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Cherry-Drumsticks-with-Cranberry-Chipotle-Citrus-Sauce-on-the-pellet-grill

Smoked Cherry Chicken Drumsticks with Cranberry Chipotle Citrus Glaze

The recipe is easy to make and tastes amazing as it brings together a tangy, spicy, sweet flavor that pairs well with the smoke.
Servings 6 people
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 Chicken drumsticks
  • ½ cup Cherry rub choose preferred rub

FOR THE SAUCE

  • 1 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 Garlic clove minced
  • 1 can Jellied cranberries
  • 2 ½ cup Oranges juiced
  • ½ Lemon juiced
  • 1 tbsp Brown sugar
  • 1 tsp Juice from chipotle in adobo sauce just the juice
  • 1 small Chipotle pepper, from can of adobo sauce finely diced
  • ⅙ Kosher salt

Instructions

FOR THE SAUCE

  • On the stove, preheat a small pan over medium-low heat. Once the pan is warm, add olive oil and garlic. Sauté until the garlic starts to brown, about 3 minutes.
  • Add the lemon juice, orange juice, and canned jellied cranberries to the pan and stir until it liquefies. Then add the diced chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, brown sugar, and salt. Stir to mix and bring the sauce to a simmer.
  • Simmer for about 10 minutes so the sauce can thicken. This can be done in advance.

FOR THE DUMSTICKS

  • Preheat the pellet grill or smoker to 275°F.
  • Pat drumsticks dry and then rub them with olive oil. Now liberally sprinkle your cherry rub all over the chicken so it's well seasoned.
  • Place drumsticks on the smoker's lower rack, ensuring they are not touching each other and have a little space between them to allow air circulation. Close the lid.
  • Smoke the chicken until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat reads 155°F.
  • GLAZE THE CHICKEN
  • Once the chicken reaches 155°F, brush all sides of the meat with the sauce and return them to the pellet grill. Smoke until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
  • Remove the chicken, glaze it a second time with sauce, and let them rest for 10 minutes.
  • Serve warm!
Calories: 263kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: BBQ, Smoking
Keyword: BBQ chicken

Nutrition

Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 676mg | Potassium: 196mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 43IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg