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!
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
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!
My fingers feel sticky just looking at these!!! I canβt get over your picturesβ¦ these are literally popping out of the screen! Look at those scallions!! HOLY MOLYYY!!!! Definitely pinning- I can see this blowing up on Pinterest!
I know, right?? But arenβt drumsticks the BEST when theyβre sticky? π
These are outstanding even if you did forget the soy sauce the first time. I can see myself covered in sauce from ear to ear and glad about it.
You are far too classy a lady for that! π
Oh, these look fabulous β Nagi β and we all have those DUH moments β as Pam says you have many more to look forward to:-) I do so love drumsticks and thighs.
HA! I bet YOU donβt. Youβre such an amazing cook!
Nagi, I LOVE your website!! I canβt wait to try this, they look sooooo good. As a 60(ish) mother of 3 and grandmother of 4, Iβve had a lot of DUH moments, too numerous to mention but my worst was taking a corningware dish from the frig to the oven to bake. Which is fine to doβ¦EXCEPT β¦..one should remember to take off the plastic top before putting it in the oven!! What a mess. So young lady, you still have plenty of time for more DUH moments!! I will reply back when I try these. Pam
Ha ha ha!!! Oh my, that is a good one!! One day, I will do a giveaway where in order to enter, you must have had a DUH moment so we can hear all about peopleβs kitchen disasters! I have had too many to count, but I think the best was hot peanut sauce in the food processor which caused an explosion SO GREAT I had to mop peanut sauce off the CEILING!!!
SUCH a shame your family didnβt like their bake topped with melted plastic instead of melted cheese! π
I generally donβt like dark meat, but these sound like they would be wonderful anyway. And as I was thinking about the recipe I realized that it would be perfect for when weβre at the beach and my only cooking options are the microwave or an electric skillet. Thank you for providing me with another good dinner option.
I have all the ingredients so I do not have any excuse to not try this great looking drumstickβ¦I absolutely love the color of it and yes, the exposed bone just make eating easierβ¦
Have a wonderful week ahead Nagi!
Gosh, those look good! π Such great color.
Thanks so much Krista! π
Ha! You were cracking me up about leaving out the soy sauce! Donβt worry, I think weβve all had that βduhβ moment π In any event, these drumsticks look unreal! Seriouslyβ¦ look at that sticky lacquer! Itβs like a balsamic reduction drumstick β genius! Stunning photos as always.
But seriously, who does that for a FIVE ingredient recipe?? π
I love love love that these are stove top. I donβt always want to turn my oven on and its nice to have an alternative option. Great glaze Nagi.
I know, right?? Itβs SO much faster than baking and you get the same glaze!! π
Oh my gosh, that sticky glaze! Iβm amazed the simplicity of the recipe. Great job, Nagi, for not forgetting anything and sharing it with us. π
Yes, I gave myself a pat on the back for remembering all FIVE ingredients this time! Well done me! ha ha! π
Hi Nagi! These look amazing! I prefer thighs, so will sub. BTY β check out Kevinβs post for today, itβs right up your flavor alley!
I WILL! Thanks for the tip!! PS Thigh will work great with this, just watch the cook time and take them out if they are cooked before the glaze reduces down. π Off to Kevinβs!
Man these drum sticks look delicious! Like you, I love chicken adobo, so if this rivals that dish, I know this will be scrumptious! Bonus that you only use five ingredients! Gotta pin so I can make this!
Oooh, you will totally βgetβ this then, it is made just like adobo!! And it is one of those recipes that just βhappensβ to be five ingredients, rather than forcing it to be, if you know what I mean?? π
Soy sauce really is a powerhouse ingredient! Iβm blown away that there are only 5 ingredients in these beauties. Definitely going to try this recipe, Nagi! Thanksβ¦
I knowβ¦canβt believe I FORGOT it!! DUH! I bet you never have fails like thatβ¦
Oh my goodness, Nagi!! These pictures are absolutely stunning!!! I am so blown away. They sound amazing and so easy! Iβd love to try soon (:
Thanks Connie! Hope you do give it a go, itβs crazy easy! π
Awww, so now Iβm wishing I had this for dinner tonight instead of the leftovers weβve got (although they are pretty tasty leftovers, I must say ;-)). Any kind of sticky chicken legs are pretty irrestible, arenβt they? It is pretty cool that there are only 5 ingredients for such a yummy-looking dish, too! Nice one again, Nagi!
Ha! Iβd take YOUR leftovers over a quick meal like this anyday π
oh wow Nagi!! This looks delicious π I love the exposed bone tooβ¦ makes the meal seem all the more fancy! This will go so well at my home and my parents homeβ¦ we are massive balsamic addicts (can drink it out of the bottle kind of addicts)! Iβll let you know how quickly the plates were licked clean π
Same! I have a theory that balsamic can make pretty much anything taste better!! And when itβs thickened into a syrup like this β amazeballs!
WOW! These drumsticks look insanely good. I canβt believe they require only 5 ingredients and are made on the stove top!
I know, right? Itβs such a unique way of cooking them! Worked perfectly, and it HAPPENS to only be 5 ingredients too!!
I cannot wait to get sticky fingers! Your drumsticks look divine. I can almost taste them π
Thanks Oana!! Thereβs just no other way to eat drumsticks β gotta get dirty! π
These look absolutely delicious and I love how they are cooked on the stove top. Gorgeous pictures Nagi!
I know, right?? Never thought to do that before!
only 5 ingredients?!!!! Nagi, damn, these drumsticks look soooooooo good!!! love!
Thanks Alice! Pretty amazing huh?? π