High Protein Spicy Chicken Drumsticks

(5.0)
By Judy Capodanno
Updated 6/5/2025
Dietitian Reviewed: Jane Schwartz, RDN, CLT
Approved for These Diets:
Heart Healthy | Gluten Free | Diabetic | GLP-1
High Protein Spicy Chicken Drumsticks
Photo Credit: Adobe Stock

This High Protein Chicken Drumsticks recipe offers the perfect mix of heat and sweet. The spicy homemade chicken dry rub is sweetened with a drizzle of honey for a heart healthy chicken recipe you’ll want to sink your teeth into. These high protein chicken legs are loaded with 45 grams of protein, but they are low fat because we removed the skin.

That makes this healthy chicken leg recipe one of our best GLP-1 recipes for weight loss plans.  When you're craving high protein dark meat that's spicy instead or salty, bite into a healthy, low sodium chicken leg.

Total Time
30 minutes
Servings
4
Calories
312
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Why Are These High Protein Chicken Drumsticks Heart Healthy?

If you're following a heart healthy diet, there are several good reasons to make this high protein chicken drumsticks recipe. These high protein drumsticks are low fat, low cholesterol and low sodium:

  • High Protein Chicken Drumsticks: The dark meat in chicken legs contain high protein. A serving of two drumstick in this recipe delivers 42 grams of meat protein.
  • Low Sodium Chicken Legs: Instead of seasoning with salt, we make a homemade chicken dry rub using cumin, chili powder, and red pepper flakes and blend them seamlessly with honey and apple cider vinegar for a balanced, low sodium spicy sensation. 
  • Low Cholesterol Chicken Leg Recipe: Our chefs removed the chicken leg skin to reduce saturated fat and make this a low cholesterol recipe. To add flavor in place of fat, we use a homemade chicken dry rub to coat the chicken legs. Then broil, brush with honey mixture, broil again briefly and eat. 
  • Economical Chicken Protein: Chicken legs are a low-cost way to enjoy a high-protein meal. Although not quite as lean as chicken breasts, drumsticks are a healthy protein option, as long as you remove the skin.
  • Family-friendly Chicken Leg Recipe: Kids love this healthy chicken recipe because they can pick the drumsticks up with their hands. These healthy chicken drumsticks only have a slight kick to them, but if you’re serving anyone who doesn’t like spicy foods, simply lower the amount of red pepper flakes in the recipe. 

Chicken drumsticks may not be the first thing you think of when you’re looking for healthy chicken dinner options, but if you remove the skin, they’re a relatively lean source of protein. A serving of these low-calorie chicken drumsticks (2 per serving) has just over 300 calories and only contains 2g of saturated fat but a whopping 45g of protein. The one thing healthy drumstick recipes share is that the chicken is skinless and not smothered in heavy sauces. This recipe gets its flavor from dry spices and just a drizzle of honey mixed with vinegar, which keeps the calories, sugar and sodium low.

Low calorie chicken drumstick recipes like this one can go with almost any type of side dish, but here are a few that round out the meal well:

Health eCooks Cookbook on Amazon

Ingredients

Recipe yields 4 servings

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Helpful How-To Video

How to Make Spicy Chicken Drumsticks

  1. Step 1

    Preheat broiler. Lightly coat a broiler pan with nonstick cooking spray.

  2. Step 2

    In a large bowl, combine garlic, chili powder, salt, cumin, paprika and crushed red pepper. Add chicken to bowl and toss to coat. Place chicken on prepared broiler pan. Broil chicken 7 minutes on each side.

  3. Step 3

    In a small bowl, combine honey and vinegar and stir well. Remove chicken from oven and brush with half of the honey mixture. Broil for 1 minute more. Remove chicken from oven and turn over. Brush chicken with remaining honey mixture. Broil 1 minute or until chicken is done.

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size:
2 drumsticks

312
Calories
9
g
Fat
219
mg
Cholesterol
275
mg
Sodium
12
g
Carbs
2
g
Sat. Fat
0
g
Fiber
45
g
Protein
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Other Spicy Chicken Recipes

Whether you’re looking for healthy chicken drumstick recipes or just like spicy chicken, no matter what form it’s in, these recipes are sure to please your palate:

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