The past two recipes I’ve posted have definitely been geared toward my Palealmost/Non-Paleo friends who like to use some whole grains in their GF cooking, but this one definitely goes out to my Paleo & low-carb people!  This chicken is super crispy (yet juicy), y’all, and is so simple to make it’s almost embarrassing.  I did not create the technique I use in this recipe, either.  To get the perfect amount of crisp on the outside of the chicken, balanced with the perfectly cooked (that is, not at all dry) meat on the inside, I use a fattier part of the chicken (drumsticks).  Most importantly, I alternate between high and low cooking temperatures, a technique that’s been used for many years by many of the greats, including by the famous Miss Julia Child.  Last but certainly not least, I want to give a shout-out to Miss Nag of RecipeTin Eats, who’s Thai chicken wings greatly inspired this recipe.  Enjoy!

Finger-Lickin’ Chicken Drumsticks

(Serves 8-10) – Paleo, Low-Carb

Ingredients:

• 1 lb organic free-range chicken drumsticks
• 3 Tbsps baking powder
• 1 tsp Kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp paprika (optional – my mom hates paprika)
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional – I love a little heat)

1) Preheat oven to 250F.  Using a paper towel, pat drumsticks completely dry and then place into a large Ziploc bag.

2)  Place all remaining ingredients into the bag with the chicken, and seal the bag.  Make like OutKast, and shake the heck out of it.  The goal is to completely cover the chicken with the dry mixture.

3) Place the drumsticks onto a large, parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake for 40 minutes.

4) At this point, turn the chicken in the oven, and raise the temperature to 425F.  Bake for an additional 40 minutes, and then check the chicken.  Is it cooked through?  If yes, awesome.  Take it out, and let it rest for ten minutes.  If no, give it a bit more time and then check it again.  As my chef instructors used to say, it’s done when it’s done!  Again, once it’s out of the oven, allow it to rest for ten minutes… Or the amount of time it takes for you to call me up and invite me over for dinner.  Enjoy!