Slathered in the most incredible Chinese Plum Sauce, these Sticky Chickenย Drumsticks are absolutely and utterly irresistible. Whether youโreย 7 or 70 โ and everyone in between!ย Super simple to makeย with just a handful of ingredients, plus it doesnโt even need marinating time!
Todayโs recipe is brought into this world with many thanks to Fountain Sauces, without whom these gloriously sticky chicken drumsticks with the most incredible Chinese Plum Sauce glazeย might not have been discovered and we may have forever been deprived.
Some days, nothing goes right.
Iโll have 3 recipe fails, Iโll be unhappyย with all the photos, and a certain giant furry dog will bump the tripod while filming a video, resulting in 5 minutes footage ofย an empty (dirty)ย kitchen counter. Iโll stamp my foot (yes I do โ go ahead and judge me), flop on the couch, huff and puff with annoyance. Most especially becauseย I know dinner that night will not be enjoyable (becauseย a recipe fail has to be seriously inedible to throw it out or donate it to said giant furry dog).
And other days, everything just works.ย Such was the day when I went to create a recipe using Fountain Plum Sauce. Usually when Iย create a recipe from scratch for the first time, I wonโt plan to photograph it because I assume the recipe will need tweaking. But the moment I took these sticky, sticky drumsticks out of the oven, they were everything I envisioned them to be.
The fragrant smell of plums. Sweet with a touch of tartness. Golden brown and oh-so-sticky.ย And that moment when you grab one of those sticky chicken drumsticks (knife and fork?? Whatโs that?) and you bite into the tender juicy chicken flesh and get that glaze all over your mouth faceโฆ
Now THAT is the kind of food Iโm all about!!!
So what did I do? Well, this will come as no surprise to regular readers and my friends who know me so wellโฆ. in my excitement (and not wanting to lose my mojo), I dashed out to the store, purchased more drumsticks and made it again. Just to make sure โ and to take photos.
Yup, just as good as Batch #1.
Any guesses what I did next? Yup, another mad store dash.ย Batch #3, coming right up. Triple testing and for the recipe video.
Oh boy. The homeless guy at the dog park had this 3 days in a row. As did I. No complaints from either party. Or Dozer.ย โ Nagi xx
More chicken drumstick recipes
Greek Chickenย โ ideal made with drumsticks instead of thighs
Baked Chicken and Rice โ make this with drumsticks instead of bone in thighs!
Serve these on the side!
Steamed Jasmine rice or Coconut Rice
Crunchy Asian Slaw on the side โย great all rounder Asian salad that goes with all Asian foods
Asian Sesame Dressing for any fresh saladย or steamed vegetables
Asian Mushroom Ramen Noodlesย โ another great all rounder!
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Sticky Chicken Drumsticks in Chinese Plum Sauce
Ingredients
- 1.2kg / 2.4lb large chicken drumsticks (8 drumsticks)
Plum Marinade / Glaze
- 3/4 cup / 185ml Fountain Plum Sauce (Note 1)
- 1/3 cup brown sugar (can reduce to 1/4 cup)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (all purpose or light, not dark soy sauce)
- 2 tbsp Hoisin Sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp ginger, minced
- 1/2 tsp Chinese Five Spice Powder (Note 2)
Garnish (optional)
- Sesame seeds
- Finely chopped scallions
Instructions
- Place Marinade ingredients in a ziplock bag (or bowl) and mix. Add chicken and massage to coat in the Marinade. Refrigerate for 1 hour (see Note 3 for skipping this).
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F (all types).
- Line a tray with baking paper / parchment paper (or foil then spray with oil).
- Transfer chicken to tray, shaking off excess marinade. RESERVE Marinade.
Baking & Basting (Total bake time: 50 min)
- Bake chicken for 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven. Spoon / slather / brush with reserve marinade (generously!) (Note 4). Bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and TURN chicken. Baste again using tray juices and reserved marinade. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and baste again (very generously!) using tray juices and reserved marinade. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove chicken from oven and scrape/brush tray juices onto chicken (donโt waste free flavour!).
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and shallots/scallions if using. I served it with rice and steamed broccolini.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
ย WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Sticky Chicken Drumsticks in Chinese Plum Sauce recipe video!
LIFE OF DOZER
Did someone say STICKY CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS????
Todayโs recipe is brought into this world with many thanks toย Fountain Sauces,ย makers of the Fountain Plum Sauce which is the key ingredient in the gorgeous sticky Chinese Plum Sauce glaze!
Oh Nagi, this was the second time I cooked the sticky drumstick only this time was a request menu they really enjoyed this dish so much the first time. You never fail me Nagi. Actually I need to comment on your mumโs shemezi rice, very nice I cooked it few time. Back to this one I say Delicious, my husbandโs favourite.
WHOOT! So happy to hear that Nandi!!! Your husband has good taste ๐ i.e. marrying youโฆ.. and loving this!!
Itโs delicious, Nagi! I used Lee Kum Kee Plum Sauce and it tastes amazing!
Thatโs so fantastic to hear Christine! Thank you for letting me know! N xx
That sweet, sticky sauce looks amazing!
Thanks Sabrina! ๐ N x
Hi, Nagi! Bought plum sauce (my long lost friend) and cooked drumsticks! Delicious!!!! Then I made stir-fried aubergine with the rest of the plum sauce and just published the recipe on my blog. May I say itโs (almost) as delicious as your drumsticks? ๐ Thank you again for reminding me of this lovely condiment.
OMG your stir fry sounds delish! Iโm popping over to grab it! ๐ N xx
Made this last night with store bought plum sauce. I loved itโฆ.easy and deliciousโฆA winning combination! Thanks
*Jumping up and down* WHOOT WHOOT!! I am so glad you enjoyed it Lyn, always means a lot to hear when someone enjoys a โfrom scratchโ creation ๐ Thank you for try it and letting me know you enjoyed it! N xx
I made this last night for 4 adults. Fountain plum sauce not available so substituted SPC (All Australian)
14 large drumsticks, steamed rice tossed through with corn kernels and shallots and stir fried oyster choy sum.
My daughter in law (a very competent cook) announced it to be absolutely delicious. My 2 year old grandson kept on saying โmoreโ.
There were no leftovers, which pretty much says it all.
An inspired recipe Nagi. Simple but elegant.
Love your blog and have made many recipes from it.
Cheers
Peter
Ohhhhhh!!! Feedback from a 2 yo is the BEST test ever for a recipe like this!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and share your feedback Peter! N xx
Yum, Nagi! I made these last night. Of course I couldnโt get your brand of plum sauce, so I donโt know how close to yours mine were. I used to be able to get plum sauce at the grocery store but havenโt seen it recently. However, I had plums in the freezer so found a recipe via Pinterest and made my own. To cut the sweetness I spiced it up with some lovely gochugang, which added a wonderful note. My concerns that Mr. Fussy would think the drumsticks were too sweet were unfounded; we both licked our plates! I loved the ease of making this, along with the minimal clean-up.(And look at Dozer go!)
YUM!!!! Homemade plum sauce, Iโm super jealous Marlene!! N xx
Oh my goodness!!!!!
Those chicken legs were sooooooooo freakin yummy!!!!!!
Finger licking good (literally licking our fingers)
Yum yum yum
Whoot whoot! So glad to hear that Tania! N xx
Hi Nagi you must have read my mind โ I just harvested our plum tree and made a batch of chilli plum sauce and couldnโt work out what I wanted to use it for. This recipe has settled it for me! They loo incredible
PS You blog is beautiful, just browsing it now! ๐ N x
HOMEMADE plum sauce?? Ok. Bit green with envy. ๐ N xx
I did not know until now that Dozer could walk (run!) on water.
Itโs like those people who can walk over hot coals โ when he smells food, he goes into a trance and can do incredible things. Likeโฆ. make an entire wheel of French brie disappear from the coffee table. BA HA HA!!!! ๐ N xx
Made it exactly as written, loved it, my family and I thank you! So simple and yet something I never could have created without you. Thank you!!
Oooh! That was FAST! I love it when readers try recipes so quickly after publishing them!!! Iโm super happy to hear you enjoyed this Deeta, I was really pleased with how the recipe came out. Thank you for taking the time to let me know! N xx
Nagi, there is a high chance these will be eaten up for dinner + leftovers for lunch but just in case it isnโt โ is this a dish you would recommend freezing for a lazy mid week dinner?
Ba ha ha!!! Love the attitude!! The cooked chicken will freeze quite well because drumsticks are quite fatty ๐ Scrape off any juices on the tray into the bag or container then you can even microwave it to reheat. Or you could freeze the raw drumsticks in the marinade then as it defrosts it will marinate the chicken ๐ I will add that tip into the recipe notes! N xx
Nagi, am SORRY YOU HAD BAD DAY. Did Not know weather to cry Or laugh,SORRY. YOU WORKED SO HARD, GOOD OR BAD BATCH ILL EATED, PROMIS. BUT SOMETHING GOOD CAME OUT OF IT, HOMLESS PERSON WOULD BE GLAD TO SEE YOU. THAT WAS NICE OF YOU. WISH I WAS NEAR TO GIVE YOU A BIG, BIG HUG.NOW PLEASE RELAX, YOU DESERVE IT. TRUE, REALY LOVE THIS STUFF. YOUR EFFERT IS MUCH APPRICIATED. REGARDS, VERA. THANK YOU .
Laugh! I always laugh it off when things donโt go to plan, being grumpy is a waste of energy and time! ๐ N xx
Hello Nagi,
Which wing recipe is your absolute favorite? Iโve recently stumbled upon your blog! Your food looks amazing and I canโt wait to try a few different recipes I have my eye on!
Hi Jacquelyn! I have two favourites โ Chinese Wings which is a family recipe and Buffalo Wings ๐ https://salesdock.info/sticky-chinese-chicken-wings/%3C/a%3E https://salesdock.info/truly-crispy-oven-baked-buffalo-wings-my-wings-cookbook/%3C/a%3E Personally I think the plain wings are SO GOOD as they are but honestly, I canโt get past slathering them with the buttery hot sauceโฆ. ๐ N x
I have 3 rugby playing teenage sons. Can you imagine how many drumsticks I have to make to satisfy their appetites? Plus a hubs! I think I have to scale this 3x!!!
I literally burst out into laughter when I read this!!! I have visions of your oven overflowing with DRUMSTICKS!!
Isnโt the best feeling when your recipe turns out amazing? Ahhh I can just imagine your face when you pulled out these delicious sticky wings! Iโm drooling just looking at the pics!
And it feels so well deserved after the annoyance of so many FAILS in a row!!! ๐ N xx
Just arrived at work to find this in my email โ dinner tonight! Itโs like you read my mind, my boys will love this!
Hope they do Heather!!!
Oh my gosh, these look so delicious! Definitely will be adding this to this weekโs grocery shopping list!
yes yes YES!!! ๐ N xx
Hi Nagi. These are so worth the sticky face. I love plum sauce and use it on pan seared duck breast which is fabulous. I have had so many fails in the kitchen lately, seems like everything I bake is over baked but Gary eats it all without complaint, gotta love him.
Heโs a good man, that one! Oooh, duck + plum sauce, fab combination!!! ๐ N xx
Nagi, you ARE psychic! I have been wanting to make these for a long time now! I just didnโt know how until you popped up in my e-mail this morning. I have made more of your recipes than anyone elseโs โ they are that good! Havenโt made these yet but tonightโs the night. Every time you post a recipe, I scroll past all the โbusinessโ parts of it to get right to the picture of Dozer. AFTER my Dozer fix, I scroll back to look at the recipe and pictures. Please do not ever stop cooking or posting because I would starve!
Anyone who leaves me messages about Dozer always scores HIGH POINTS in my books โ ba ha ha!! PS I definitely have no plans to ever stop cooking and sharing, I love this SO MUCH!! N xx