Spicy Drumsticks (5 Ingredients)

Name: Spicy Drumsticks (5 Ingredients)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 8 chicken drumsticks; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; 2 teaspoons chili powder; ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper; 2 tablespoons parsley; Pinch red pepper flakes

User Reviews

5.0

54 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings
4 servings
Calories
286 kcal
Course
Main Course
Cuisine
American

Spicy Drumsticks (5 Ingredients)

Winston Campbell

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These spicy drumsticks are just the thing when you're faced with making drumsticks AGAIN. They are made with just five ingredients and no added sugar.

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Ingredients

Servings

8 chicken drumsticks medium, 4 ounces each
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ½ teaspoon of any other salt, including Morton kosher salt
2 teaspoons chili powder
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Optional garnishes:

2 tablespoons parsley chopped
Pinch red pepper flakes

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with high-heat-resistant parchment paper.
Wipe the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels. Arrange them in a single layer on the baking sheet.
Prepare the rub: In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, kosher salt, chili powder, and cayenne pepper to create a paste. Pour the paste over the chicken pieces and, using your hands or a pastry brush, coat the chicken on all sides.
Bake the drumsticks until cooked through and the juices run clear (their internal temperature as measured by a food thermometer not touching the bone should reach 165ºF), for about 40 minutes. Check them after the first 30 minutes and loosely cover them with foil if they seem to be darkening too much on top.
If you wish, garnish the chicken with chopped parsley and red pepper flakes, then serve.

Notes

There IS a valid reason to add a small amount of sugar, although I think it's still used in excess nowadays. Sugar enhances the flavor of foods and promotes browning by enhancing the Maillard reaction that naturally occurs when we roast or sear meats. It's very noticeable in this honey garlic chicken recipe, for example.
So, adding a teaspoon of brown sugar to a rub such as the one used in this recipe is not such a bad idea, especially since very little remains after cooking in each serving. Having said that, my personal choice is to avoid sugar as much as possible, so my recipe contains no added sugar.
You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them covered in the microwave or uncovered in a 350°F oven.
Or simply eat them cold! Cold spicy drumsticks are delicious. It's no wonder cold chicken is such a classic picnic food.