When it comes to making juicy, flavourful chicken I always lean towards using dark meat. These oven-baked drumsticks end up incredibly juicy thanks to butter and basting! They also get tossed in a spiced honey butter sauce before going in the oven which makes them deliciously sweet and spicy.
Prepping the Chicken
Before baking, the drumsticks get tossed in a simple mix of garlic powder, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Then, they get coated in the 3-ingredient spiced honey butter sauce.
Baking and Basting
I like to turn and baste my chicken a few times throughout the baking process to help brown the skin. To baste the drumsticks, I use a large metal spoon to collect the juices forming in the baking dish and drizzle them over the chicken.
When the chicken is done, you’ll rest it on the counter before serving to lock in the juices. If you’re like me and want to add a little extra sweetness, you can drizzle some more honey on the cooked chicken or use it for dipping!
Equipment and Tools I Use for this Recipe
- Glass Mixing Bowls
- Small Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Glass Baking Dish
- Metal Tongs
- Metal Basting Spoon
Spiced Honey Butter Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 2 pounds chicken drumsticks skin-on
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the spiced honey butter:
- ½ cup butter melted
- ¼ cup medium hot sauce I used Frank's Red Hot
- ¼ cup honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Place drumsticks into a large mixing bowl.
- Combine garlic powder, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Pour over the drumsticks and toss gently until all of the chicken is evenly coated in the spices. Place drumsticks in an ovenproof dish with enough space so that the chicken doesn't touch.
- Mix together butter, hot sauce and honey in a bowl. Pour over the drumsticks and gently turn them in the dish until all sides of the drumsticks are covered in the sauce.
- Bake drumsticks for 1 hour, flipping and basting every 15 minutes.
- Let the juicy chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Oven temperatures may differ. The chicken will be done when it reaches an internal temperature of 175°F.
- For crispier chicken skin, broil for the last 5 minutes of cooking on 525°F.
