Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks (Printable)

Tender chicken drumsticks glazed with honey garlic, roasted alongside caramelized carrots for a simple dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 8 chicken drumsticks, approximately 2.5 lbs
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Honey Garlic Glaze

05 - 1/4 cup honey
06 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce, low-sodium preferred
07 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

→ Vegetables

11 - 1 lb carrots, peeled and cut into sticks
12 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
15 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
02 - In a bowl, toss chicken drumsticks with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Arrange on one side of the prepared baking sheet.
03 - In another bowl, combine carrots with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and thyme. Spread on the other side of the baking sheet.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes until well combined.
05 - Brush half of the honey garlic glaze over the chicken drumsticks.
06 - Roast in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
07 - Remove pan from oven. Brush remaining glaze over chicken. Toss carrots for even roasting.
08 - Return pan to oven and roast for another 15 minutes, or until chicken internal temperature reaches 165°F and carrots are golden and tender.
09 - Broil for 2-3 minutes at the end for extra caramelization if desired.
10 - Serve hot, garnished with extra thyme if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The honey garlic glaze gets sticky and caramelized in the oven, making the drumsticks taste way fancier than the effort requires.
  • Carrots roast alongside the chicken and soak up all those savory-sweet drippings, so you get two components cooked at once.
  • It's naturally dairy-free and comes together in under an hour, perfect for weeknight dinners that don't feel rushed.
02 -
  • Don't skip the parchment paper or foil because the glaze can stick stubbornly to a bare pan, and you'll spend ten minutes scrubbing when you could be eating.
  • If your drumsticks are particularly large, add five to ten minutes to the cooking time and always check that internal temperature rather than trusting the clock alone.
  • The carrots and chicken finish at slightly different rates depending on your oven, so rotating the pan front to back halfway through the first roast helps everything cook uniformly.
03 -
  • Pat the drumsticks dry with paper towels before seasoning them, which helps the skin crisp up instead of steaming.
  • Make the glaze while the oven preheats so you're not scrambling partway through, and taste it before brushing it on the chicken to adjust the heat or sweetness if needed.
  • Invest in an instant-read thermometer and poke the thickest part of a drumstick to confirm doneness, because overcooked chicken is disappointing but undercooked is dangerous.
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