Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks tossed in a simple honey soy marinade and oven baked to juicy perfection.

Cooked Chicken Leg with Crispy Skin on A White Plate Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Legs With Honey Soy Are The Absolute Best

Honey Soy Baked Chicken Drumsticks

I love baked chicken recipes! Cooking chicken in the oven is easy and a very simple way to produce juicy, crispy and tasty roasted chicken without a lot of effort.

This baked chicken drumsticks recipe with honey soy marinade is the absolute best and a satisfying quick and easy dinner option, especially during busy weeknights.

As if juicy and crispy baked chicken wasn’t enough to convince you to make this recipe, chicken legs are budget-friendly, easy to prepare, can easily feed a crowd and kids love them as they are so easy to eat.

Someone holding a baked chicken leg. Chicken Legs Are Absolutely Delicious, Inexpensive, easy To Prepare and Kid Friendly.

Ingredients:

1)      6 garlic cloves, pressed or grated

2)      1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, grated

3)      2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil

4)      3 tablespoons soy sauce

5)      4 tablespoons honey

6)      1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

7)      4 pounds chicken drumsticks (about 12 drumsticks)

8)      1 scallion thinly sliced for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1)      In a large zip top bag, combine the garlic, ginger, oil, soy sauce, honey and ground black pepper. I massage the bottom of the bag to make sure the honey blends well with the rest of the ingredients.

2)      Place the chicken drumsticks into the zip top bag, close and shake the bag to make sure all the chicken pieces get coated with the marinade. I like to massage the chicken a bit just to make sure the marinade penetrates every piece of chicken. Marinate for 30 minutes or overnight.

3)      Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

4)      Place the chicken in a single layer on a baking pan or rimmed baking sheet (the marinade leftover in the bag can also be placed on the baking pan).

5)      Bake uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes or until cooked through.

 

Key Points:

·         Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees before its consumption.

·         If you don’t have fresh ginger, you can use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of ground ginger.

·         Periodically, check on the chicken as it cooks. If the marinade seems to be drying up in the baking dish, add about 1/4 cup of chicken broth.

·         If marinating the chicken for longer than 30 minutes, place the marinated chicken in the refrigerator. Remove the chilled marinated chicken from the fridge about 20-30 minutes before baking so the chicken pieces have time to come to room temperature.

How to Bake Chicken Drumsticks:

It doesn’t get much easier than these one-pan Baked Chicken Drumsticks! The Asian inspired 5-ingredient marinade comes together quickly and has so much flavor!

 

1)      Combine the marinade ingredients in a large resealable plastic bag (gallon size works). You can use a shallow baking dish if you prefer.

2)      Add the chicken legs to the marinade and seal the bag removing as much air from the bag as possible. Massage the marinade into the chicken until the legs are well coated.

3)      Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or overnight. The longer you marinate the chicken, the tastier it will get.

4)      Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

5)      Place the chicken and the marinade in a baking dish or a rimmed sheet pan. The chicken will release its juices while roasting so using the proper baking dish is a must!

6)      Bake the chicken drumsticks uncovered for about 45 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Served garnished with scallions (optional).

Cooking Chicken Legs In The Oven Is Easy, Season The Chicken, Place On A Baking Dish and Bake

Are Baked Chicken Legs Healthy?

 

Chicken legs are an excellent source of protein and a nutritious and healthy option if prepared in the right way. Baking chicken in the oven, is much healthier than fried chicken for sure! If you are following a low-fat diet, remove the chicken skin before eating it. I prefer baking the chicken with the skin on to make sure the meat doesn’t dry up, however you can remove it if you prefer. Buying organic chicken without added hormones is always best!

Close up view of a plate with Baked Chicken Drumsticks.Cooking Chicken In The Oven Is Simple, Easy, Quick And Produces Juicy Roasted Chicken

How Long Does It Take For Drumsticks To Cook In The Oven?

 

Because of the honey in the marinade, I like to bake the chicken drumsticks at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 50 minutes. This temperature allows for the chicken to keep moist and juicy in the inside while caramelizing the exterior to golden brown perfection.

Can I Use Chicken Thighs or Chicken Quarters For This Easy Bake Recipe?

 

Yes! You can use any part of the chicken you prefer for this easy baked recipe. Bone-in and boneless pieces work well. Chicken drums, chicken thighs and chicken breasts are some of my favorite options. Cooking times may vary depending on what you choose. As always, it is best to check the chicken’s internal temperature with a instant read thermometer to make sure the chicken is perfectly cooked.

Should I Cover My Chicken Legs When Baking?

 

No, don’t cover the chicken when baking. Bake the chicken uncovered and allow it to get golden brown.

Chicken Drumsticks

 

According to Google, you get 4 drumsticks in a pound. However, I purchased a 4-pound pack of chicken drumsticks and I got 12 drumsticks! Yes, they were big, meaty and fabulous! The recipe below asks for 4 pounds of chicken legs and serves 6 people – That is about 12 drumsticks total, counting that each person gets 2 legs.

Can This Chicken Drumstick Legs Recipe Be Made Ahead?

 

Yes! this chicken recipe can be made ahead.

 

    Prepare the marinade up to 3 days ahead and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

    You can marinate the chicken and place it in the refrigerator overnight. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking so it comes to room temperature before baking.

    To store cooked chicken legs leftover, cool the chicken and store it in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

 

What Is The Safe Temperature For Cooked Chicken?

 

For safety, always cook chicken until the juices run clear and the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Use an instant-read thermometer for accuracy.

Baked chicken legs in a baking pan

These Baked Drumsticks Are Absolutely Delicious

Tips For The Chicken Drumsticks Recipe:

    If you don’t have fresh ginger, use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of ground ginger.

    Periodically, check on the chicken as it cooks. If the marinade seems to be drying up in the baking dish, add about 1/4 cup of chicken broth.

    If the chicken is getting overly dark, you can cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil. You can also lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees.

    For the honey and soy marinade, I like to press (or grate) the garlic and grate the ginger so they don’t burn while baking in the oven.

    The Asian inspired Honey-Soy marinade can be used to marinate chicken breasts, pork chops, pork loin and lamb chops.

 

What To Serve With Roasted Chicken Legs?

 

Here are some of my favorite side dishes to serve with this juicy and tender baked chicken:

·         White Rice

·         Sauteed Green Beans

·         Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes

·         Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

·         Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

 

Nutrition:

Calories: 416kcal (21%)Carbohydrates: 13g (4%)Protein: 36g (72%)Fat: 23g (35%)Saturated Fat: 5g (31%)Cholesterol: 186mg (62%)Sodium: 714mg (31%)Potassium: 490mg (14%)Sugar: 11g (12%)Vitamin A: 95IU (2%)Vitamin C: 0.9mg (1%)Calcium: 28mg (3%)Iron: 1.6mg (9%)

 MAKE IT, EAT IT, ENJOY IT.