Smoky Chipotle Baked Chicken Drumsticks
Below: These smoky chipotle baked chicken Drumsticks are a great option to add to your weekly meal plan and are great for serving at family gatherings, gameday parties, and more!
Chicken is an important part of an anti-inflammatory diet, because we can digest white meat like chicken, turkey, and fish more easily and rapidly.
It is important to have a variety of ways to cook these proteins so that we don’t get bored eating the same meals every day.
The good thing is that there are so many ways that we can use different parts of the chicken for different recipes which allows us to enjoy it that much more!
For example, the chicken thigh recipe that I am going to share today are so juicy and contains more fat than chicken breasts which seem to be used in more recipes. The good thing about that is that we can choose which type of chicken we are going to use depending on our individual goals.
If you are trying to eat less fat, then it is better to eat the breasts than the thighs. If you are looking for a tasty recipe using chicken breasts, check out these healthy chicken fajitas.
Why are Chicken Drumsticks Healthy?
Chicken thighs are considered a complete protein, and aside from that, they are very juicy and tender. They are loaded with phosphorous, zinc, iron, selenium, and magnesium. Those minerales and anti-oxidants are very important for our health. Juicy chicken thighs are also low in sodium, which makes them good for people with high blood pressure or high levels of uric acid.
Chicken thighs are part of a group that is called “dark meat,” which is why it has concentrated levels of zinc and iron which is good for our immune systems.
If you want to lower the levels of fat in chicken thighs, you can easily remove the skin also.
While other cuts of chicken, like breasts, have a higher level of protein than thighs, the thighs contain more collagen because of the cartilage and skin that they have.
Chicken skin has high levels of collagen and omegas 3 which are essential for preventing pain and the development of arthritis as it reduces inflammation.
With all that said, it is important to consume organic, pasture raised chicken. If not, it is not recommended to eat the skin because chickens raised in captivity often contain higher concentrations of omegas 6 which can cause more inflammation.
How do you make Chipotle Baked Chicken Drumsticks?
This recipe is super easy. What makes them so delicious is the seasonings that they have, as well as the manner in which they are cooked which results in crispy skin. This recipe uses bone-in chicken thighs, which makes for even more juicy meat. You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs as well, but that may affect the cook time and some of the flavor.
This recipe has a smoky flavor that comes from the smoked paprika and chipotle powder that forms part of the rub that it is seasoned with. The taste is incredible and if you follow the recipe it will result in perfect baked chicken thighs.
Start by gathering the following simple ingredients:
- 5 or 6 organic, pasture raised bone-in skin-on chicken drumsticks (chicken legs)
- 1 tablespoon of cilantro
- 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon of chipotle powder
- 1/8 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoon of olive oil or avocado oil
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
- 1/4 red onion, cut into rings
- Fresh jalapenos (optional)
Get started by preheating your oven to 400 degrees f. Now, get a large bowl and add one tablespoon of oil with the rest of the ingredients except the chicken, onion, and jalapenos. Mix well and then add the thighs, ensuring that each piece of chicken is covered with the spice rub.
Add the chicken to a large baking dish and add the onions and jalapenos. Place in the preheated oven with the remaining tablespoon of oil and bake chicken thighs for 20-25 minutes. The cooking time may vary depending on the size of your chicken thighs. Also, if you are using this recipe for boneless chicken thighs, it will probably have a shorter baking time.
At this point, set your oven to broil on high temperature and cook for 3-5 more minutes until you have crisp skin that is golden brown.
Another way for cooking chicken thighs like these is on your smoker or grill outside. This is especialy good in summer months and if you want a smokier flavor. They will turn out great in the oven as well, but it is always good to have more options!
Let me know in the comments below how this turned out for you.
Smoky Chipotle Baked Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 6 Chicken Thighs Organic, Pasture-Raised
- 1 Tbsp Coriander Seeds
- 1 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
- 1/8 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 Tsp Chipotle Powder
- Salt and Pepper To Taste
- 1/4 Red Onion Cut into rings
- 2 Jalapeños Sliced (optional)
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees f.
- Get a large bowl and add one tablespoon of oil with the rest of the ingredients except the chicken, onion, and jalapenos
- Mix well and then add the thighs, ensuring that each piece of chicken is covered with the spice rub.
- Add the chicken to a large baking dish and add the onions and jalapenos. Place in the preheated oven with the remaining tablespoon of oil and bake chicken thighs for 20-25 minutes.
- At this point, set your oven to broil on high temperature and cook for 3-5 more minutes until you have crisp skin that is golden brown. Remove from oven and serve.