Description
Korean Glazed Chicken Drumsticks feature tender, juicy chicken coated in a sweet, savory, and spicy glaze that caramelizes to crispy perfection. Ideal for any occasion, these drumsticks offer bold Korean-inspired flavors with simple ingredients and easy oven cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 8 chicken drumsticks with skin on
Glaze
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari/coconut aminos for gluten-free)
- 3 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Garnishes
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, sliced thin
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels to ensure crispy skin. Lightly season with salt and pepper if desired.
- Make the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey or brown sugar, gochujang, minced garlic, grated ginger, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Taste and adjust sweetness, savoriness, or spiciness according to preference.
- Marinate the Drumsticks: Place the drumsticks in a large zip-top bag or shallow dish, pour half of the glaze over them, and marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator for deeper flavor.
- Bake the Chicken: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the drumsticks on a wire rack set over a foil-lined baking sheet for easy cleanup. Bake for 25 minutes.
- Glaze and Broil: Remove the drumsticks from the oven and brush generously with the remaining glaze. Switch the oven to broil and cook for 3–5 minutes until the skin caramelizes and crisps, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Serve hot and enjoy the juicy, crispy, and flavorful Korean glazed chicken drumsticks.
Notes
- Thoroughly pat chicken dry before cooking for maximum crispiness.
- Broiling at the end is key to getting that irresistible glaze crunch.
- Cooking on a wire rack allows heat circulation and prevents sogginess.
- Marinate overnight for juicier, more flavorful drumsticks.
- Adjust gochujang to control the spice level, or balance with more honey if sensitive to heat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 drumsticks
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: Korean chicken, glazed chicken drumsticks, spicy chicken, crispy chicken, gochujang chicken, Korean recipe, oven-baked chicken
