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Home Chicken

Honey Mustard Baked Chicken Drumsticks

By:Nagi
Published:22 Feb '19Updated:10 May '23
392 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

This Honey Mustard Baked Chicken Drumsticks recipe is a perfect, effortless way to make baked chicken legs in the oven. With a magical 4 ingredient sauce, no marinating required, these chicken drumsticks are golden, sticky and everyone loves them!

Plus an optional side of buttery, crispy smashed potatoes for a drumsticks dinner made on one tray!

Close up of Honey Mustard sauce being drizzled over Baked Chicken Drumsticks

Sticky Baked Chicken Drumsticks recipe

This baked Chicken Drumsticks recipe is one of those gems that you’re going to want to keep in your back pocket. Here’s why you’re going to love it and make it over and over again:

  • Unbelievably easy – just spoon sauce over the chicken legs and bake;

  • Magical 5 ingredient Honey Mustard Sauce

  • They roast beautifully so they’re sticky and golden;

  • The flavour is universally pleasing. It’s not too sweet, not too salty, it’s finger lickin’ good!

Difference between chicken legs and drumsticks?

Chicken legs and drumsticks are the same thing. Everybody’s favourite part of Roast Chicken!

Overhead photo of easy chicken dinner - Honey Mustard Baked Chicken Drumsticks with Smashed Potatoes on a silver tray with a side of steamed broccolini

What you need for Honey Mustard baked chicken legs

Here’s all you need – chicken legs, plus 4 simple ingredients for the magical Honey Mustard Sauce:

  • Dijon mustard (or other plain mild mustard)

  • Honey

  • Garlic

  • Cornflour / cornstarch*

There are very few sauces in this world that taste so great with so few ingredients. And it coats the chicken legs so well, making them beautifully sticky!

*  Without cornflour, the sauce is super watery because of all the chicken juices.

How to make baked chicken legs

Pop the chicken legs on a tray, spoon over sauce and bake!

In this recipe, I’ve completed the meal with a side of crispy smashed potatoes made on the same tray. In order to do this, I’ve created a “barrier” between the chicken and potatoes using foil. This makes for easier cleaning up and stops the chicken juices leaking over to the potatoes which makes them soggy instead of crispy!

To prepare the potatoes quickly, I just microwave them. Then place on the tray, squish, drizzle with butter or oil. Together, the potatoes and chicken legs 50 to 60 minutes to bake to perfection – crispy potatoes and sticky chicken legs with tender flesh.

How to make Honey Mustard Baked Chicken Legs with Crispy Smashed Potatoes

How long does it take to cook drumsticks in the oven?

Sticky drumsticks like this take 50 minutes to cook in the oven at 180°C/350F. This makes them caramelised on the outside with tender flesh.

Some recipes will say to bake them at a higher temperature (220°C/425F) for around 30 minutes. While they will cook through in this time, I find that the flesh is a bit too chewy for my taste.

Sticky drumsticks AND crispy potatoes!

And here’s how they come out – sticky and saucy drumsticks on one side, and crispy potatoes on the other side!

Overhead photo of Honey Mustard Baked Chicken Drumsticks with Smashed Potatoes on a silver tray with a side of steamed broccolini

Honey Mustard Baked Chicken Drumsticks with Smashed Potatoes on a silver tray with a side of steamed broccolini on a rustic ceramic plate, ready to be eaten

One tray winner winner chicken dinner!

  • Sticky baked chicken drumsticks;

  • Honey Mustard Sauce; AND

  • crispy smashed potatoes.

Throw on a side of steamed veggies of choice and dinner is done.

Active effort time: just over 10 minutes.

Marinating time: Zero

Deliciousness rating: Well, let’s put it this way. There’s a reason why there’s only 7 drumsticks in the photo above when the recipe calls for 8….  Honestly, I have the self control of a child. It’s a disgrace. ?

– Nagi x


Watch how to make it


More terrific baked chicken drumstick recipes

  • Lemon Garlic Chicken and Potatoes

  • Drumsticks with Chinese Plum Sauce

  • Jamaican Jerk Drumsticks

  • Greek Chicken (make this with drumsticks instead of thighs)

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Close up of sticky Honey Mustard Chicken Drumsticks and crispy smashed potatoes, fresh out of the oven.

Honey Mustard Baked Chicken Drumsticks

Author: Nagi
Prep: 11 minutes mins
Cook: 1 hour hr
Total: 1 hour hr 11 minutes mins
Mains
Western
4.98 from 161 votes
Servings4
Tap or hover to scale
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Recipe video above. A terrifically easy baked chicken drumsticks with a magical 4 ingredient Honey Mustard sauce. Plus, option to add crispy smashed potatoes for an effortless dinner on one tray!

Ingredients

Smashed Potatoes (optional):

  • 4 x 150g/5oz potatoes (Note 1)
  • 2 tbsp / 30 g olive oil or melted butter

Chicken:

  • 8 chicken legs (about 1 kg / 2 lb) (Note 2)
  • 2 tsp olive oil

Sauce:

  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard (Note 3)
  • 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard (or use more Dijon)
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 garlic clove , minced
  • 1 tsp cornflour/cornstarch (Note 4)
  • Pinch of salt and pepper

For serving (optional):

  • Fresh thyme leaves or chopped parsley
  • Steamed broccolini

Instructions

Smashed Potatoes option:

  • Microwave potatoes for 10 minutes on high or until cooked. (Note 5)
  • Place on one side of tray. Squish using potato masher (Note 6) to about 1.7cm / 2/3" thickness. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • If making smashed potatoes, fold up the edges of the foil the drumsticks are on 

Sticky Baked Drumsticks:

  • Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
  • Mix Sauce ingredients together with a good pinch of salt and pepper.
  • Line tray with foil, then top with parchment paper.
  • Place drumsticks on paper. If making smashed potatoes, fold up the edges of the foil so the sauce won't leak into the potatoes (doesn't need to be high - even 1cm / 2/5" is enough, video useful).
  • Spoon Sauce over drumsticks. Drizzle chicken with olive oil.

Baking

  • Bake for 30 minutes. Turn drumsticks (not potatoes), spoon juices over drumsticks. 
  • Bake for a further 20 minutes, turn, spoon over juices. Bake for 10 - 15 minutes until sauce reduces and the drumsticks are golden and sticky.
  • Remove from oven. Squidge the drumsticks around in what should now be a syrupy sauce. (Note 7) Serve drumsticks with sauce, with crispy smashed potatoes and steamed broccolini on the side. Sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves if using.

Recipe Notes:

1. Potatoes - Can also boil about 25 minutes. I use the everyday dirt brushed potatoes or washed potatoes for this recipe (the most common potato types here in Australia). Any all purpose potato will be great with this. US: Red or Yukon gold is ideal - great crunch!
Can also use baby potatoes like in these Ultra Crispy Smashed Potatoes recipe. Most potatoes will be fine here - high starch potatoes will yield a fluffier inside, whereas waxy potatoes are a bit less fluffy but are sort of creamy. You'll love both!
2. Chicken - Or 4 to 5 bone in, skin on thighs, same cook time and method. Skinless boneless thighs will also work but only need 40 minutes in the oven so put the potatoes in first then add the thighs after 20 minutes.
3. Mustard - Or other smooth mustard (even that bright yellow stuff you put on hot dogs!), but not super spicy English mustard - unless you want it so spicy it blows your head off!
4. Cornflour - Without this, the sauce is watery because of the chicken juices. With this, you have a glossy, syrupy Honey Mustard sauce to drizzle all over the chicken and your veggies.
5. Potatoes - No need to prick, doesn't matter if they burst slightly. Doesn't even matter if they are not 100% cooked all the way through as long as they are cooked enough to squish.
6. Or fork or bottom of glass or spatula. If you can get rough ridges on the surface, you get better golden crispy bits!
7. SAUCE adjustments: This sauce thickness will be affected by how juicy your drumsticks are but it's super easy to adjust the sauce. Remove drumsticks and if it's too thick, add a tiny bit of water. If still watery, pop it back in the oven (without chicken) for a couple of minutes - it will thicken up super fast. 
8. STORAGE: Drumsticks will reheat great from fridge or thawed from freezer. Spoon over share of sauce too! I just microwave to reheat. Crispy potato will recrisp in the oven - 180C/350F for around 10 minutes.
9. Nutrition per serving, including potato, chicken and all sauce, excludes steamed veg.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 370gCalories: 577cal (29%)
Keywords: Baked Chicken Drumsticks, Chicekn Drumsticks
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

Originally published 25 April 2018. Post and recipe tidied up and updated for housekeeping matters. No change to recipe ingredients.

Life of Dozer

This recipe was originally published on ANZAC Day in Australia, on 25 April 2018. It’s a day when we commemorate the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (“ANZACs”) who served and sacrificed for our country in the first world war.

Dozer wears an Anzac rosemary sprig on his collar for (most of) the day and we make a donation to the ANZAC Appeal. A very small gesture. #LestWeForget?

Dozer Anzac Day 2018

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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392 Comments

  1. Eleanor says

    December 5, 2023 at 8:01 am

    5 stars
    These were so tasty! The chicken was perfectly cooked and the sauce was amazing!

    Reply
  2. Lynne Giddins says

    November 23, 2023 at 4:00 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely divine

    Reply
  3. Josephine says

    August 29, 2023 at 10:47 am

    Made this and it was amazing! We all loved it! Just wondering if you could make the sauce and marinade it ahead of time (like day before). Has anyone tried this?

    Reply
  4. Lindy Furber says

    August 24, 2023 at 4:32 pm

    5 stars
    My favourite recipe for baked chicken. So easy to make and so tasty. Thanks Nagi, I absolutely love your recipes. Love the videos as well 🙂

    Reply
  5. Amanda says

    May 2, 2023 at 6:09 pm

    Absolutely delicious 🤤 three very full teenage boys and one happy mama 😊

    Reply
  6. Tula says

    April 20, 2023 at 6:54 pm

    5 stars
    To say finger licking good is an understatement absolutely delicious

    Reply
  7. Raymond says

    April 19, 2023 at 1:34 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Nagi! I have made this many times and it’s a winner every time for the family.

    Would this recipe work with breast? Thighs are way more delicious and juicy and tender, I know but I’m on a diet right now 😂

    Reply
  8. Ivy says

    April 12, 2023 at 10:16 pm

    I’ve made this several times now following the directions directly but every time the sauce burns to black making the pan hard to wash and some of the chicken skin inedible. Any ideas? Thanks! Love recipe otherwise 🙂

    Reply
    • Carolyn Davies says

      June 8, 2023 at 4:12 pm

      5 stars
      I use disposable foil baking trays. So much easier than having to wash up.

      Reply
  9. Sandra Pettitt says

    April 10, 2023 at 8:09 pm

    5 stars
    Honey Mustard Chicken. Delicious! So easy. It will be on high rotation I suspect. I’m thinking of making extra sauce with a thick gravy consistency separately.
    I also need to tell you that I love your book.

    Reply
  10. Sharon says

    March 29, 2023 at 12:52 am

    5 stars
    Yum!!! Cooked this for the first time for dinner tonight, also had it with garlic bread on the side. Delicious!! Love that sticky honey mustard sauce with juicy chicken drumsticks, will definitely be making this again. I added more Dijon mustard since I didn’t have whole seed mustard, and it turned out fantastic.

    Reply
  11. Kylee Beard says

    March 8, 2023 at 9:03 pm

    5 stars
    This is so good I’ve made it 4 times in 3 weeks. The family can’t get enough of it! First time I used 2kgs of drumsticks for 4 people and they were fighting over them so switched to thighs. Also use half Dijon half hot English. Amazing as always Nagi!! x

    Reply
  12. Laura says

    October 29, 2022 at 8:19 pm

    5 stars
    So good! Quick, easy and very budget friendly. thanks Nagi!

    Reply
  13. Nat says

    October 29, 2022 at 7:47 pm

    5 stars
    This was so delicious!! Hoping to have leftovers but my husband ate 5 😂

    Reply
  14. Doris says

    October 25, 2022 at 12:19 pm

    5 stars
    My husband loves honey mustard, and this was so delicious – the skin had so much flavour. I loved microwaving the potatoes to make this dish quicker on a week night.

    Reply
  15. Amanda says

    July 28, 2022 at 10:52 pm

    5 stars
    I realized after starting to make this dish that I didn’t have any honey, but I have tons of maple syrup as we make it here. So obviously I used maple syrup instead. Oh my God, it was so good. Thank you

    Reply
  16. Marjorie says

    July 22, 2022 at 5:07 pm

    Really delicious and so easy.
    I am afraid I “smashed” the potatoes a little to energetically and they came out crispy but a bit dry.
    Nothing butter couldn’t help!
    The sauce was just the right consistency and the chicken moist and delicious.
    A real “keeper” to be sure.
    Thank you Nagi for giving us reliable recipes that always work!
    My friend and I are sharing recipes with each other each time we cook one of your winners!

    Reply
  17. Tim Dufore says

    July 18, 2022 at 7:55 pm

    5 stars
    OMG this is a fabulous recipe that I will definitely be making again! The chicken, the potatoes and broccolini were perfect together and seriously delicious. Thanks, this one’s going in the favorites book. 5+ Stars

    Reply
  18. Julie says

    July 13, 2022 at 10:45 am

    5 stars
    I was wondering if you ever have a bad day in the kitchen. I often do but these honey and mustard chicken legs were just sensational. Even on my bad cooking days, you make me feel like a chef. The chicken was so moist and juicy and that’s saying something for legs as they can become quite dry. The sauce was absolutely amazing. So very tasty and teaming it with the potatoes made it such an easy one pan meal.
    Thank you so much for all the effort that you put into your recipes. It is so much appreciated.

    Reply
  19. Stina says

    June 15, 2022 at 8:20 pm

    5 stars
    I made these and they were super delicious and it was so super easy. However I’d like to make it for my parents but dad has dementia and can’t eat anything with bones. Am I able to make this with thigh fillets instead?

    Reply
    • Bec says

      August 22, 2022 at 6:13 pm

      Stina, in note 2 Nagi mentions that ‘Skinless boneless thighs will also work but only need 40 minutes in the oven so put the potatoes in first then add the thighs after 20 minutes.’ I hope this helps and your dad loves it.

      Reply
      • Stina says

        August 22, 2022 at 6:50 pm

        Yes I saw that later. But there is so much on the page I was just after the recipe not everything else. It was hard to sift through. My dad did love it as did my mum. I have yet to try it myself as thigh fillets and look forward to it. Howver, when cooking, I did notice that it needed the same time as the drumsticks. The fillets were not cooked at the time specified in the notes. So I ended up cooking them the same.

        Reply
  20. Stina says

    June 15, 2022 at 8:20 pm

    I made these and they were super delicious. However I’d like to make it for my parents but dad has dementia and can’t eat anything with bones. Am I able to make this with thigh fillets instead?

    Reply
    • Marea says

      July 2, 2022 at 11:04 am

      Hi Stina – instructions for thigh fillets are in the notes.

      Reply
      • Stina says

        July 2, 2022 at 11:20 am

        5 stars
        Hi Marea, yes I saw that later and couldn’t remove my post…lol I actually made them yesterday for my parents but found the cooking time was the same. Less and they weren’t cooked properly. But thank you.

        Reply
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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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