Asian Glazed Chicken Drumsticks (Printable version)

Tender drumsticks in savory-sweet Asian glaze, falling off the bone after slow cooking

# Ingredient list:

→ Chicken

01 - 12 chicken drumsticks (approximately 3.3 pounds), skin removed if desired

→ Glaze

02 - 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
03 - 1/4 cup honey
04 - 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
05 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
06 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
07 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
08 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
10 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
11 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
12 - 2 tablespoons water

→ Garnish

13 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
14 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes until thoroughly combined.
02 - Arrange the chicken drumsticks in the slow cooker. Pour the prepared glaze over the chicken, turning each piece to ensure even coating.
03 - Cover and cook on low heat setting for 4 hours, or until the chicken is fully cooked through and tender enough to pull from the bone easily.
04 - Transfer the drumsticks to a serving platter and cover loosely with aluminum foil to keep warm while preparing the sauce.
05 - Pour the cooking liquid into a small saucepan. Combine cornstarch and water in a separate bowl to create a slurry, then stir into the saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly for 2-3 minutes until thickened.
06 - Brush or spoon the thickened glaze generously over the drumsticks. Garnish with sliced scallions and sesame seeds immediately before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The house smells incredible all day long
  • Chicken falls off the bone without any effort
  • That sweet and salty glaze works on everything
02 -
  • The sauce looks too thin until you add the cornstarch slurry and boil it.
  • Don't skip the step of removing chicken before thickening the sauce.
  • Low and slow yields much more tender results than high heat.
03 -
  • Line your slow cooker with a foil collar for easier cleanup.
  • Use tongs to rotate drumsticks halfway through cooking.
  • Double the sauce recipe if you want extra for serving.

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