Description
These Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks are a deliciously flavorful and easy-to-make meal featuring tender chicken coated in a homemade cola BBQ sauce. Perfectly baked to achieve a juicy interior and a slightly caramelized exterior, these drumsticks are enhanced with a blend of spices and served with sliced green onions for freshness. They’re versatile enough to be paired with your favorite sides or enjoyed cold from the fridge.
Ingredients
Scale
Cola BBQ Sauce
- ¾ cup ketchup
- ⅔ cup cola (such as Dr Pepper, Coke, or Root Beer)
- ½ cup honey
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Chicken Drumsticks
- 2 pounds chicken drumsticks
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Olive oil, for drizzling or spraying
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C). This high temperature helps to create a nice caramelization on the chicken while roasting.
- Make the cola BBQ sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine the ketchup, cola, honey, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Let it cook for 15–20 minutes until it thickens slightly and the flavors meld together. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare the chicken drumsticks: Pat the chicken dry using paper towels. In a large bowl, combine the chicken drumsticks with kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Toss them well to evenly coat each piece with the seasoning.
- Apply olive oil: Drizzle or lightly spray olive oil over the seasoned drumsticks to help achieve a crispy, golden skin when baked.
- Bake the chicken: Arrange the drumsticks on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper, spaced evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, turning once halfway through to ensure even cooking.
- Brush with BBQ sauce: After 35 minutes, remove the drumsticks from the oven and generously brush them with the prepared cola BBQ sauce on all sides. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, allowing the sauce to caramelize and glaze the chicken.
- Final broil (optional): For extra caramelization, you can broil the drumsticks for 2–3 minutes at the end of baking—keep a close eye to avoid burning.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven, let rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with thinly sliced green onions. Serve warm with your favorite sides or refrigerate and enjoy cold later.
Notes
- These drumsticks are perfect for meal prep and taste great even cold right out of the fridge.
- Use any cola beverage you prefer for a unique twist on the BBQ sauce’s flavor.
- For extra smoky flavor, try using smoked paprika in both the seasoning and the sauce.
- Make sure to pat the chicken dry before seasoning to get crispy skin.
- If you don’t want to broil at the end, simply bake longer to get a deeper caramelization.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 4-5 drumsticks)
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
