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Baked Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks
5 from 15 votes

Baked Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks

Baked Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks feature chicken marinated in a blend of soy sauce, mirin, ginger, and garlic, then oven-roasted until the skin crisps and the meat is juicy. A homemade teriyaki sauce thickened with cornstarch and sweetened with brown sugar and honey adds a glossy, rich glaze. The marinade infuses deep flavor that develops best with longer refrigeration.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Marinate
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 35 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 301 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken drumstick or 2 pounds
Teriyaki Marinade
  • ½ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup mirin Japanese rice wine
  • 1 tablespoon ginger grated or minced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
  • 1 cup soy sauce
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2-4 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon ginger minced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
  • ¼ cup mirin Japanese rice wine
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions

Teriyaki Marinade
    Cup of Yum
  1. Add ingredients to a large resealable bag and adjust until blended.
  2. Add chicken and toss with mixture in a large resealable bag and refrigerate for between 1 to 24 hours.
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
  1. In a small saucepan combine soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and garlic. 
  2. In a small bowl combine mirin and cornstarch.  Stir until cornstarch is dissolved. 
  3. Next, add to soy mixture. Bring sauce to boil over medium high heat, stirring occasionally. 
  4. Then reduce your heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is reduced and becomes syrupy, between 6 and 7 minutes. 
  5. Add honey and stir.  Taste mixture to see if you want to add more honey. 
  6. Cover and set aside.  
Oven Baked Drumsticks
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with tinfoil and a rack lightly coated in cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. Remove the drumsticks from the marinade and place on your prepared sheet spaced evenly apart.
  3. Bake for between 30-35 minutes Skin should be crisp and internal temperature should be 165 degrees.
  4. Once cooked, coat them with your sauce, using a brush if possible. Bake for another 5 minutes. Remove from oven and coat with more sauce. Let the chicken rest for five minutes before serving.
  5. Serve with additional sauce and dip on the side if desired. Enjoy every bite!
Air Fryer Instructions
  1. I just had to include this recipe for how to make teriyaki chicken drumsticks in your air fryer. I just love using mine. Just in case you love yours too, here is how to do it.
  2. Follow the instructions for marinating the chicken and making the teriyaki sauce.
  3. Using a sharp knife or metal skewer, poke 10 to 15 holes in skin of each drumstick or chicken leg.
  4. Arrange drumsticks in air fryer basket, spaced evenly apart, alternating ends and skin side up if using chicken legs.
  5. Place basket in air fryer and set temperature to 400 degrees.
  6. Cook until chicken drumsticks are crisp and register 165 degrees, 22 to 25 minutes, flipping and rotating chicken halfway through cooking.
  7. Brush each piece of chicken with teriyaki sauce.
  8. Transfer chicken to large plate, tent loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy every bite.

Notes

  • Marinate chicken for at least 1 hour, ideally overnight, for deeper flavor.
  • Use a meat thermometer to ensure drumsticks reach 165°F internal temperature to avoid under or overcooking.
  • Line baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup from sticky teriyaki glaze.
  • Adjust honey in the teriyaki sauce gradually, tasting to reach preferred sweetness.
  • Rotate drumsticks during cooking but avoid flipping to maintain even cooking and crispy skin.

Nutrition Information

Calories 301kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 43g (14%) Protein 18g (36%) Fat 7g (11%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g (12%) Monounsaturated Fat 3g (15%) Trans Fat 0.03g (2%) Cholesterol 70mg (23%) Sodium 2630mg (110%) Potassium 316mg (7%) Fiber 0.5g (2%) Sugar 35g (70%) Vitamin A 35IU (1%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 43mg (4%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 301

% Daily Value*

Calories 301kcal 15%
Carbohydrates 43g 14%
Protein 18g 36%
Fat 7g 11%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g 15%
Trans Fat 0.03g 2%
Cholesterol 70mg 23%
Sodium 2630mg 110%
Potassium 316mg 7%
Fiber 0.5g 2%
Sugar 35g 70%
Vitamin A 35IU 1%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 43mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.