Description
A fun and tasty treat combining savory chicken and crunchy bacon with a sweet chili kick, perfect for parties or family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10–12 chicken drumsticks, skin on
- 10–12 strips thick-cut bacon
- 1–2 tablespoons neutral oil or melted ghee
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose or sweet chili seasoning blend
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Toothpicks, optional, for securing bacon
- 240 millilitres sweet chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or ghee
- 0.5 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional
Instructions
- Using kitchen shears, cut around the knuckle end of each drumstick, pushing the meat down toward the base to form a lollipop shape.
- Pat drumsticks dry with paper towels and brush with oil or melted ghee.
- Mix the seasoning blend, garlic powder, and smoked paprika in a small bowl and coat the chicken.
- Wrap each drumstick with a strip of bacon, securing it if necessary, leaving the bone exposed.
- Preheat the smoker to 135°C. Arrange the bacon-wrapped drumsticks on the smoker grates and smoke for 90–120 minutes until done.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; sauté garlic and ginger for 1–2 minutes. Add sweet chili sauce, honey, soy sauce, vinegar, and optional crushed red pepper; simmer for 3–5 minutes.
- When chicken reaches 68–71°C, brush with glaze and continue smoking until the chicken is fully cooked and bacon is crisp, about 10–15 minutes more.
- Remove from smoker, brush with more glaze, and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Use thick-cut bacon for better texture. Check internal temperature for proper cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 120 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Smoking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 lollipop
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 100mg