Description
This recipe features oven-baked BBQ chicken drumsticks seasoned with a flavorful mix of spices and coated in a sugar-free BBQ sauce. The drumsticks are baked until tender and juicy with a crispy outer layer, then brushed with BBQ sauce and baked again to create a deliciously sticky and tangy finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 pounds chicken drumsticks (about 12 pieces)
- 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
BBQ Sauce
- 2 cups sugar-free BBQ sauce (or low sugar BBQ sauce)
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: In a mixing bowl, add the chicken drumsticks along with garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, ground ginger, salt, and pepper. Using your clean hands, rub the seasoning mixture evenly all over the drumsticks to coat thoroughly.
- Marinate: Place the seasoned drumsticks in the refrigerator and let them marinate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Line a roasting pan or tin with aluminum foil for easy cleanup if desired.
- Arrange Drumsticks: Transfer the marinated drumsticks to a roasting tin fitted with a wire rack, spacing them evenly to ensure proper air circulation and even baking.
- Bake the Chicken: Bake the drumsticks in the middle of the preheated oven for 50 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking and browning.
- Apply BBQ Sauce: Remove the drumsticks from the oven and brush each piece generously with the sugar-free BBQ sauce. Return them to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
- Flip and Sauce Again: After 15 minutes, flip the drumsticks over and brush the other side with BBQ sauce. Bake once more for 15 minutes to develop a sticky glaze on both sides.
- Serve: Remove the drumsticks from the oven and serve immediately, enjoying the crispy, tender, and flavorful BBQ chicken.
Notes
- For extra crispy skin, use a wire rack over the roasting tin to allow air circulation underneath the drumsticks.
- If you prefer spicier chicken, add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix.
- Sugar-free BBQ sauce helps reduce sugar content but you can substitute with your favorite low sugar BBQ sauce for a different flavor profile.
- Allowing the chicken to marinate longer, up to a few hours or overnight in the refrigerator, will intensify the flavors.
- Flipping the drumsticks during baking ensures even cooking and prevents burning on one side.
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
