Description
Delicious baked BBQ chicken drumsticks seasoned with a flavorful blend of spices and coated in a sweet and tangy sugar-free BBQ sauce. This recipe yields crispy, tender chicken perfect for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 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 mixture generously all over each drumstick to ensure even coverage.
- Marinate: Place the seasoned drumsticks in the refrigerator and allow them to marinate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors penetrate the meat deeply.
- Preheat the oven: While the drumsticks are marinating, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a roasting tin with aluminum foil for easy cleanup, and set up a wire rack inside the tin if available.
- Arrange the chicken: Transfer the marinated chicken drumsticks to the prepared roasting pan, spacing them evenly on the wire rack to promote airflow and even cooking.
- Bake the drumsticks: Bake in the middle of the oven for 50 minutes, turning the drumsticks halfway through to ensure even cooking and browning on all sides.
- Apply BBQ sauce: Remove the drumsticks from the oven and brush each one generously with the sugar-free BBQ sauce. Return the drumsticks to the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
- Flip and apply sauce again: After 15 minutes, flip the drumsticks and brush the other side with BBQ sauce. Bake for an additional 15 minutes to allow the sauce to caramelize and the chicken to become sticky and flavorful.
- Serve: Once cooked through and nicely glazed, remove the chicken from the oven and serve immediately while hot and juicy.
Notes
- For extra crispy skin, broil the drumsticks for 2-3 minutes at the end of cooking but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- If you prefer spicier chicken, add cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix.
- Use a wire rack in the roasting pan to allow air circulation and even cooking.
- The sugar-free BBQ sauce helps reduce sugar content but still provides great flavor and caramelization.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after baking to allow juices to redistribute for moist meat.
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
