Description
Delicious baked BBQ chicken drumsticks seasoned with a flavorful blend of spices and smothered in a sugar-free BBQ sauce, offering a crispy, tender, and tangy main course perfect for any occasion.
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 chicken: In a mixing bowl, add the chicken drumsticks, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, ground ginger, salt, and pepper. Using clean hands, rub the seasoning generously and evenly all over the drumsticks to ensure full coverage.
- 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 deeply.
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a roasting tin by lining it with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Arrange a wire rack over the roasting tin to place the drumsticks with space between each.
- Bake the drumsticks: Transfer the drumsticks to the wire rack in the roasting tin, spacing them evenly. Bake in the middle of the oven for 50 minutes total, flipping the drumsticks halfway through the baking time to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
- Apply BBQ sauce and finish baking: After 50 minutes, remove the drumsticks from the oven and brush each one generously with the sugar-free BBQ sauce. Return them to the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Then flip the drumsticks, brush with BBQ sauce again, and bake for another 15 minutes to create a flavorful glaze.
- Serve: Once fully cooked and glazed with BBQ sauce, remove the drumsticks from the oven and serve immediately while hot and juicy. Enjoy your crispy, tender baked BBQ chicken drumsticks!
Notes
- For even more flavor, marinate the chicken overnight in the refrigerator.
- Use a wire rack to allow air circulation and get crispier skin.
- If you prefer spicier chicken, add cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the seasoning mix.
- Brush the BBQ sauce generously for a sticky, caramelized finish.
- Leftover chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for best texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 522 kcal
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 2014 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 186 mg
