Honey chicken drumsticks
- Gluten Free
- Lactose Free
- Energy Kcal 228
- Carbohydrates g 12.2
- of which sugars g 11.5
- Protein g 18.9
- Fats g 11.5
- of which saturated fat g 2.44
- Fiber g 0.8
- Cholesterol mg 94
- Sodium mg 287
- Difficulty: Easy
- Prep time: 10 min
- Cook time: 35 min
- Makes: 6 pieces
- Cost: Average
PRESENTATION
Honey glazed chicken drumsticks—seriously good—are a big hit in Italian kitchens when you want something really special. Instead of the usual baked chicken thighs, folks often pick drumsticks. Why? Because you get this awesome mix of textures—crispy on the outside, super tender inside. And the sauce? It’s creamy, with local Italian herbs, jazzed up by honey and some exotic spices.
The sweet and tangy glaze is really really spot on, perfectly balancing sticky and moist. In different regions, people might use acacia or chestnut honey for a richer taste. Some even add garlic or mustard—makes it unique every time. And look, switching things up from classic Italian chicken dishes, this way of making baked honey chicken drumsticks feels both new and familiar.
It's the type of food that wows your guests since the glaze brings out flavors you don’t always get with traditional oven-baked chicken. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner or a weekend bash, honey soy chicken drumsticks go great with simple sides like roasted potatoes or a bright salad. And you know, it’s pretty simple to pull off—coat the drumsticks, bake until crispy and golden, then drizzle that sticky sauce on top.
Some Italian families—pretty much—add a splash of vinegar to the sauce for an extra tangy kick. This easy honey chicken drumsticks recipe lets you mess around with sweet and savory flavors, and it’s a dish people just keep coming back for.
Serve it with a little sauce on the side, and you’ve got a meal that’s as fun to eat as it is to share. It's the perfect way to bring a slice of Italy to your table, with a twist everyone will dig. Honestly, can't go wrong with that.
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INGREDIENTS
- Chicken drumsticks 1.3 lbs (600 g) - (6 drumsticks)
- Fine salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp (30 g)
- Water ½ cup (100 g) - at room temperature
- Lemons 4 slices
- Sesame seeds to taste
- Chives to taste
- Fresh chili pepper 1
- for the honey sauce
- Chestnut honey 4 tbsp (80 g)
- Balsamic vinegar 1 ⅓ tbsp (20 g)
- Lemon juice 2 ½ tbsp (40 g)
- Green Peperoncino - half teaspoon
- Fresh ginger to taste
How to prepare Honey chicken drumsticks
To prepare honey chicken drumsticks, take your drumsticks, make sure there are no feather residues, if there are, burn them off with a flame and then wash the drumsticks under running water. Pat the meat dry with a kitchen towel and place it on the cutting board, then season with fine salt 1 and black pepper 2 on both sides. Now pour the olive oil into a skillet 3,
let it heat up and then place the chicken drumsticks 4 which should brown over moderate heat for 2-3 minutes. Meanwhile, peel the fresh ginger and grate it 5, then turn the drumsticks with kitchen tongs 6 and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes, in order to make them golden on both sides.
In the meantime, take care of the sauce: in a bowl pour the honey 7, lemon juice 8, balsamic vinegar 9
the dried chili powder 10 and the grated ginger 11. Stir the mixture with a teaspoon 12
and once the drumsticks are golden, pour it over them little by little with a tablespoon 13. Then add the room temperature water 14, cover with the lid 15
continue cooking over low heat for 25 minutes, turning the drumsticks occasionally. After the indicated time, remove the lid 16 and continue to cook the drumsticks to thicken the sauce, it will take about 3-4 minutes. Meanwhile, remove the seeds from the fresh chili pepper and slice it into rings 17, also slice the lemon 18.
Once the sauce has thickened, turn off the heat and season with sesame seeds 19, chopped chives 20, lemon slices, and fresh chili pepper, your chicken drumsticks are ready to be enjoyed hot 21!