These Chinese-inspired sous vide chicken drumsticks are addictive in their own right, with each bite of tender, juicy meat and crispy skin.

These Chinese-inspired sous vide chicken drumsticks are addictive in their own right, with each bite of tender, juicy meat and crispy skin.
Click here to download

I like to say, why settle for Wing Wednesday when you could “drum” your way through the whole week?

If you’re in the mood for Chinese food but don’t want to order in or make a whole spread, these sticky and crispy sous vide drumsticks are guaranteed to satisfy the craving.

Sriracha, garlic, ginger, and hoisin sauce create the perfect blend of spicy and sweet, without the need for added refined sugar or saturated fats. And did I mention, you only need five minutes of prep time?

These Chinese-inspired sous vide chicken drumsticks are addictive in their own right, with each bite of tender, juicy meat and crispy skin.

Sous vide cooking is a healthier alternative to deep frying, but rest assured, you’ll still end up with tender, juicy chicken cooked to perfection and crispy skin with proper searing.

No sous vide machine? No problem. This recipe can be easily made in the oven. You can use the sticky sauce as a marinade and soak your chicken drumsticks in it for at least an hour.

When ready to cook, lay the coated drumsticks in a single layer in a roasting pan. Pop the pan in the oven at 350°F for 50 minutes, basting it halfway through. Flip and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.

These Chinese-inspired chicken drumsticks are addictive in their own right, with each bite of tender, juicy meat and crispy skin.
Click here to download

One thing I love about sharing this homemade Chinese sticky sauce recipe with you is that it uses only a touch of honey to sweeten. Restaurant and bottled sauces often use high amounts of added refined sugar to achieve their flavor, which can leave you feeling tired and bloated after a meal.

If you want to give the sauce an extra nutrient boost, you could use raw honey instead of pasteurized honey, which will be higher in enzymes, vitamins, and minerals.

Serve these super duper delicious chicken drumsticks with mashed potatoes or some grains and a side of vegetables. Drizzle the Chinese sticky sauce and enjoy. Yum!

If you are a fan of chicken legs, you might also like these Honey Balsamic Sous Vide Chicken Legs.

Spicy and sticky chicken drumsticks with Chinese kale and millet
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These Chinese-inspired sous vide chicken drumsticks are addictive in their own right, with each bite of tender, juicy meat and crispy skin.

Chinese Sticky and Crispy Sous Vide Chicken Drumsticks

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 8 reviews
  • Author: Sharon Chen
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x
  • Category: Appetizer, Poultry
  • Method: Sous Vide
  • Cuisine: Chinese
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Description

These Chinese-inspired sous vide chicken drumsticks are addictive in their own right, with each bite of tender, juicy meat and crispy skin.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds chicken drumsticks, skin on
  • Salt and ground black pepper
  • White sesame seeds and chopped green onions for garnishing

For the Chinese sticky sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce or soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Sriracha
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons ginger, minced
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 Bird’s eye chili, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat water to 155°F using Anova sous vide precision cooker.
  2. In the meantime, season chicken drumsticks with salt and pepper. Place chicken in a sous vide bag in one layer and seal using a vacuum sealer or a hand pump.
  3. Once the water is ready, slowly lower the chicken into the prepared water bath. Make sure the chicken drumsticks are completely under the water. Cook chicken for 2 hours.
  4. Once the chicken is done, remove the bag from the water bath and drop it into an ice bath to fully chill. (This step will help get extra-crispy skin when you sear it without overcooking the chicken underneath.)
  5. Remove the chicken from the sous vide bag and scrape off any gelled juices using your fingers. (You may preserve the chicken juice for soups or other uses).
  6. Pat the chicken with paper towels. Heat a nonstick pan or cast iron skillet over high heat on the stove, sear the chicken for 1-2 minutes on each skin side or until the skin is golden brown and crispy. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
  7. In the same pan, whisk all Chinese sauce ingredients over medium heat until well combined. Turn off the heat.
  8. Stir in the chicken drumsticks and coat them with the Chinese sticky sauce. Dish and sprinkle with white sesame seeds and chopped green onions over. Enjoy!

Notes

  • This cooking method works for any parts of a chicken, especially dark meat such as chicken thighs or even whole chicken legs. The sous vide cooking temperature and cooking time remain the same.
  • If you’d like to cook chicken breast using this recipe, set temperature to 147°F and cook for 2 hours.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 579
  • Sugar: 24.8g
  • Sodium: 1230.7mg
  • Fat: 32.9g
  • Saturated Fat: 7g
  • Trans Fat: 0.1g
  • Carbohydrates: 32.7g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 37.5g
  • Cholesterol: 184.3mg
These Chinese-inspired sous vide chicken drumsticks are addictive in their own right, with each bite of tender, juicy meat and crispy skin.
Click here to download

About the Author

Sharon Chen, StreetSmart Kitchen

Sharon Chen is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and author of the Complete Sous Vide Cookbook. She believes food not only brings healing but also connection. As the creator of StreetSmart Kitchen, she aims to make meal prep easier than ever and help you find balance, ease, joy, and simplicity in the kitchen as you improve your well-being.