Heart Healthy Honey Chicken Drumsticks

Chicken drumsticks get a bad rap, but depending on how they are made, you can make chicken drumsticks healthy. For starters, you’ll want to remove the skin from the chicken, which is where most of the fat resides. By baking, broiling or grilling the chicken instead of frying it, you’ll also wind up with a healthier meal. If you’re wondering if honey chicken is healthy, the answer to that also depends on how it’s made. In this recipe, we combine honey with savory spices to create a glaze that isn’t loaded with sugar or carbs, keeping it healthier. But depending on the honey chicken recipe you use or where you get it from, it may not be as healthy. The chicken may be breaded, fried or swimming in a sugary glaze.

Baking and broiling are both healthy ways to cook chicken, resulting in tender, juicy meat without the need for added fats. Which method you use will depend on what type of recipe you are making - baking cooks more evenly through a dish while broiling creates more of a crust or char on the surface, much in the same way as grilling. Traditional frying is not as healthy because it relies on fat to cook.

Although these drumsticks make for a crowd-pleasing chicken appetizer recipe, you may want to add a side or two if you plan on eating them as a meal. Here is just a sampling of some healthy sides for chicken drumsticks you can find on our site, guaranteed to satisfy every guest:

• Hearty Mashed Potatoes
• Homemade Cornbread
• Green Beans with Almond Slices

We also have plenty of other heart healthy side dishes to choose from.

If you’re looking for other flavor variations for chicken drumsticks, wings or tenders, don’t miss these finger-licking-good options:

• Sriracha Chicken Drumsticks
• Spicy Chicken Drumsticks
• Buffalo Chicken Tenders