Sticky Hoisin-Soy Chicken Drumsticks

Name: Sticky Hoisin-Soy Chicken Drumsticks
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 3 lbs Approximately 1.36 kilo or 10 chicken drumsticks; 2 cloves garlic (chopped finely); 2 tbsp. soy sauce; 2 tbsp. hoisin sauce; 1 tbsp. honey (or maple syrup); 1/2 tsp. salt; 1/2 tsp. black pepper; 1/4 tsp. Chinese five-spice powder (optional); 1/8 tsp. cayenne (or hot sauce, optional); toasted sesame seeds (optional); sliced green onions (for garnish, optional)

Published: Nov 12, 2015 · Modified: Jan 20, 2025 by Fida | Sweet and Savoury Pursuits · This post may contain affiliate links · 41 Comments

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These baked Sticky Hoisin-Soy Chicken Drumsticks are so incredibly delicious, easy to make and take so little preparation, that you'll want to make this dish part of your regular weeknight dinner rotation.

Sticky Chicken Drumsticks on baking tray.

I love this chicken dish because it's super easy, fast, tasty and versatile. But mostly because it's kid-friendly!

This simple recipe for baked hoisin chicken is adapted from Smitten Kitchen. Her recipe is for chicken wings. Though wings are delicious, I'm always searching for recipes to feed my kids, so I opted for chicken drumsticks.

Though I'm sure you can easily use this marinade on other chicken parts, I prefer dark meat and think drumsticks and thighs are especially delicious glazed this way.

Plate of Sticky Hoisin-Soy Chicken Drumsticks.

Chicken Drumsticks Marinade

The marinade is really the star of this dish, it only has a few ingredients, but is super flavorful.

The hoisin-soy-honey combination gives this baked chicken a beautiful glossy color and a sweet and salty tasting glaze which makes the drumsticks sticky and a bit messy, but finger-licking good!

How to Make Honey Soy Chicken Drumsticks

You probably have all the ingredients for this hoisin-soy-honey marinade at home, except maybe for the hoisin sauce and Chinese five-spice powder. Both of these ingredients should be easy to find in the Asian section of your supermarket.

Ingredients Overview:

Garlic cloves
Soy sauce
Hoisin sauce
Honey or maple syrup.
Salt and black pepper.
Chinese five-spice powder. This ingredient is optional but does add flavour.
Cayenne or hot sauce is optional.

Steps Overview:

Score the chicken drumsticks a couple of times with sharp knife and place in a large bowl or freezer bag.

In a medium bowl, add all of the marinade ingredients, whisk to combine and add the drumsticks. Mix well to make sure that all drumsticks are well coated with the marinade.

If prepping ahead of time, you could also add the drumsticks and marinade to a freezer bag, seal it and make sure to get the marinade on all of the chicken pieces and place it in the refrigerator.

If making straight away, marinate the chicken at room temperature for 20 minutes, turning the chicken at least once.

Preheat your oven and line a baking tray with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

Place drumsticks on the lined baking tray, pour leftover sauce on the chicken and bake for 15 minutes, turn the pieces over and then bake for another 15 minutes or until cooked through.

Sticky Chicken Drumsticks on dish with rice and broccoli.

How to Serve

You can serve the baked hoisin chicken with some steamed rice or some noodles and your favourite veggie and call it a meal! My family loves this recipe so much that it's a regular at home.

Dish of Sticky Hoisin-Soy Chicken Drumsticks with broccoli and rice.

How to Store

Leftover cooked chicken can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days.

Enjoy!

Love Asian food? Check out these other Asian inspired recipes!

Plate of hoisin-soy marinated chicken drumsticks.

Sticky Hoisin-Soy Chicken Drumsticks

Author: Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

4.82 from 22 votes

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 30

Total Time 50

Course Main Course

Cuisine Asian

Servings -5

Calories 400 kcal

Ingredients

3 lbs Approximately 1.36 kilo or 10 chicken drumsticks
2 cloves garlic chopped finely
2 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp. hoisin sauce
1 tbsp. honey or maple syrup
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. black pepper
¼ tsp. Chinese five-spice powder optional
⅛ tsp. cayenne or hot sauce, optional
toasted sesame seeds optional
sliced green onions for garnish, optional

Instructions

Score drumsticks a couple of times with sharp knife.
In a medium bowl add all marinade ingredients, whisk to combine and add drumsticks. Mix well to make sure that all drumsticks are well coated with marinade.
Marinate at room temperature for 20 minutes, turning chicken once.
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Line a baking tray with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Place drumsticks on lined baking tray, pour left over sauce on chicken and bake for 15 minutes, turn pieces over and then bake for another 15 minutes or until cooked through. If you are not sure your chicken is cooked you could use a meat or instant-read thermometer to check for doness. Insert thermometer at thickest part of the drumsticks without touching the bone, a temperature of 165°F means the chicken is fully cooked.
Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and green onion if you like. Serve with rice and veggie of your choice.

Notes

Honey-soy marinade can be prepared ahead of time, simply mix all the ingredients in a jar, give it a good shake and refrigerate until ready to use. Stir sauce before using.
Make sure to keep the chicken drumsticks refrigerated when marinating for longer than 20 minutes.
For variety, the marinade can be used on chicken wings and chicken breast.
Leftover chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 to 4 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 41gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 210mgSodium: 1009mgPotassium: 533mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 169IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 2mg

Keyword Asian Chicken Drumsticks, Baked Hoisin Chicken, Baked Sticky Hoisin Chicken, Hoisin Chicken, Honey Soy Chicken Drumsticks, Sticky Chicken Drumsticks

Tried this recipe? Have any questions, comments or suggestions? Leave a comment below!Mention @sweetandsavourypursuits or tag #sweetandsavourypursuits!