Sticky Drumsticks (with a Simple Tahini Yoghurt Dipping Sauce)

Today, I have for you, a delicious sticky drumsticks recipe – perfect for picnics, a meal, and leftovers are great for school lunches too. They’re budget friendly (even organic drumsticks are quite affordable), super quick to make and something I’m sure the whole family will love.

Health benefits

Most stores bought marinades are a combination of unhealthy ingredients such as sugar, vegetable oils, additives, and preservatives. This homemade marinade demonstrates that healthy doesn’t necessarily mean hours in the kitchen. The marinade is gluten-free, dairy-free and has a fructose-free option. The chicken is obviously a great source of protein and the yoghurt full of gut loving probiotics.

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients like clove garlic, tamari, and lemon zest & juice to whip up this tasty marinade, while the tahini yogurt sauce is made from whisking together full-fat natural yoghurt (or plain greek yogurt), tahini, and a pinch of spices. With these pantry staples, you’ll have a delicious dish that’s easy to prepare and sure to impress.

Instructions for making Sticky Drumsticks with yogurt tahini sauce

Making these sticky drumsticks is super easy. Mix up the marinade, pour it over the drumsticks in a roasting dish, and bake them in the oven for about 40 minutes. While they’re cooking, quickly whip up the tahini yoghurt dipping sauce and you’re ready to serve a delicious meal.

Serving suggestions and how to store

Serve these sticky drumsticks with the dipping sauce on the side for a satisfying finger food dish. They’re great with a simple salad, some roast veggies or pita chips. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days, and you can reheat them in a low oven or enjoy them cold.

Vary this sticky drumsticks recipe to suit

To make this dish dairy-free, swap out the yoghurt for coconut yoghurt in the dipping sauce. If you’re avoiding soy, use coconut aminos instead of tamari. For a sesame-free version, replace the tahini with almond butter, and if you’re garlic-free, just use extra cumin and a pinch of chilli flakes for added flavour.

Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit many specific dietary requirements.

Sticky Drumsticks (with a simple tahini yoghurt dipping sauce)

Prep 5 minutes minutes

Cook 40 minutes minutes

Total 45 minutes minutes

Serves: 12 drumsticks

These sticky drumsticks are the perfect mix of sweet, savoury, and just a little tangy, making them a family favourite for dinner or a casual BBQ. Paired with a creamy tahini yoghurt dipping sauce, this easy-to-make dish is a guaranteed hit that’s both healthy and delicious. Whether served hot or cold, it’s a versatile recipe you’ll want to keep on repeat.

MetricUS Customary

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Ingredients

• 12 chicken drumsticks (approx.)

Marinade

• 1 clove/s garlic -crushed
• 60 ml tamari (¼ cup)
• 85 g rice malt syrup or honey (¼ cup)
• 1 lemon/s -zest and juice

Simple tahini yoghurt dipping sauce

• 250 g natural, Greek or coconut yoghurt (1 cup)
• 2 tbsp hulled tahini 
• ¼ tsp sea salt - or to taste
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F (fan-forced).
• In a small bowl or jug mix all the marinade ingredients together.
• Place the drumsticks in a small roasting dish in a single layer.
• Pour the marinade over the top to toss and coat the chicken evenly and place in the oven for about 40 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. If they are not brown enough, you can always place them under the grill for a few minutes at the end of the cooking process.
• While they are baking make the dipping sauce. Mix all of the ingredients until well combined and serve with the drumsticks.

BBQ tip

• If you wanted to BBQ these you could. Just score the meat of each of the drumsticks three times, to allow the marinated to penetrate and to help them to cook through without burning.

Serve

• Serve with a napkin or wrap foil around the 'handles' .

  Enjoy hot or cold with the tahini yogurt dipping sauce (recipe below).

Make-ahead

• Re-heat covered in a low oven until just hot.

Store

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

Variations

Fructose-friendly

Choose rice malt as your sweetener.

Dairy-free

Choose coconut yoghurt for the dipping sauce.

Sesame-free

Replace the tahini with almond butter.

Garlic-free

Replace the garlic with a teaspoon of cumin and a pinch of chilli flakes.

Soy-free

Replace the tamari with liquid or coconut aminos.

After more healthy lunchbox inspiration?

My best selling ebook The Well Nourished Lunchbox has you covered and is choc-a-block full of healthy lunchbox inspiration - and not just sweet but heaps of savoury crackers, sandwich-free lunch recipes and so much more. In fact, it's 150 pages of goodness!

Click HERE to find out more about this fabulous ebook (and read the many, many reviews).

Course: Main Course

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