This Honey Teriyaki Chicken recipe is certain to bring your family running to the table. It features chicken drumsticks that are smothered with an Asian inspired marinade then basted with a sweet homemade honey teriyaki glaze. The chicken is then baked until tender and charred. It's better than take out and easy on the grocery budget, too.
Easy Honey Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
Even though we love our beef and potatoes, to keep my budget on track, I often find myself preparing chicken. Chicken frequently goes on sale, which makes it especially suited for budget friendly meals. This honey teriyaki chicken is oven chicken done right. On one of my many trips to my local grocery store, I noted chicken drumsticks were on sale and I knew I had to have some. Always looking for a way to keep things interesting, I opted for making this Asian inspired variation with fried rice for dinner. My family loved them and it kept my budget on track.

How to Make the Best Honey Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks
- Ingredients you'll need to make homemade Honey Teriyaki Chicken: Four pounds of chicken drumsticks, skin intact for the juiciest chicken.
- For the Teriyaki Marinade you'll need: Teriyaki sauce, light brown sugar, ginger, garlic, onion, sesame oil and crushed red pepper flakes.
- For the Honey Teriyaki Glaze you'll need: Teriyaki sauce, honey, light brown sugar, garlic, ginger, onion, crushed red pepper flakes and toasted sesame seeds for garnishing.
- Kitchen tools you'll need: A medium bowl, whisk, sharp knife and cutting board, a grill pan or a broiler pan, or you could use a pan covered with heavy duty foil sprayed with cooking spray, measuring cups and spoons.
- If you' like to take a shortcut, you could purchase a premade Asian marinade to save time. Since the marinade and glaze feature similar ingredients, if you go with the same flavor profile it will work together.
- Toasted sesame seeds can usually be found on the spice aisle with the other seasonings. You could make your own if you have sesame seeds on hand. To toast the sesame seeds, simply place them into a non stick skillet over medium heat. Toast in the pan while stirring until lightly golden and fragrant.
- You could adapt this recipe using chicken thighs or wings. Should you choose to make boneless skinless chicken breasts the cooking time will be reduced.
- Store Baked Honey Teriyaki Chicken chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can enjoy cold or gently reheat for a couple of minutes in an air fryer or microwave.
Easy Side Dishes to Serve with Honey Teriyaki Chicken
Naturally, when it come to Asian inspired entrees my mind goes to rice.
- Panko Parmesan Roasted Sugar Snap Peas.
- This Teriyaki Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms and Peas goes so well with teriyaki chicken, Teriyaki Steak Bites or even roasted Pork Tenderloin.
- Asian Slaw made with cabbage for added crunch.
- Asian Ramen Noodle Broccoli Slaw is a stellar option.
- You could also use more classic side dishes such as Buttermilk Ranch Mashed Potatoes or Crockpot Mac and Cheese.
- Asian Green Beans from The Wholesome Dish.
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Honey-Teriyaki Chicken
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 386kcal
Ingredients
- Marinade:
- 4 lb chicken drumsticks
- 1 ½ cup teriyaki sauce
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 green onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Glaze:
- 1 cup teriyaki sauce
- ⅔ cup honey
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 green onions minced
- 3 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds [optional]
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry the chicken drumsticks. Mix together the marinade stirring until the brown sugar is dissolved. Pour over the chicken. Marinate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight.
- To prepare: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place onto a broiler pan or and oven safe grill pan spritzed with cooking spray. Discard the marinade. Bake for 20 minutes.
- While the chicken bakes, simmer the glaze ingredients on the stovetop, until reduced by ½ and thickened to the consistency of syrup. Remove from the heat.
- Reserve the sesame seeds for serving. After baking the chicken for 20 minutes, brush the chicken on all sides with the glaze and turn. Drain any excess liquid from the pan if needed. Continue to bake for an additional 20 minutes or until the juices run clear.
- To char: After the chicken has baked for 40 minutes total, increase the oven temperature to the broiler setting and move the oven rack up.
- Char the chicken for 1-2 minutes on each side using tongs to carefully turn as needed. Don't walk away from the oven.
- To serve, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and serve leftover sauce on the side.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 386kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 2420mg | Potassium: 436mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 51g | Vitamin A: 186IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 2mg
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Melissa
Hi Carol, we love these flavors here in the South, too. Thanks for stopping by, Melissa
Carol at Wild Goose Tea
Teriyaki chicken is always a favorite. If it wasn't, there wouldn't be so many Teriyaki restaurants around-----well there are in the Pacific NW anyway. You really did a number on both the marinade and the sauce.
Melissa
Me too, Melissa, you can never have too many. Thanks!
Melissa @ My Recent Favorite Books
I love chicken recipes! =)