Description
Deliciously crispy and tender baked BBQ chicken drumsticks seasoned with a flavorful blend of spices and coated in a sweet and tangy sugar-free BBQ sauce. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or casual gathering.
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
BBQ Sauce
- 2 cups sugar-free BBQ sauce (or low sugar)
Instructions
- Season the chicken: In a mixing bowl, combine chicken drumsticks with garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, ground ginger, salt, and pepper. Using clean hands, rub the seasoning mixture thoroughly over each drumstick to ensure even coating.
- Marinate: Refrigerate the seasoned drumsticks for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat deeply.
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a roasting tin by lining it with aluminum foil if desired for easy cleanup.
- Arrange the drumsticks: Place the chicken drumsticks on a wire rack inside the roasting tin, making sure to leave a little space between each piece for even cooking.
- Bake the chicken: Bake the drumsticks in the middle of the oven for 50 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even cooking and browning.
- Apply BBQ sauce: After baking, remove the drumsticks from the oven and brush each piece generously with the sugar-free BBQ sauce. Return the chicken to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
- Flip and baste again: Flip the drumsticks, brush with more BBQ sauce, and bake for another 15 minutes to build up a flavorful glaze.
- Serve: Remove the drumsticks from the oven and serve immediately while hot, enjoying the perfect balance of crispy skin and juicy meat with tangy BBQ flavor.
Notes
- For extra crispy skin, you can broil the drumsticks for the last 2-3 minutes while watching carefully to avoid burning.
- If you prefer a spicier BBQ flavor, add cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix.
- Using a wire rack allows heat to circulate evenly around the chicken, helping achieve a crispier texture.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven to maintain crispness.
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
