Sticky balsamic chicken drumsticks made on the stove with just 5 ingredients β chicken, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, sugar and garlic. Itβs twice as fast as baking drumsticks and glaze is lip smackingly delicious!Β Watch the cooking video to see how easy it is β and how hopeful Dozer looks that one will come his wayβ¦
I take it very personally when people have trouble making a recipe of mine. I take a great deal of care writing and testing recipes before I share them, and you would probably be horrified at the number ofΒ beautiful photos I have trashed because I wasnβt happy with the recipe, or because I thought the βfailβ risk was too high.Β
I posted this Balsamic Drumsticks recipeΒ backΒ in April 2015 and a handful of readers have had trouble with it. Specifically, getting the sauce to reduce down to a glaze. Itβs not a technically difficult recipe, but it is unique because drumsticks are not usually cooked the stove in a braising liquid that transforms into a glaze and there are a couple of specific steps required to be followed to make this happen.
So I decided to repost this recipe with fresh new photos, even more concise stepsΒ and a cooking video.Β So you can see exactly how to make it. π
These balsamic chicken drumsticks are based on thisΒ Sticky Stovetop ChickenΒ recipe that I stumbled across. When I read the recipe, I thought it sounded quite similar to the flavour and method used for Filipino Chicken Adobo (one of my favourite Asian chicken recipes!), except that it is made with drumsticks (and with less ingredients).
This recipe is actually quite genius. I donβt think most people would think to cook drumsticks on the stove, and even if you did, getting a beautiful caramelisation and the glaze is another matter altogether.
I bet mostΒ people would never guess it wasnβt baked.Β Or that thereβs only 5 ingredients in this. FIVE.
Itβs a fairly classic sweet-sour taste made with a bit of sugar, balsamic and soy sauce. But then you add some water into the pot with the chicken and sauce so by the time the chicken is cooked, the braising liquid reduces down to a thick sticky glaze. And that glaze caramelises which adds even more flavour.
Yummy! Look at it. This is what it looks like straight off the stove.
I remember the first time I made this recipe, I took a bite and thought βEw, this is terribleβ. I stood over the stove with my hands on my hips, head cocked, wondering how I was going to salvage it.Β I thought back over the recipe. I mean, it only has 5 ingredients in it. And there wereΒ rave reviews by people who had tried it. Either all those people have terrible taste in foodβ¦.orβ¦.I stuffed up.
Yep, you guessed it. I stuffed up a 5 ingredient recipe. FIVE INGREDIENTS and I managed to accidentally leave out the most important one β soy sauce.
DUH!
I managed to salvageΒ my embarrassing disaster by taking out the drumsticks and remaking the glaze. And because the salvaged version was so tasty that I thought I had better make it again.Β I gave myself a big pat on the back for remembering all five ingredients the second time!
Now this is a classic back-pocket recipe of mine.
Sticky chickenΒ β done β with less than 5 minutes of active effort. Canβt ask for much more than that! πΒ β Nagi x
MORE CHICKEN DRUMSTICK RECIPES
Greek ChickenΒ β ideal made with drumsticks instead of thighs
Baked Chicken and Rice β make this with drumsticks instead of bone in thighs!
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5 Ingredient Sticky Stove Top Balsamic Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks (2 lb / 1 kg) (Note 1)
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/3 cup soy sauce (all purpose or light, not dark)
- 3 tbsp sugar (brown)
- 3 garlic cloves , minced
Extra Flavourings (Optional)
- 2 tsp fresh grated ginger
- 2 tbsp Sriracha or 1 tsp red pepper flakes (Note 2)
Garnishes (optional)
- Parsley or shallots/scallions , finely sliced
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients (including Extra Flavourings, if using) in a large skillet/fry pan or pot (Note 3) over medium high heat. The chicken should be in a single layer.
- Bring to boil, turn chicken, then turn down to medium so it simmers energetically but not rapidly. DO NOT cover the pan with a lid.
- Cook for 20 minutes, turning the chicken at 10 minutes.
- At 20 minutes, the chicken should be cooked. Move the chicken to the side of the skillet, propping and stacking them up on the edges of the skillet to clear the surface of the liquid as much as possible so it can reduce.
- Simmer for 5 minutes or until the liquid thickens (consistency of thick pouring cream) and coats the chicken. Keep an eye on the sauce, once it starts to thicken it will reduce quickly, donβt let it go too far. Roll the chicken in the glaze.
- Remove the skillet from the stove and stand for 5 minutes β the sauce will thicken slightly more. Roll the chicken in the glaze again, then serve, garnished with parsley or scallions if desired.
- (Note 4)
- Serve, garnished with scallions/shallots if using.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
* Originally posted in April 2015. Reposted with new photos and a cooking video.
LIFE OF DOZERΒ
If you want your dailyΒ dose of Dozer, youβll need to watch the video! He makes a cameo appearanceβ¦. π
AndΒ I just canβt believe itβ¦.peopleΒ mocked me over his robe that I shared at the bottom of the Caramel Slice recipe. βDogs donβt wear clothes!β, they declared. Boo to them!
This recipe is awesome. I have been cooking this all the time! I have told friends and family about these and your awesome website. Iβve been cooking your food for a while now and thought Iβd give you the feedback you deserve. Youβre amazing!
Hi Emma! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and let me know you enjoyed it! Iβm so glad you enjoy these β theyβre great for a fast easy meal, arenβt they? I hope YOU remember all five ingredients though, unlike MEβ¦.. π
Okay, Iβm about to give up with the sauce. I made drumsticks, they cooked. However, Iβm not sure if I fudged it all up by covering the panβ¦. and almost 50 mins later my sauce still hasnβt thickened. I took the drumsticks out a while ago to set aside.
Hi Wendy, sorry to be the bearer of bad newsβ¦but yes, covering the pan was the problem! It needs to be cooked without a lid so the liquid reduces into a sauce by the time the drumsticks finish cooking. I will add an extra step in the recipe to be clear NOT to put the lid on the pan. π
I made this tonight and it was a hit! I will make it again for the family!
Iβm SO GLAD you and your family loved it Sally!! Thank you so much for coming back to let me know, I really appreciate it. Makes me so happy! N x
Another great recipe, Nagi. We really enjoyed the finger-licking deliciousness of the glaze. Thanks for all the helpful notes you provided with the recipe. I think I might have given up on the sauce ever getting thick if you had not said to have faith and be patient.
I know!! I am just about the most impatient cook I know π Iβm so glad you enjoyed it Nguyet! Thank you so much for coming back to share your thoughts!! π
I have to stop back by and say that I shared this on my FB page and one of my friends tried it and LOVED it! They even snapped a pic and shared it with me! Thanks for the great recipeβ¦ youβve got a rave review and youβre keeping me honest at the same time! Have the bestttt weekend!
Hi Stephanie β awww, thank you!! I love hearing when people try my recipes!!! And thanks so much for sharing! π
I made it last night and it turned out amazing. My husband says its a keeper. π
Hurrah! Iβm so glad you loved it!! Thanks for coming back to share your thoughts Cathy! π
Now, they DO look lipsmakingly delicious! And with only 5 ingredients, Iβm sold!
Itβs insane, right?? And itβs not like I left anything out either, just to force a 5 ingredient recipe!!
These look beautiful! Canβt wait to give these a go when I come out of my boards studying hole. Pinned!
Thanks Sarah! I would say βgood luck with your examsβ, but you donβt need luck, youβll kill βem! x
I made this last nite with chicken thighs, and, they were FANTASTIC!!! my husband said βyou can make these Anytime, π Thanks π
HURRAH!!! I am so glad you enjoyed them! Itβs amazing, isnβt it?? So few ingredients?? CRAZY!!! π
Hey Nagi, what would you recommend to accompany the chicken? Iβm making these tonight!
Hi Rebecca! Rice is perfect because the glaze flavours it (and you really donβt need much glaze, a little bit goes a long way because the flavour is very strong!). I definitely think it works better than potatoes. π As for veggies, again, because the flavour is so strong, you can definitely go plain β any plain steamed veggies are perfect!
Ooh, I hope you enjoy it!! The only tip is to cook the glaze all the way down β right down until it is thick and sticky!! Be patient β I watch over it like a hawk, wondering why the bugger it isnβt thickening and then in a nanosecond, it turns from water to glaze!
I love shortcut cooking without compromise! These look delicious and Iβm a very big fan of balsamic vinegars. Pinned for later! π
THANKS NIC!! π
These photos are so sexy, so delicious looking, I truly want to lick my screen and grab a drumstick⦠or six!
Just break your computer screen Kevin, reach in and grab one! π
Yummm! These look so good, what a plus that they are so easy! Thanks for the recipe!
Gina
Pink Wings
No worries! I know, they are CRAZY easy!! π
You are killing me, girl! If it wasnβt you, Iβd say β no way! No way are these gorgeous sticky rich chickens made on the stove top with just five ingredients. No way. But itβs you, so I know itβs true. Which means I am definitely going to try this!! You ROCK!
Itβs pretty amazing, isnβt it? Not my recipe! I donβt take credit for it! π
Love the balsamic twist on the otherwise humble drumsticks! Wow! It would be hard to eat a moderate portion I think. And Iβll need lots of napkins. But it will all be worth it!
Thatβs the idea!! I donβt think thereβs an elegant way to eat drumsticks β youβve gotta get dirty!! π
These look incredible! I love that youβve done them on the stovetop rather than in the oven. With summer coming up itβs always great to find recipes that donβt require an oven. Pinned!
Thanks! I thought this was quite a unique cooking method π
Mmmm I am imagining how delicious these taste and my imagination is not disappointing me!
No it is NOT!! Pinky swear π
Nagi:
This looks so good I could eat the page!
Could I do with skinless boneless chicken breast. My Mama eats about half of half a breast. I eat the thigh.
How would I adjust cooking time for this small bit of breast.
Have a Joyful Day :~D
Charlie
Hi Charlie! Iβm afraid this doesnβt work as well with chicken breast because you need the fat in the skin to help create the glaze. However, you can add a bit of oil to make up for it β directions are in the recipe. To make this for a small breast, follow the recipe but take the breast OUT at around 12 minutes (for a small breast). Then keep the sauce on the stove until it reduces into an extremely thick, sticky glaze β it will reduce to around 1/4 cup. Then put the chicken back in and turn it into the glaze to coat π Hope your mama enjoys this!
Thank you Nagi!
Iβ give it a try. :~D
Dear Nagi,
Itβs hard to believe these drumsticks spend zero time in the oven and still looks so good. The glaze makes them so enticing and after only 5 minutes too?!
No no!! The cooking time takes longer than 5 minutes π It just takes 5 minutes to PREPARE! π
Oh my, you werenβt kidding when you said that these are sticky, love how shiny they look, all that delicious sauce covering them, my mouth is watering.
Itβs ALL about the sauce!!! Donβt you love sticky glazes?? π