Korean Grilled Chicken Drumsticks
Quick answer
- Total time
- At least 1 hr 30 min
- Level
- Easy
- Servings
- 2 servings
- Ingredients
- 9
About this dish
Drumsticks marinated in soy sauce, gochujang and honey roast in the oven.
Read more
With bone running through a thick piece of meat, clear juices and skin color are not trusted as signs of doneness; a thermometer goes into the thickest part, away from the bone, and the center has to hold at 75°C or above for at least a minute.
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1
Cut 2 to 3 slits into the thickest part of each of the 6 chicken drumsticks so the marinade can reach near the bone and the meat cooks at an even rate.
- 2
Mix 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon gochujang, 2 tablespoons honey, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon ginger juice, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, and 0.5 teaspoon pepper.
- 3
Rub the marinade all over the drumsticks by hand and push it into each slit, then marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- 4
Preheat the oven to 200C, place the drumsticks skin-side up on a parchment-lined baking tray, and roast for 15 minutes.
- 5
Remove, flip, brush the remaining marinade evenly over the surface, return to the oven, and roast 15 more minutes.
Insert a thermometer into the thickest part without touching the bone and keep roasting until the center has been held at 75°C or higher for at least 1 minute. Clear juices and color alone do not establish doneness.
- 6
Transfer to a plate, sprinkle sesame seeds evenly to finish, and serve immediately while the skin is still crisp and the inside is juicy.
Official cooking and safety guidance
Public-agency cooking and food safety guidance that applies to this recipe.
Official cooking and safety guidance
-
Storage and reheating
Refrigerate leftovers in shallow containers within 2 hours and use them within 3 to 4 days. Reheat the center to 74°C.
Source: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Leftovers and Food Safety
Sources checked 2026-08-03
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Tips
Variations
Soy-Glazed Grilled Chicken Drumsticks
These chicken legs are grilled in a soy-based glaze with sweet and savory notes. The skin turns glossy while the meat remains moist.
Gochujang Grilled Chicken Legs
Chicken legs are coated in a spicy-sweet gochujang marinade. Grilling intensifies the heat and savory depth.