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?
Hazel says
Hi! Can this be made with maple syrup in place of honey and arrowroot powder in place of corn flour/starch? Food allergies.
Kim says
Made this tonight and it was finger licking good! Hubby and kids enjoyed it and it was so easy to make. Thank you for this recipe.
Nagi says
Hi Hazel, I haven’t tried but would love to know if it works! – N x
Bronwen says
Maybe my Mister’s reaction to this dish tonight will tell you how it went:
At 7p: “I need to take my pants off for this meal.”
At 7:20: “There aren’t going to be any leftovers!”
This will be in heavy rotation for sure! 😍
Nagi says
😂 Love it!!!
Isa Gutierrez says
I lived this recipe. I love food but I am don’t like to cook because it’s time consuming. THIS RECIPE WAS REVELING. I surprised my boyfriend with this. Easy and delicious.
Next time I’ll double the sauce and set the oven temperature a lit bit higher.
Nagi says
Wahoo, thanks so much for the feedback Isa!
Chris says
Amazing, hubby loved it. So cheap and easy to make. Will definitely have again
Nagi says
Perfect, thanks Chris!
Tanya says
Thank you once again Nagi! I have cooked so many of your recipes and they are always so delicious so I knew this one would be too.
I also marinated the chicken for a few hours in the sauce while it was defrosting.
This recipe is super delicious and super easy which is always a winner in my books. My 15 month old whose favourite food is roasted potatoes (which I served on the side) was too busy devouring the chicken that she left most of her potatoes.
I can’t wait to make it for my next dinner party.
Katie says
This is yummy and easy! I had time so I did marinade and it was yummy. Smashed potato was he best and the brocollini in the honey mustard juices was delicious!
Nagi says
Perfect Katie!
Veronica says
These were truly fantastic I made these delicious drumsticks for my family dinner yesterday and everyone was a huge fan and they are so easy to make very convenient!
Nagi says
Winner winner chicken dinner!!
Jag Khan says
Fantastic recipe!
Nagi says
Thanks Jag!
Shenika Sharpe says
Amazing and so simple. We loved it!
Nagi says
Perfect Shenika!
Amy Chung says
This was a winner weekday dinner meal! I added another tablespoon of butter for the potatoes…..I’m so bad!
Nagi says
I’d never judge! 😘
Lynette G Stybr says
Nagi,
Can I use chicken tenders with this recipe?
Nagi says
Hi Lynette, you can, you’d just need to cook for about 20 minutes or so – N x
Carmelita Vizmanos says
This was so delicious. My husband said he can eat this every night., He asked for additional serving. Thank you.
Vandana Kasbekar says
Hey dont know how you managed to get so much liquid in the dish… my marinade got burnt in the 1st 30 min of being in the oven!!! ;(:
What did I do wrong?
Nagi says
Hi Vandana, sorry you had issues with this one – sounds lie your oven may of been too hot – N x
Thuy says
Same problem. And I used the same temp. Can’t believe there is that much of a dif in oven temp
Lila says
I made the drumsticks tonight and they went down a treat. I like that you don’t have to marinate them beforehand. It’s a keeper!
Nagi says
I’m so glad you loved them Lila!
Miff says
Does anyone know if I can freeze the cooked drumsticks , and reheat to eat in the microwave?
Nagi says
Sure can Miff!
Diane says
OMG absolutely delish!! Cooked the potatoes and broccolini according to the instructions and it was so good, we all loved it.
Nagi says
That’s awesome Diane 🙌
Agill says
Really quick to put together. My only issue was that some of the sauce burnt. Can you tell me why this could of happened? I used skinless chicken legs – 5 of them for a small batch recipe. Otherwise I kept all other ingredients and quantities the same.
Nagi says
Hi Agill, did the sauce burn on the pan?
Agill says
Yes, exactly. I meant to mention that I used skinless chicken legs, not that should matter. Also used same temperature. Maybe the issue is with how long I cooked the legs for. What’s optimal?
Jean says
As usual another RecipeTinEats that goes straight onto the family roster. But I now have a vegetarian visiting. Do you think I could do the same glaze on tofu? I don’t know if that would work. Any suggestions would be very gratefully accepted. Once again thanks for being my always reliable go-to
Nagi says
That’s great to hear Jean! I would dust the tofu in flour to help the glaze stick – N x
Daisy says
OMG I made this for the first time tonight. I used fillet of Maryland coz it’s economical. When no-one was looking I licked my plate clean! You’re my favourite go to for new no fail inspiration. The best!
Nagi says
Woah what a great compliment! That’s great Daisy!
Suzanne Weisgerber says
I made this with the potatoes. Wonderful!! Had to double the sauce and I think 375° is a better temp to cook it at.
Thuy says
Do you think doubling the sauce will help the amount of liquid there is after 30 mins. I basically had congealed sauce after 30 mins. No liquid.