Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks (Print Version)

Juicy honey garlic chicken drumsticks roast perfectly with caramelized carrots for a delicious, easy meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 8 chicken drumsticks, approximately 2.5 lbs
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon salt
04 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Honey Garlic Glaze

05 - ¼ cup honey
06 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce, low-sodium preferred
07 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
09 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

→ Vegetables

11 - 1 lb carrots, peeled and cut into sticks
12 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
13 - ½ teaspoon salt
14 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
15 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

# How To:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
02 - Toss chicken drumsticks with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Arrange on one side of the prepared sheet pan.
03 - In a separate bowl, combine carrots with 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and thyme. Spread on the other side of the sheet pan.
04 - Whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl.
05 - Brush half of the honey garlic glaze over the chicken drumsticks.
06 - Roast in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
07 - Remove pan from oven. Brush remaining glaze over chicken and toss carrots for even roasting.
08 - Return pan to oven and roast for 15 additional minutes until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F and carrots are golden and tender.
09 - Broil for 2-3 minutes at the end for enhanced caramelization if desired.
10 - Transfer to serving platter and garnish with fresh thyme. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The whole thing happens on one sheet pan, which means less cleanup and more time enjoying dinner instead of scrubbing dishes.
  • Honey and garlic together create this addictive glaze that caramelizes right onto the chicken, tasting like you spent way more effort than you actually did.
  • Roasted carrots become almost candy-like when they're golden and tender, so even people who claim they don't like vegetables end up reaching for seconds.
02 -
  • Don't crowd the pan and don't mix the chicken and carrots together until the very end; they need air circulation to actually roast instead of steam.
  • If your glaze looks watery before you brush it on, you've mixed it perfectly; it concentrates and thickens as it roasts, so trust the process.
  • Checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of doneness and keeps you from accidentally undercooking chicken.
03 -
  • Pat the chicken dry before seasoning it; any excess moisture prevents proper browning and caramelization on the skin.
  • Keep your glaze ingredients measured and ready before you start so you're not scrambling when it's time to brush; mise en place is your friend even in simple cooking.
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