Slow-Cooker Honey-Orange Chicken Drumsticks

This slow-cooker chicken recipe makes a perfect alternative to standard tomato-based barbecue chichen.  Both kids and adults will devour these drumsticks, doused in a honey-sweetened sauce with orange, ginger and garlic.

Active:  45 minutes
Ready:  2 hours
Equipment:  slow-cooker

Ingredients

1/3 c. honey
2 tsp. orange zest
2 tbsp. orange juice
3 tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce or tamari
3 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 tbsp. minced fresh ginger
1 tbsp. rice vinegar
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
12 med. chicken drumsticks (3 - 3-1/2 lbs.) skins removed
2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
2 tsp. toasted sesame seeds

Preparation

1.  Combine honey, orange zest, orange juice, soy sauce (or tamari), garlic, ginger, vinegar and crushed red pepper in a small bowl.
2.  Coat 5-6 qt. slow-cooker with cooking spray.  Add drumsticks, pour in sauce and mix to coat.  Cover  and cook until instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F.  Insert thermometer into thickest part of meat without touching bone, 2-3 hours on high or 4 hours on low.
3.  Transfer drumsticks to bowl.  Very carefully pour liquid from slow-cooker into medium skillet.  Bring to boil over high heat.  boil until reduced and syrupy, about 10-15 minutes.  Pour sauce over drumsticks and stir to coat.  Serve sprinkled with cilantro and sesame seeds.

To remove skin from chicken drumsticks, grip skin from meaty end of drusmstick with paper towels and pull down toward exposed bone until it comes off completey.

For easy cleanup, try slow-cooker liner.  This heat-resistant disposable liner fits neatly inside to help prevent food from sticking to bottom and sides of slow-cooker.

People with celiac disease/gluten-sensitivity should use soy sauces labeled "gluten-free," as soy sauce may contain wheat or other gluten-containing sweeteners and flavors.

Nutrition Information

 Serving Size:  2 drumsticks
Per Servings:  252 calories; 7 g. fat (2 g. sat.); 0 g. fiber; 18 g. carbs.; 29 g. pro.; 8 mg. folate; 150 mg. chol.; 16 g. sugars; 15 g. added sugars; 14  mg. vitamin A; 4 mg. vitamin C; 30 mg. calcium; 2 mg. iron; 416 mg. sodium; 352 mg. potassium.
Carbohydrate servings:  1
Exchanges:  1 other carbohydrate; 6 lean meat