Asian Chicken Drumsticks

This Asian Grilled Chicken Drumsticks recipe is a great way to put a delicious twist on inexpensive chicken drumsticks this grilling season. The sweet and salty Asian chicken marinade adds incredible flavor and helps the chicken maintain moisture. The chicken drumsticks are not just flavorful, but tender and juicy too!

The Asian chicken marinade recipe is also perfect for other cuts of chicken beside chicken legs, especially other dark meat cuts like boneless skinless chicken thighs. It's great on chicken wings, and yes you can use it on chicken breasts too!

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These Asian Chicken Drumsticks are actually a melding of a simple soy sauce based Asian BBQ sauce and a technique I recently found to slash chicken skin to help marinade penetrate.

I stumble upon a recipe called Psycho Chicken... yup, they went there.  The recipe wasn't what I was looking for, but I found the technique used in it, of slashing the chicken skin all over intriguing.  This allows the marinate to absorb into the meat well, while the remaining skin helps lock in moisture (removing chicken skin can be a  cumbersome task on some poultry cuts too).  I moved on, but still had haunting visions of a hapless chicken getting the business from Norman Bates.

Not grilling weather? Make air fryer chicken drumsticks using the Asian marinade.

I served the chicken with Peanut Butter Noodles (a favorite of my daughter), but simple homemade fried rice would have been perfect with it.

Making Asian Drumsticks

The recipe makes 4 servings, but can easily be doubled or tripled when you have guests.

Ingredients

Here is everything you will need to make this delicious chicken, including the Asian chicken leg marinade.

• 1 ½ pounds chicken drumsticks approximate

Asian Chicken Marinade Ingredients

• 2 tablespoon light brown sugar packed
• 2 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce or 1 tbs soy sauce & 1 tbs Ponzu sauce
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 ½ teaspoon fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• ¼ teaspoon curry powder
• 1 large garlic clove, minced ( 1 - 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic) Use 2 cloves garlic if you are a garlic lover.

Preparation

I put the drumsticks into a zippered storage bag  with the Asian chicken marinade and tossed them to coat. The chicken was left to marinate for four hours.

Grill the drumsticks, over medium for 20-25 minutes, flipping over at the halfway point. Check the chicken legs with a meat thermometer, you want to reach an internal temperature of 170 degrees F.

For extra flavor: Cook the leftover marinade down a bit, then baste the chicken with it as it cooks.

Serving

When serving sprinkle on some toasted sesame seeds or finely sliced green onions.

While the chicken legs have plenty of flavor as is, if you love to dunk try them with some BBQ sauce, hoisin sauce, katsu sauce or a hot sauce such as Sriracha sauce.

Storing

Leftover chicken legs can be stored in a airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. [source USDA]

In the mood for a sandwich? Try my Asian Chicken Burger with Broccoli Slaw.

Asian Chicken Drumsticks

Chicken drumsticks recipe in Asian marinade. Directions for grill, oven and air fryer. A great budget appetizer for parties!

4.95 from 17 votes

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Course: Appetizer, Entree

Cuisine: American, Asian, Chinese

Diet: Low Lactose

Keyword: asian chicken marinade

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Marinate: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 217kcal

Author: Robin Gagnon

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds chicken drumsticks approximate

Asian Chicken Marinade

• 2 tablespoon light brown sugar packed
• 2 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce or 1 tbs soy sauce & 1 tbs Ponzu sauce
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 ½ teaspoon fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• ¼ teaspoon curry powder
• 1 large clove of garlic, minced ( 1 - 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic)

Instructions

• Whisk together ingredients for marinate.
• Cut a few slashes into the skin of each drumstick, it is OK if you go into the meat a little.
• Combine the marinate and drumsticks in zippered storage bag and marinate for about 4 hours.
• Preheat grill, then reduce to medium when you put drumsticks on (reserve the marinate).
• While drumsticks are cooking zap the marinate in the microwave for 1 ½ minutes, stir, then zap another minute if needed, just enough to thicken the marinate a little for basting.
• Turn the drumsticks after 10-12 minutes. Then turn and baste in about 10 more minutes. Check the chicken legs with a meat thermometer, you want to reach an internal temperature of 170 degrees F.
• Let glaze set (1-2 minutes), then turn & baste other side. Remove chicken when that glaze sets.
• When serving sprinkle with sesame seeds or sliced scallions if you like.

Notes

Use 2-3 garlic cloves if you are a big lover of garlic flavor.

Oven

Preheat to 400 degrees F. Place the chicken in a single layer on a foil or parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 40-45 minutes.

Air Fryer

Preheat to 390 degrees F and arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer in the basket. Cook for 20 minutes, flipping halfway.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 389mg | Potassium: 268mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 90IU | Vitamin C: 0.6mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 0.9mg