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These honey garlic chicken drumsticks are crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and coated in a sticky sweet and savory honey garlic glaze. Cooking the chicken in the air fryer helps the skin turn golden and crisp while keeping this an easy dinner for busy weeknights.

Air fryer chicken drumsticks tossed in buttery honey garlic sauce

If you’ve made my Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks, this recipe builds on that same technique. Once the drumsticks finish cooking, they’re tossed in a quick honey garlic sauce made with honey, garlic, ginger, butter, and soy sauce for a glossy, flavor-packed finish. If you prefer using the oven, you can also crisp the drumsticks using my baked drumsticks method and toss them in the same sauce.

Why This Recipe Works

Crispy air fryer chicken: The air fryer cooks drumsticks quickly while creating golden, crisp skin.
Sticky honey garlic glaze: Honey, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger simmer together into a sweet and savory sauce that coats the chicken.
Simple technique: This recipe starts with crispy drumsticks and finishes with a quick sauce.
Flexible cooking method: The drumsticks can be crisped in the air fryer or oven.

ingredients to make chicken drumsticks marinade

Ingredients You’ll Need

These ingredients help you make crispy honey garlic chicken drumsticks with a sticky glaze. Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

Chicken

Chicken drumsticks: Skin-on drumsticks crisp best in the air fryer or oven. Chicken legs, which are the same thing, also work.
Sea salt
Black pepper
Smoked paprika
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Baking powder: Helps dry the skin so the drumsticks crisp better.
Olive oil or Avocado Oil

Honey Garlic Sauce

Honey garlic sauce uses a simple mix of sweet, savory, and aromatic ingredients. When these ingredients simmer together, the honey thickens slightly and the butter helps create a smooth, glossy sauce that coats the chicken. Here’s what honey garlic sauce is made of:

Honey: Regular liquid honey creates the signature sticky glaze.
Soy sauce or coconut aminos: Coconut aminos work well if you want a soy-free option.
Unsalted butter
Rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
Garlic: Fresh garlic gives the sauce its signature flavor.
Fresh ginger: this takes the sauce to the next level, but I also make this dish without it. So, omit it if you don’t have it. You can also add in some powdered ginger.
Cornstarch and water (optional): Helps thicken the sauce slightly if you prefer a thicker glaze.

How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks

Season the Drumsticks

Pat the drumsticks dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Toss the drumsticks with the seasoning blend and baking powder until evenly coated. Use all of the spice mix.

Chicken drumsticks being patted dry with paper towels and seasoned with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and baking powder before cooking

Air Fry the Drumsticks

Arrange the drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Air fry until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is golden, flipping halfway through so both sides crisp evenly.

Seasoned chicken drumsticks arranged in a single layer in an air fryer basket with olive oil, ready to cook until golden and crispy

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Make the Honey Garlic Sauce

While the chicken cooks, combine honey, soy sauce, butter, vinegar, garlic, and ginger in a small saucepan. Heat until the butter melts and the sauce begins to simmer. If you prefer a thicker glaze, stir in the cornstarch mixture and cook until slightly thickened.

Honey garlic sauce simmering in a saucepan with honey, soy sauce, butter, vinegar, garlic, and ginger before coating crispy chicken drumsticks

Toss and Serve

Toss the hot drumsticks in the honey garlic sauce or brush the sauce over the chicken. Serve immediately while the glaze is glossy and the skin is crisp.

Tips for the Best Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks

Pat the chicken dry: Removing surface moisture helps the skin crisp.
Cook in a single layer: Air circulation helps the drumsticks brown evenly.
Add the sauce at the end: Tossing the chicken after cooking keeps the skin crisp.
Use all of the spice mix: the baking powder and spice mixture helps make the chicken drumsticks crispy and gives the meat all of its flavor. Toss the chicken (and re-toss it if needed) to be sure to use all of it.

Sticky honey garlic drumsticks with glossy garlic ginger glaze

How to Make Honey Garlic Sauce for Chicken

The sauce for these honey garlic chicken drumsticks is quick to make and uses simple ingredients. Honey, soy sauce, butter, garlic, ginger, and vinegar simmer together until smooth and glossy. As the sauce cooks, the honey thickens slightly while the butter helps create a silky texture. Tossing the hot drumsticks in the sauce coats the chicken with a sticky sweet and savory glaze.

What to Serve With Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks

These drumsticks pair well with simple sides that balance the sweet and savory glaze. Some options are:

More Honey Garlic Recipes to Try

If you enjoy the flavor in these honey garlic chicken drumsticks, you might also like:

Air fried drumsticks brushed with sweet honey garlic glaze

Can I Make Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks in the Oven?

Yes. Bake the drumsticks at 425°F until the skin is crisp and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. If you prefer cooking drumsticks in the oven, use my Baked Chicken Drumsticks method for getting crispy skin in the oven, then toss the cooked chicken in the honey garlic sauce. Using the oven works especially well when you need to cook a larger batch of chicken.

Storage and Reheating

Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Reheat in the air fryer at 375°F for about 4–6 minutes until hot and crisp again. Microwave reheating works but will soften the skin.