Sticky Oven-Roasted Apple Cider Barbecue Chicken

I’ve been craving barbecue 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. My whole family loved this easy barbecued chicken recipe and thought it paired nicely with a loaded garden salad, baked beans, and potato salad.

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, bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce to low and simmer for 60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reduces. Remove from the heat and let it 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 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 the baking sheet in the oven and roast for 25 minutes.

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

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

Serve the chicken drumsticks with any extra sauce.