Sticky Drumsticks 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker. The neighbors continue inquiring of what is so sweet and I continue to neglect hearing them knocking.
These slow cooker dish with only 3 ingredients are my type of a weeknight superhero: you can put all of it into the slow cooker before you go to work, and come home to sticky, fall-off-the-bone chicken the way you pretended to plan on a Sunday. Those sweet-and-savory Asian-style wings make you want to immediately get some sticky drumsticks that you may order during a football game–only made easy and easily made into a family dinner.
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
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2-2.5 lbs bone-in chicken drumsticks (approximately 8-10 pieces)
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1 cup barbecue sauce (a brand of your choice)
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1/3 cup honey
Sticky Drumsticks: Directions
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Dry the chicken drumsticks using paper towels. This will assist in sticking the sauce and prevent the texture of the dish of being too watery in the slow cooker.
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Spread the barbecue sauce and honey in a medium bowl until they are completely blended.
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Put the drumsticks into the slow cooker evenly. It is alright to have some of them overlap, but it is best not to pile them too deep.
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Add the honey-barbecue mixture to the drumsticks and spin them around in tongs to cover each slice with the sauce.
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Bake and roast on LOW 4-5 hours or HIGH 2.5-3 hours until the chicken is cooked through and extremely tender (the inside of the chicken must reach 165°F / 74°C).
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Optional for extra stickiness: Line a baking sheet with foil and apply a bit of cooking spray. Move the cooked drumsticks to the baking pan. Add some of the sauce in the slow cooker and pour it over.
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Bake the drumsticks in the oven on HIGH and monitor the time of baking, not exceeding 3-5 minutes, till the skin is caramelized with some spots charred. This assists the glaze to solidify and stick to the chicken.
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Alternatively, simmer the rest of the sauce in a small saucepan on medium heat for 5-7 minutes to make it slightly thick and brush or spoon the sauce over the drumsticks before serving.
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Serve hot with your preferred sides and pour over any additional sticky sauce.
Variations & Tips
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To retain the actual 3-ingredient version, stick to drumsticks, barbecue sauce, and honey.
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Swap barbecue sauce for teriyaki for an Asian-inspired flavor.
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Add a spicy touch with sriracha or hot sauce (technically adds an ingredient).
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Reduce sweetness by using 1/4 cup honey plus a splash of soy sauce.
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For meal prep: cook on Sunday, reheat at 350°F to crisp.
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Can be made with bone-in chicken thighs using the same method.
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Optional garnishes (extra ingredients): sliced green onion, sesame seeds, or a squeeze of lime.
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If slow cooker produces excess liquid, remove lid for the final 30 minutes on HIGH to reduce sauce before broiling.
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