip the drumsticks and bake some more.

Toss the baked drumsticks in the sticky sauce and serve.

How to make the sticky chicken marinade/Sauce

For the sticky sauce;

First, melt the butter over medium heat.

Add the garlic, and cook until fragrant

Combine the soy sauce, honey, ginger, balsamic vinegar, cornstarch, and water in a bowl and gently whisk it into the saucepan.
Cook for about a minute or so. Toss with the juicy air fryer drumstick to coat.

VARIATIONS

Here are some seasoning ideas for sticky Chicken Drumsticks. Not to be combined with this recipe.

Lemon juice, garlic powder, paprika, dried oregano, salt and pepper
Smoked paprika, chili powder, onion powder, S&P
Smoked paprika, garlic and onion powder, cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Cajun seasoning
Lemon pepper seasoning
Honey mustard seasoning
Red pepper flakes, sugar, vinegar, S&P

How long do Baked Chicken legs keep?

Preferably serve these air fryer drumsticks immediately. If you happen to have leftovers, place them in a storage container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave before serving.

EQUIPMENT

For this sticky chicken dish, you’ll need;

An air fryer

A large skillet or cast iron pan

Ziplock bag or large bowl

Kitchen tong or wooden spoon

What to serve with Air Fryer Chicken Drumstick?

Here are some pretty good pairings for this air fryer drumstick recipe;

how long to cook frozen drumsticks in an air fryer?

Cook at 400°F for 20 - 25 minutes in a single layer, an inch apart. Please note that the cooking time depends on the weight and size of the drumsticks. If your drumsticks are larger in size, check the internal temperature to make sure the chicken is thoroughly cooked before digesting.

air fryer drumsticks temperature

Bake anywhere from 360°F to 400°F. The internal temperature of the chicken should register at 165°F and above, depending on your preference.

Is chicken drumstick healthy?

Yes. Chicken is nutrient-rich meat and it’s a high source of protein. Bake chicken in the oven or air fryer for a healthier option instead of deep-frying it. The chicken drumstick is as healthy as what you add to it.

These honey soy chicken drumsticks are a crowd-pleaser, and I hope it gets all the cheers at your next gathering. Share a bite with us on our social media. If you make this recipe using the hashtag worldlytreat(#worldlytreat), we’d love to join the soirée. Also, don’t forget to pin it for later. Chat soon?

Maureen

PEACE & LOVE

Maureen

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