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These simple, sticky sweet honey mustard chicken drumsticks are the perfect dish for a busy weeknight dinner, summer grill out, and more. Drumsticks are smothered in a marinade for several hours and then cooked to perfection, in the style you prefer: grilled or baked. Pairs perfectly with potatoes, salads, and other simple side dishes!
I never was a huge honey mustard fan growing up but recently, I can’t get enough. After sharing this Crock Pot Honey Mustard Chicken this past fall, I was hooked.
And when I marinated chicken drumsticks in sticky honey mustard goodness recently, well the rest is as they say history!
Love grilled chicken dinner recipes? Try these other favorites: Our Favorite Grilled Chicken Drumsticks, Grilled Balsamic Chicken, Mediterranean Grilled Chicken or this Lemon Pepper Grilled Chicken!
Why We Love These Honey Mustard Chicken Drumsticks
They only require 5 minutes of prep. Whisk together the marinade, reserve some and then toss the chicken with the rest. From there, let the chicken sit until time to cook–way too easy!
So easy to make and so flavorful. Sticky sweet with a touch of mustard flavor. That is it. Simple ingredients that we always have on hand but makes for a WOW dish. For that little amount of work, this grilling recipe is so worth it!
Several ways to cook these honey mustard chicken drumsticks–-this recipe can be cooked on the grill or baked! You choose how you want to enjoy them!
They pair so well with LOTS of side dishes! The possibilities are really endless, but this Cajun Potato Salad, Grilled Corn Chopped Salad, Grilled Zucchini Pasta Salad, or these Parmesan Crusted Potatoes are just a few–so many goodies to serve up with some juicy grilled chicken.
Ingredient Notes
See the full list of ingredients with exact measurements below in the recipe card.
- chicken drumsticks: chicken legs and drumsticks are often thought of as the same thing, but they technically are not. A chicken leg technically includes the thigh and drumstick. So if you request chicken legs instead of drumsticks, you will end up with much more chicken and a longer cooking time.
- You don’t have to use both the dijon mustard and stone ground. You can opt for just the dijon mustard if you are like my husband and don’t like the stone ground (lesson learned, ha). I find the combo of the two gives the honey mustard sauce and extra punch, but it may not be for you and that’s ok!
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Whisk together the honey mustard marinade ingredients to combine.
Step 2: Reserve ¼ cup of the marinade for later use in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Step 3: Pat the chicken drumsticks dry and add them to a large ziplock bag. Pour the marinade over top of the chicken and seal the bag airtight. Massage the marinade well into the chicken.
Step 4: Marinate for ideally 4-6 hours but no more than 8 hours.
Step 5: Preheat grill. You will want the grill heated to medium-high heat, a temperature of about 400°F. Once grill is preheated, clean and oil it to make it nonstick. Arrange the chicken drumsticks on the grill over direct heat, spacing out. Cook for about 25-30 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 185°F. (See recipe card below for baking instructions!)
Step 6: In the last few minutes, brush on the reserved honey mustard and let cook. Remove from the grill and allow to rest for about 5 minutes before serving.Cook for about 25-30 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes, or until internal temperature of about 185°F.
Recipe Tips
For best results, do not marinate the chicken longer than 8 hours. The high acidity in the apple cider vinegar can break down the chicken proteins after that long and can cause the texture of the chicken to become very mushy.
Let chicken legs come to room temperature before grilling. For even cooking, allow your meat to come to room temperature before throwing it on the grill.
Cook the chicken drumsticks to 185°F. While chicken is safe to eat at 165°F, it is ideal to cook your drumsticks to 185°F. Cooking them to 185°F actually makes the meat more tender and keeps it from getting stringy.
What To Serve with This Recipe
- Pasta salads are a must for me. I would personally pair this chicken with this Grilled Zucchini Pasta Salad or this Lemon Orzo Salad With Feta!
- Then there is mac and cheese–this Easy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese or my personal favorite, this Cheddar Gruyère Mac and Cheese–YUM.
- And as far as salad or veggies, this Apple Arugula Salad has a great balance of flavor for honey mustard. If you want something more summery, you could make this Cucumber Corn Salad!
- Don’t forget potatoes! Cajun Potato Salad or Boursin Mashed Potatoes would be two great choices!
Other Chicken Recipes
Grilling Recipes
Chili Lime Chicken
Slow Cooker
Simple Slow Cooker BBQ Shredded Chicken
Dinner
Chicken with Mango Salsa
Air Fryer
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast
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Honey Mustard Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 1 ½ -2 lbs chicken drumsticks, about 8
Honey Mustard Marinade
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp stoneground mustard
- 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp pepper
- ¾ tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Whisk together the honey mustard marinade ingredients to combine. Reserve ¼ cup of the marinade for later use in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
- Pat the chicken drumsticks dry and add them to a large ziplock bag. Pour the marinade over top of the chicken and seal the bag airtight. Massage the marinade well into the chicken.
- Marinate for ideally 4-6 hours but not more than 8 hours*.
Grilling Instructions
- Preheat grill. You will want the grill heated to medium-high heat, a temperature of about 400°F.
- Once grill is preheated, clean and oil it to make it nonstick. Arrange the chicken drumsticks on the grill over direct heat, spacing out. Cook for about 25-30 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 185°F. In the last few minutes, brush on the reserved honey mustard and let cook. **See notes for 2-zone method if preferred.
- Remove from the grill and allow to rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
Baking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet or large pan with foil and spray with oil. You can use a rack to arrange the chicken on if desired, just oil it before adding the chicken.
- Place the chicken in an even layer on prepared pan (you can add the marinade as well if desired, or discard it) and bake for 40-45 minutes uncovered, flipping halfway through. In the last few minutes, you can shift the oven to broil and brush the remaining honey mustard over top of the chicken and cook for a nice golden crispy texture. Aim for the chicken to reach about 185°F.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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