Sticky Oven-Roasted Apple Cider Barbecue Chicken

I’ve been craving barbecue chicken lately, so stumbling upon this easy sticky oven-roasted apple cider barbecue chicken recipe on How Sweet It Is was kismet! The sauce smelled incredible while it simmered on the stove and the chicken couldn’t have been easier to bake. The barbecue sauce was a huge hit with all of us–we loved the flavor, so I will be trying it out on pork and beef, too!

Sticky Oven-Roasted Apple Cider Barbecue Chicken

Apple Cider Barbecue Sauce:

• ⅓ cup ketchup
• ⅓ cup apple cider
• ¼ cup honey
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 2½ tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
• ¼ tsp onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Chicken:

• 1½ lb chicken drumsticks
• Olive oil to taste (about 1 tablespoon)
• Garlic powder to taste
• Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste

How to Make Sticky Oven-Roasted Apple Cider Barbecue Chicken

Make the barbecue sauce by combining the ketchup, apple cider, honey, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, paprika, and sea salt & freshly cracked pepper, to taste, in a small saucepan then whisk together until well combined.

Cook over medium heat and bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced. Remove from the heat and let sit at room temperature until it cools and thickens.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Coat the baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray.

Prepare the chicken by patting the drumsticks completely dry with a paper towel. Drizzle the drumsticks with olive oil and spread it on evenly. Season both sides of the drumsticks with garlic powder, sea salt, and freshly cracked pepper, to taste, evenly.

Bake the chicken by placing the seasoned chicken on the baking sheet. Place into the oven and roast the chicken for 25 minutes.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven and brush the drumsticks with the barbecue sauce evenly. Place into the oven and bake for another 5 to 7 minutes.

Brush with sauce again, and bake for another 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.

Serve the chicken drumsticks with any extra sauce.