Spicy-Sweet Baked Chicken Drumstick Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
This Baked Chicken Drumstick Recipe is a sweet and spicy one! Sticky and addictive, these baked drumsticks are perfect for parties and mid-week meals!
Spicy Sweet Chicken Drumsticks
These Sweet and Spicy Baked Chicken Drumsticks are addictively delicious. Sweet and sticky. Crispy and tender. Spicy, savory, and popping with ginger and garlic flavor.
Our Drumstick Recipe is loaded with zesty Asian flavor and a kick of fiery heat.
It’s a MUST-MAKE chicken drumsticks recipe. Perfect for holiday parties, neighborhood potlucks, and game nights because you can prepare a TON of drumsticks at once, and they are so inexpensive to buy. You can’t go wrong with these baked drumsticks!
What Ingredients You Will Need For This Dish
- Bone-In Chicken Drumsticks
- Flour – all-purpose or GF baking mix
- Cornstarch
- Salt
- Pineapple Juice
- Brown Sugar
- Soy Sauce
- Rice Vinegar
- Grated Fresh Ginger
- Minced Garlic Cloves
- Sriracha Sauce
How To Bake Drumsticks
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line two rimmed baking sheet pan with aluminum foil, spray with non-stick cooking spray, and set aside.
Mix the flour, cornstarch, and salt together in a large bowl. Using paper towels, pat dry each drumstick and roll them in the flour mixture for a light dusting. Then lay them out on the baking sheets, evenly spaced.
Bake the drumsticks for 30 minutes, flipping once.
In the meantime, pour the pineapple juice and all remaining ingredients into a sauce pot. (If you are sensitive to heat, add 1/4 cup Sriracha; if you really like spicy food, add 1/2 cup.) Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes.
Then pour the sauce over the drumsticks evenly. Roll the drumsticks around in it to coat, and place back in the oven, uncovered.
Bake the chicken legs for another 20 minutes, until the sauce is thick and sticky and the drumsticks are well coated. Serve warm.
See the Recipe Card Below for How to Make Baked Chicken Drumsticks. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do leftovers last?
You can store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
What side dish can I pair with this recipe?
The sticky glaze goes with most of your favorite side dish recipes… dishes you would pair with regular chicken breast recipe. For example, melted butter mashed potatoes, chopped salad, or green beans, and other vegetables. You serve it with irresistible Asian side dishes like 9 layer Asian salad, sweet and spicy roasted broccolini, kung pao brussels sprouts, or hibachi fried rice!
What do I do if my sauce is runny?
Make sure not to cover your chicken with foil. It will steam the chicken making it hard for the glaze to stick. (This is a no-cover recipe.) Also, don’t skimp on the simmer time for the glaze. This will reduce the glaze to the right consistency.
Can I add other spices to the glaze?
No other spices are needed to create a bold spicy-sweet flavor. However, if you love to experiment with spices, consider adding smoked paprika, black pepper, onion powder, or dried herbs.
Other chicken recipes you might like:
- Kung Pao Chicken Skewers
- Thai Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce
- Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
- Honey Sesame Chicken
- Oven Fried Chicken
- Lemon Rosemary Basil Chicken
- Chicken Cordon Bleu
- Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken
- Chicken Soup In The Crockpot
- Crispy Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
- Air fryer Chicken Drumsticks or Chicken Thighs by The Big Mans World
Check the recipe card below for the prep time, total time, and nutrition information including calories, carbohydrates, protein, sodium, and fiber percentages. Also make sure to share this recipe on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Spicy-Sweet Baked Chicken Drumsticks Recipe
Ingredients
- 20 chicken drumsticks
- 1/3 cup flour (any variety for GF)
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 3 1/2 cups pineapple juice
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4-1/2 cup Sriracha sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with foil, spray with non-stick cooking spray, and set aside.
- Mix the flour, corn starch, and salt together in a bowl. Using paper towels, dry each drumstick and roll them in the flour mixture for a light dusting. Then lay them out on the baking sheets, evenly spaced.
- Bake the drumsticks for 30 minutes, flipping once.
- In the meantime, pour the pineapple juice and all remaining ingredients in a sauce pot. (If you are sensitive to heat, add 1/4 cup Sriracha; if you really like spicy food, add 1/2 cup.) Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Then pour the sauce over the drumsticks evenly. Roll the drumsticks around in it to coat, and place back in the oven, uncovered.
- Bake another 20 minutes, until the sauce is thick and sticky and the drumsticks are well coated. Serve warm.
Nutrition
Making this recipe? Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!
I’ve made this recipe for my employers many times and it’s always a hit!
Pingback: Favored Baked Chicken Recipes Legs
Anxious to try this as it sounds awesome. We have chicken drumsticks at least once or twice a week and other chicken meals besides. I fix them in the pressure oven and OMG to die for. Like you say they are such a cheap meal and we found the ones at Sams Club are so huge and try to buy them there. Usually pick up 3-4 packs and skin and divide up and vacuum seal and freeze them so always have on hand. Sometimes it is good to get a new idea and this sounds like a real keeper, thanks and to all the great comments
I used to cook with drumsticks a lot but never ever my baked drumsticks looked so mouth-watering! Saving this recipe! :)
FYI The femur is in the thigh so how about Tantalizing Tibias or fiery fibulas ? I have the same dark side love the names if not the anatomy
Looks delicious! the only thing is, my husband cannot handle anything hot, so is it alright if I leave out the heat in this recipe?
Pingback: Potato Chip-Bisquick Oven “Fried” Drumsticks - social foods
Pingback: Potato Chip-Bisquick Oven "Fried" Drumsticks
Ok those look amazing!
Looks and sounds delicious. Love spicy chicken. Thanks for sharing.
simon
Pingback: Stuffed Mushroom Eyeballs - A Spicy Perspective
Pingback: What Is A Good Drumstick Recipe | We Get Healthy
Just tried this recipe and it was AMAZING!!! The flour/cornflour/salt coating really is the trick to making this chicken delicious to the bone. Pro-tip: I brined my chicken for two hours in salty water and I think it just added to the juiciness. Anyways, this one has definitely made to my recipe box. Thanks!!!
Loved this recipe I did not have pineapple juice or soy sauce so I used orange juice and worcestershire sauce instead. Did not cover my pan with foil I just sprayed it with pan spray and once they were brown I transfered them and covered with the sauce and letvit reduce until sticky.
I was wondering if you might of messed up , by telling us to put the corn starch with the flour and not in the sauce … my sauce was all runny and did not stick to the chicken ????
Hey Mary, I’ve made these many times and this is how I always make them. I wonder, did you cover your chicken with foil? I’ve noticed people tend to do that and it steams the chicken making it hard for the glaze to stick. This is a no-cover recipe.
I tried this recipe once and it was amazing! So I tried it again… this time with more Siracha sauce. OMG. So good! Then I made it again… and my husband and I love this recipe. Thanks!
I made these for dinner tonight to the letter. They were a HUGE hit! Thank you! This was my first attempt at making chicken legs at all and this recipe will definitely be a staple in our kitchen in the future!
So glad you liked it Ellen! :)
Oh wow this look good! Only a few drumsticks in the freezer, but think I’ll also add some thighs. Great for dinner or party food.
Pingback: Halloween Dinner Party Recipes | Favorite Food Recipes
Pingback: Halloween Party Menu Planning - Dress This Nest
Pingback: Top 10 Best Halloween Recipes - Top Inspired
Pingback: Top 10 Best Halloween Recipes
Pingback: Sweet and Spicy Baked Chicken Drumsticks Recipe | kimberleymatherti3
Pingback: Sweet and Spicy Baked Chicken Drumsticks Recipe | karolynbriola
Pingback: Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken Drumsticks - Farmgirl Gourmet
Have made these twice now — they are THAT GOOD!
Made two modifications due to missing ingredients in the house: substituted OJ for pineapple juice the first time around and 2c pineapple juice, 1 1/2c OJ the 2nd time around. Also, reduced the hot chili sauce by 1/2 (used about 2-3T) and added 1/4 cup of sweet chili sauce instead to the mixture (because of little children who can’t handle really spicy hot dishes). This gave it enough zing for the adults but ensured the kids ate it, too.
Served with jasmine rice, broccoli and a salad — it was AWESOME! :)
I just tried this and it’s really good~ I didn’t have pineapple juice so just used orange juice and added a little balsamic vinegar. Thanks~
Pingback: Spicy Pineapple Chicken Drumsticks...And Childhood Dreams... | Juanita's Cocina
Made these tonight, they were a big hit with my roommates! Lots of “omg you should open a restaurant already”, LOL. I like using potato starch over corn starch in flour coatings because the texture is airier and lighter, and I didn’t have any rice vinegar on hand so I used balsamic vinegar instead. This is my new favorite recipe for drumsticks, thank you for sharing!
Pingback: Dillons Weekly Meal Planning, Jan 9-15 | Weekly Ad Meals
Yum! These were amazing. Thank you!!
These were really good! I’d suggest seasoning the chicken before coating them. I made with fried rice and I wish we had leftovers because I want some today!!!
I was a hero in my house tonight. These were delicious and will be going on my crowd pleaser short list! I followed the recipe exactly and they were perfect.
How wonderful to see my favorite condiment, Sriracha be featured. These most definitely look addictive and I love your ferocious cat! =)
The chicken recipe is great.
These looks too good for a baked version! Must try soon!!
I can’t wait to try these. Your photos make me want to grab an amputee appendage. I mean, er, drumstick.
Wow! I just found you through Mary Mary Quite Contrary on FB…love your style and work! Great to meet you, and these are some bad bones!! xo Ally
Delicious. My mouth is watering looking at the picture.
I just drooled all over my keyboard — they look delicious!
Just delicious!! That cat looks so creepy in the back!
Ooh these drumsticks look fantastic! I just ate dinner and I’m suddenly hungry again!
What’s not to love here ??!!? Love how the sauce is separate, gives an option to tweak heat before final baking ! Bring on Halloween !
I love “lost dog legs”! It is weird that that title makes these even more scrumptious? :)
loved baked chickena nd the sauce, super addicting!! love the spooky kitty~~
Yummy! Wings are my favorite!
These sound incredible! Love the sauce!
You are hilarious with all these Halloween recipes–I love it!
I am totally making these for my kids!
I’ve been looking for a recipe like this. I’m going to pin it. :-)
These look so delish, Sommer! Love your name ideas – too funny!
Ooh, sticky, sweet and spicy YUM!
I looove adapting chicken wing ideas to chicken leg eats, so much easier to gnaw on! I vote for Lost Dog Legs, the worst of the best names.
These will be a hit! Perfect for my upcoming tailgate! Can’t wait to try it out.
Has anybody used this sauce on meatballs ! ?
thanxs ….. marilyn…!
Okay, that cat is wigging me out! But the drummies look dee-lish.
Love the theme, esp the Halloween kitty!
love the alternative names!!
I love all the fun names you came up with. These drumsticks would be fantastic for any night, but I’d love to have these on the table for Halloween and tell them I’m feeding them Amputee Appendages and see what their reaction is ;).
Ahh! That black cat is cracking me up (In a freaked out scary, lol, kind of way) :)
These chicken drummies look great! Great easy recipe – loving the pineapple juice and sriracha!
My husband will love these! We had some sweet and spicy wings last night that were so good, he was nudging me the whole time saying “you need to blog these”. Can’t wait to try them!
I’m picking up chicken legs stat!
my mouth is quite literally watering over here – sticky and crispy and yummy. feed me.
I was scrolling through my Google account and I saw the photo of your baked chicken drumsticks! Holy amazing they look delicious!!! I have to make these, but i know they won’t look as pretty as yours!
Baked chicken legs is one of our favorite meals – and I love this sauce!
Bwa ha ha! Not to far at all! I think the names are all great. But the look of those shiny sticky chicken legs is even better. Yum!
That sauce–I want it on everything! And what the what is that creepy cat thing in your pictures? It’s so cool!
LOL!!! Hayley, I couldn’t resist putting in my black cat decorations. :)
That sauce! Oh my!
These look great! I love the combination of ingredients in the sauce…
I have few meat cravings, but baked chicken is one of them. What an awesome recipe you have here.
And I know you have a sinister side… I could tell from the moment I met you ;-)