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Grab the napkins!! These cranberry barbecue drumsticks are finger-licking good! Our fall twist on a favorite appetizer or side dish will be a hit around the table. Seasoned baked chicken drumsticks coated in homemade cranberry barbecue sauce.
These homemade barbecue drumsticks are savory, slightly tangy. They’re a great addition to a fall game day grazing table or to serve for a fall gathering. They’re super easy to make. And we can imagine serving these at an upcoming Friendsgiving with an assortment of sides like kale salad and mashed potatoes.
Looking for more fall recipes? Check these out!
Fall Apple Cheddar Charcuterie Board
Bakery Style Pumpkin White Chocolate Pecan Cookies
Pretzel Twists with Spicy Beer Cheese Dip
Salt & Vinegar Hasselback Potato Bites
Cranberry Barbecue Drumsticks
Recipe Snapshot:
- Wash drumsticks and pat dry. Preheat oven to 425ºF.
- Toss drumsticks in seasoning and bake for 20-30 minutes
- Make cranberry barbecue sauce.
- Brush wings with cranberry sauce and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
- Remove from oven and serve hot.
How to bake chicken drumsticks…
Baking chicken drumsticks are extremely easy! This recipe is super low maintenance. Here’s all you have to do…
Start by washing the chicken legs and patting them dry with a paper towel. You want to make sure the drumsticks are dry before tossing in seasonings.
Next toss your drumsticks in the seasoning mixture and line them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
Bake the drumsticks for 20-30 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 165ºF.
How to make homemade barbecue sauce….
Homemade barbecue sauce tastes so much fresher than many store-bought sauces. And this cranberry barbecue sauce is a delicious combo of sweet, tangy and savory.
While your drumsticks are cooking in the oven, you should have just enough time to whip up your cranberry barbecue sauce. Here’s what you need to do…
Start by caramelizing onions. This could take about 10-15 minutes to do, because it is important you cook the onions low and slow. The onions will become soft, caramelized and develop a slight sweet flavor.
After the onions are caramelized, add cranberries and the rest of your ingredients to your skillet. You will need to soften the cranberries. As they cook, they will begin to crackle and pop and soak in all the delicious seasonings and flavors.
Once the cranberries are softened, pour your sauce in a blender to blend until smooth. Pour into a bowl or container for storing until your drumsticks are ready to be coated.
How to store leftover chicken drumsticks…
If you have left over drumsticks, you can store in the fridge for 3-4 days or you can even freeze the cooked drumsticks for several months in a freezer-safe container.
Fridge: Store in an air-tight container up to 3-4 days.
Freezing drumsticks: Store in freezer-safe bag, remove as much air as possible. Freeze up to 3-4 months.
Tips for Success
If you want crispy wings, make sure to pat them dry. Once you remove the wings from the packaging, pat them dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This will help to make the wings crispy while baking.
Use a meat thermometer. We always have a meat thermometer on hand to make sure we are properly cooking meat. Check each wing to make sure they are baked to a temperature of165°F internal temperature. Some wings vary in size and can take longer to cook.
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Cranberry Barbecue Drumsticks
Description
Baked seasoned chicken drumsticks coated in homemade cranberry barbecue sauce.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken wings
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2tsp ginger powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp baking powder
Cranberry Barbecue Sauce
- 2 c fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/2 tsp fresh ginger, minced
- 1/2 orange juiced
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes canned
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Wash drumsticks and pat dry. Toss drumsticks in garlic powder, ginger powder, s&p, and baking powder.
- Lay wings in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Place in the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes until cooked through to 165°F.
- Add oil and onions to skillet. Soften and caramelize. Add water, cranberries and rest of ingredients. Cook all together in skillet until all is softened. Blend in blender until smooth.
- Remove from the oven and let the wings cool for 5 minutes.
- Place the wings in the sauce one by one to evenly coat and put back in oven for 5 more minutes. Remove and serve hot.
