This Honey Mustard Baked Chicken Drumsticks recipe is a perfect, effortless way to make baked chicken legs in the oven. With a magical 4 ingredient sauce, no marinating required, these chicken drumsticks are golden, sticky and everyone loves them!
Plus an optional side of buttery, crispy smashed potatoes for a drumsticks dinner made on one tray!
Sticky Baked Chicken Drumsticks recipe
This baked Chicken Drumsticks recipe is one of those gems that you’re going to want to keep in your back pocket. Here’s why you’re going to love it and make it over and over again:
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Unbelievably easy – just spoon sauce over the chicken legs and bake;
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Magical 5 ingredient Honey Mustard Sauce
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They roast beautifully so they’re sticky and golden;
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The flavour is universally pleasing. It’s not too sweet, not too salty, it’s finger lickin’ good!
Difference between chicken legs and drumsticks?
Chicken legs and drumsticks are the same thing. Everybody’s favourite part of Roast Chicken!
What you need for Honey Mustard baked chicken legs
Here’s all you need – chicken legs, plus 4 simple ingredients for the magical Honey Mustard Sauce:
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Dijon mustard (or other plain mild mustard)
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Honey
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Garlic
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Cornflour / cornstarch*
There are very few sauces in this world that taste so great with so few ingredients. And it coats the chicken legs so well, making them beautifully sticky!
* Without cornflour, the sauce is super watery because of all the chicken juices.
How to make baked chicken legs
Pop the chicken legs on a tray, spoon over sauce and bake!
In this recipe, I’ve completed the meal with a side of crispy smashed potatoes made on the same tray. In order to do this, I’ve created a “barrier” between the chicken and potatoes using foil. This makes for easier cleaning up and stops the chicken juices leaking over to the potatoes which makes them soggy instead of crispy!
To prepare the potatoes quickly, I just microwave them. Then place on the tray, squish, drizzle with butter or oil. Together, the potatoes and chicken legs 50 to 60 minutes to bake to perfection – crispy potatoes and sticky chicken legs with tender flesh.
How long does it take to cook drumsticks in the oven?
Sticky drumsticks like this take 50 minutes to cook in the oven at 180°C/350F. This makes them caramelised on the outside with tender flesh.
Some recipes will say to bake them at a higher temperature (220°C/425F) for around 30 minutes. While they will cook through in this time, I find that the flesh is a bit too chewy for my taste.
Sticky drumsticks AND crispy potatoes!
And here’s how they come out – sticky and saucy drumsticks on one side, and crispy potatoes on the other side!
One tray winner winner chicken dinner!
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Sticky baked chicken drumsticks;
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Honey Mustard Sauce; AND
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crispy smashed potatoes.
Throw on a side of steamed veggies of choice and dinner is done.
Active effort time: just over 10 minutes.
Marinating time: Zero
Deliciousness rating: Well, let’s put it this way. There’s a reason why there’s only 7 drumsticks in the photo above when the recipe calls for 8…. Honestly, I have the self control of a child. It’s a disgrace. ?
– Nagi x
Watch how to make it
More terrific baked chicken drumstick recipes
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Greek Chicken (make this with drumsticks instead of thighs)
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Honey Mustard Baked Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
Smashed Potatoes (optional):
- 4 x 150g/5oz potatoes (Note 1)
- 2 tbsp / 30 g olive oil or melted butter
Chicken:
- 8 chicken legs (about 1 kg / 2 lb) (Note 2)
- 2 tsp olive oil
Sauce:
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard (Note 3)
- 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard (or use more Dijon)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1 tsp cornflour/cornstarch (Note 4)
- Pinch of salt and pepper
For serving (optional):
- Fresh thyme leaves or chopped parsley
- Steamed broccolini
Instructions
Smashed Potatoes option:
- Microwave potatoes for 10 minutes on high or until cooked. (Note 5)
- Place on one side of tray. Squish using potato masher (Note 6) to about 1.7cm / 2/3" thickness. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- If making smashed potatoes, fold up the edges of the foil the drumsticks are on
Sticky Baked Drumsticks:
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
- Mix Sauce ingredients together with a good pinch of salt and pepper.
- Line tray with foil, then top with parchment paper.
- Place drumsticks on paper. If making smashed potatoes, fold up the edges of the foil so the sauce won't leak into the potatoes (doesn't need to be high - even 1cm / 2/5" is enough, video useful).
- Spoon Sauce over drumsticks. Drizzle chicken with olive oil.
Baking
- Bake for 30 minutes. Turn drumsticks (not potatoes), spoon juices over drumsticks.
- Bake for a further 20 minutes, turn, spoon over juices. Bake for 10 - 15 minutes until sauce reduces and the drumsticks are golden and sticky.
- Remove from oven. Squidge the drumsticks around in what should now be a syrupy sauce. (Note 7) Serve drumsticks with sauce, with crispy smashed potatoes and steamed broccolini on the side. Sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves if using.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published 25 April 2018. Post and recipe tidied up and updated for housekeeping matters. No change to recipe ingredients.
Life of Dozer
This recipe was originally published on ANZAC Day in Australia, on 25 April 2018. It’s a day when we commemorate the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (“ANZACs”) who served and sacrificed for our country in the first world war.
Dozer wears an Anzac rosemary sprig on his collar for (most of) the day and we make a donation to the ANZAC Appeal. A very small gesture. #LestWeForget?
Diane says
Hi Nagi, this recipe looks and seems like it will be delicious, I was wondering if you think that I could substitute thighs for the drumsticks in this recipe since I have thighs in the fridge now and this recipe sounds like it would be perfect for dinner tonight. Love,love your recipes, comments and pictures, I’m so happy that I discovered your site several months ago!
Nagi says
Yes!! I’m sorry I forgot to include it in the recipe notes when I published it, I have since updated. With skin on bone in thighs, use the recipe as is! N xx
Patricia Gail says
You always manage to bring a smile with your recipe descriptions, Nagi….(i.e. missing pieces???) And the confession that follows – (so we know that Dozer wasn’t the culprit!).
Don’t have any chicken drumsticks on hand, but will be purchasing some the next time I’m in town – so I can make this scrup-dilly- icious easy meal.
We (in Canada) remember the sacrifices of our veterans on November 11th each year. So many didn’t return, and so many that did return returned scarred for life. Physically and emotionally…..WE MUST REMEMBER WAR – NO MORE!
Nagi says
I’m just a disgrace Patricia. In all honesty, I snapped a few pics and though “that’ll do” and grabbed a drumstick while I was checking the photos. Was thoroughly dissatisfied with them so I took more photos …. except I was one drumstick short. Oops! 🙂 I remember that Canada’s Remembrance Day is 11th November – my Canadian friends remind me 🙂 N xx
Patricia Gail says
You always make me smile with your comments r/t making your recipes Nagi.
And delighted to hear that you have some Canadian friends – we may have cold weather up here, but, always warm hearts.
Give a treat to Dozer for us Canucks, o.k.
P.S……I have the chicken drumsticks in the refrigerator as I write this……will make up the recipe tomorrow……yummmmmmm!
Jamie says
Can I boil the potatoes if I don’t have a microwave?
Jamie says
Nevermind! Just reread your notes!
Kat says
This looks delicious!
If I don’t have a microwave, is there another way to get the potatoes soft before putting it all on the pan?
Nagi says
Hi Kat! They can definitely just be boiled 🙂 I was just being lazy! N xx
Paulie says
The little foil BBQ trays at Colesworths would be perfect for keeping the spuds safe.
Nagi says
Oh yes!!! 🙂 N x
Danielle says
LOL! The food I photograph always tends to be less a little bite or two (or six)! Sometimes you get hungry. Those wings so look so deliciously sticky, just how I like my wings. And what an easy way to cook them. I’m all about microwaved potatoes when I need a fast cook. Boiling water IS tiring LOL! I will be making these drumsticks.
Nagi says
I know, right?? It’s the hardest job ever!!!