Sticky and sweet chicken drumsticks made in the slow cooker and then made crispy in the oven. Could. Not. Be. Easier. 👍
Drumstick Recipe
Are you interested in the best baked chicken recipe? I was a bit intimidated by a drumstick recipe. I like to eat drumsticks. My eight year old LOVES drumstick (aka chicken bones to him). However, whenever there’s a bone in the chicken, I start to have panic attacks as to whether it will be cooked enough to enjoy. Okay, maybe that’s a little extreme…. but you catch my drift.
When I stumbled up on this drumstick recipe I knew I was onto something. The thought of being able to cook the chicken bones in the crockpot so that they were fully cooked, and then broiling them to crisp them up was genius. I love that I can fully cook them and they’ll still be nice and juicy, yet have the control of the crisp factor. Do you ever think about these things? Do I think too much? 😉 Here’s an easy way to make a great appetizer or dinner entree that’s tasty and sweet – and crisp!
Sweet and Sticky Drumstick Recipe
1. Combine the following in a mixing bowl. Whisk together. 1/2 Cup honey 1/2 Cup light brown sugar 1/3 Cup balsamic vinegar 1/3 Cup low sodium soy sauce 3 tsp minced garlic 2 tsp ground ginger.
2. Add drumsticks/wings to slow cooker.
3. Pour the honey mix onto the drumsticks/wings and mix well. (I used my hands.) 4. Cook on high in the slow cooker for 4 hours. Toss the drumsticks/wings at the halfway point. (As best you can.)
5. Once fully cooked, remove drumstick/wings from the slow cooker and add to baking pan that is lined with foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
6. Broil for 3 minutes or until browned. (Don’t leave them unattended! You always need to watch when broiling as they can burn quickly.)
7. Remove the drumsticks/wings from the oven and turn them to the other side.
8. Broil the other side for 3 minutes or until browned. (Again, keep an eye on it!) Your drumsticks or wings are ready to be enjoyed! These keep well in the refrigerator and taste even better the second day! Enjoy!
Sticky and Sweet Chicken Drumstick Recipe In the Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup honey
- 1/2 Cup light brown sugar
- 1/3 Cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/3 Cup low sodium soy sauce
- 3 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 4 pounds drumsticks and/or wings
Instructions
- Whisk together honey, brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic and ginger in a bowl.
- Add drumsticks/wings to the slow cooker. Pour the honey mixture onto the drumsticks/wings and mix well.
- Cook on high in the slow cooker for 4 hours. Toss the drumsticks/wings at the halfway point.
- Once fully cooked, remove drumstick/wings from the slow cooker and add to baking pan that is lined with foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
- Broil for 3 minutes or until browned. Remove the drumsticks/wings from the oven and turn them on the other side.
- Broil the other side for 3 minutes or until browned.
Nutrition
Looking for another simple chicken recipe? You will love this Freezer Recipe Chicken Tetrazzini!
Originally shared January, 2014.
Comments & Reviews
I’ve used this recipe with a large group which included several good cooks, and I’ll use it again this weekend when I want something easy but tasty for just one other couple. It’s nice to have a guaranteed simple recipe when time or energy is at a premium. It’s quite simple to size down but it makes very good leftovers too.
HI Nancy, so glad you enjoyed the drumsticks! We love this recipe, too.
What if you don’t have balsamic vinegar?
Hi Kim, you can try it without. I’ve never done so, so I can’t attest to how they will turn out. However, a little regular vinegar should give you the same twist of taste that balsamic would. I wouldn’t use the same measurement though.
Excellent recipe, the chicken is delicious and very easy to make. Depending on the slow cooker, my slow cooker cooks the chicken in 3 hrs and not 4hrs.
This was SO good! I’m not a big fan of drumsticks or really any chicken that is sticky and eaten with your hands, but this was worth it. The sauce had awesome flavor. When I broiled the chicken, I put the sauce in a pan and boiled it to thicken and then basted the chicken…then I kept a little in the pan and sauteed some spinach in it. Will definitely make this again!