Description
Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks are a flavorful and easy-to-make meal featuring tender chicken coated in homemade cola BBQ sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
- 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
- Set your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a medium saucepan, combine ketchup, cola, honey, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Simmer for 15–20 minutes until thickened.
- Pat the chicken dry. In a large bowl, combine chicken drumsticks with kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Toss to coat.
- Drizzle or lightly spray olive oil over the drumsticks.
- Arrange drumsticks on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper. Bake for 35 minutes, turning once.
- Remove drumsticks and brush with cola BBQ sauce. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
- Broil for 2–3 minutes for extra caramelization.
- Let rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with green onions. Serve warm or refrigerate for later.
Notes
- For a spicier sauce, add chili flakes.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container.
- Pair with coleslaw or cornbread for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 drumstick
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 120mg