Description
This Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks recipe features crispy and tender drumsticks coated with a flavorful blend of spices and finished with a sweet and tangy sugar-free BBQ sauce. Perfectly baked in the oven for a delicious main course that’s easy to prepare and ideal for a family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 pounds chicken drumsticks (about 12)
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Sauce
- 2 cups sugar-free BBQ sauce (or low sugar)
Instructions
- Season the Drumsticks: In a mixing bowl, add chicken drumsticks, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, ground ginger, salt, and pepper. Using clean hands, generously rub the seasoning all over the drumsticks to ensure they are well coated.
- Marinate: Refrigerate the seasoned drumsticks for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.
- Preheat the Oven: Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a roasting tin with aluminum foil for easy cleanup if desired.
- Arrange Drumsticks: Transfer the chicken drumsticks to the prepared roasting tin, arranging them on a wire rack with a little space between each piece.
- Bake the Chicken: Place the roasting tin in the middle of the oven and bake for 50 minutes, flipping the drumsticks halfway through the cooking time to ensure even baking.
- Brush with BBQ Sauce: After baking, remove the drumsticks from the oven and brush each piece generously with the sugar-free BBQ sauce.
- Final Bake: Return the drumsticks to the oven and bake for 15 minutes, then flip each drumstick, brush with more BBQ sauce, and bake for another 15 minutes to set the sauce and develop a sticky glaze.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve the baked BBQ chicken drumsticks immediately while hot and flavorful.
Notes
- For extra crispy skin, broil the drumsticks for 2-3 minutes after the final bake but watch closely to avoid burning.
- You can substitute smoked paprika with regular paprika for a milder smokey flavor.
- Use a wire rack in the roasting tin to allow air circulation and help the skin crisp up.
- Marinate longer than 30 minutes if time permits to deepen the flavor.
- Make sure to flip the drumsticks during baking and saucing to achieve even cooking and coating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 522 kcal
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 2014 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 186 mg
