Baked Chicken Lollipop – these drumsticks are perfect finger food appetizers and are shaped like lollipops. These juicy, tender lollipop chicken drumsticks are marinated with hoisin, ginger and baked to deliciousness.
Cooking for family get-togethers can be rewarding and frustrating at the same time. I hate to admit it, but my competitive spirit tends to get the best of me when I’m planning the dish or dishes I’m going to take.
I want something that everyone will love, which is not only tasty but also attractive, memorable and has flair.
I’ve spent hours planning dishes to dazzle—and I’ve got to admit—outdo my cousin, who also could be classified as a competitive cooker.
I know she must spend just as many hours finding the right recipe to create.
Even though I’m competitive, I’m also a problem solver when it comes to cooking. The last family gathering had dishes that were outrageously delicious, but rather hard for the kids to eat.
Each child was “marinated” (*messy hands) thoroughly after he or she finished the meat on the plate since we’re all big on sauces and marinades to add magic to the main courses.
I found a few recipes that would dazzle the grown-ups but kept the problem creating kid-friendly meals in the back of my mind.
When scanning the internet, I saw the perfect solution, chicken lollipops!
They were cute, child-friendly and even had their own grip that would keep little hands cleaner.
How to make lollipop chicken drumsticks
The cooking part was easy, preparing the chicken drumsticks for cooking was the tough part. I used my kitchen knife or scissors to help with the job, cutting the skin and tough tendons around the base of each, then pushing the meat toward the end to expose the bone.
It made the chicken legs look just like a lollipop. Removing the knuckle wasn’t easy either, but well worth it when you saw how cute the final product looked.
Other option
You can wrap the chicken using a piece of regular bacon (nothing thin or too thick). Make sure to tuck the ends of the bacon into the bacon above it to avoid ends from coming loose while baking. Or you can go ahead and use a toothpick to secure the bacon.
Extra Tip
Once your bones are exposed, you can wrap them in tin foil to prevent the bone from turning dark during the smoking process. I wrapped the “stick” end in tin foil to prevent the bone from turning dark during the cooking process. But importantly, for serving and it created the perfect handle for the kids with far less dripping and sticky fingers.
The only problem I had with these darling additions to the meal is that I didn’t make nearly enough. So, I served them with Kung Pao Chicken.
All the adults wanted some too! The marinade made them moist and tasty and the tinfoil stick made them easy to eat. My cousin was so jealous and I smiled inside, victoriously.
Ingredients
- 10 pieces chicken drumsticks (skin attached, cleaned and pat-dry)
for the marinade:
- 2 tsp ginger (peeled and minced)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 3 tbsp Hoisin sauce
- 1/2 tbsp chili sauce (mild)
- 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tbsp sugar (or honey)
- 1/2 tbsp water
Chili Lime Dipping Sauce
- 2 tbsp Jalapeno pepper (finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp chili sauce
- ½ cup lime juice
- ⅓ cup chicken stock
- 2 tbsp cilantro (or coriander leaves)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
Step by step instructions
1 Use a kitchen knife or scissor to cut the skin and tendons around the base of each drumstick.
2 Peel, scrape and push the meat down to the thick end, from top to bottom. It made the drumstick looks just like a lollipop.
3 Repeat with remaining chicken drumsticks.
4 In a bowl, prepare the Marinade ingredients. Add in the chicken drumsticks, coat well and marinate for at least 1 hour, or best overnight.
5 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Arrange the lollipop drumsticks on the wire rack set over a baking pan. Bake until the chicken is nicely browned and slightly charred, and completely cooked through, for about 35 minutes.
6 Serve with the dipping sauce of your choice. They are delicious as is without any dipping sauce.
Other chicken recipes:
Baked Chicken Lollipop Recipe
Print Pin RateEquipments:
- Oven
Ingredients:
- 10 pieces chicken drumsticks (skin attached, cleaned and pat-dry)
Marinade:
- 2 tsp ginger (peeled and minced)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 3 tbsp Hoisin sauce
- ½ tbsp chili sauce (mild)
- ½ tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tbsp sugar (or honey)
- ½ tbsp water
Chili Lime Dipping Sauce
- 2 tbsp Jalapeno pepper (finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp chili sauce
- ½ cup lime juice
- ⅓ cup chicken stock
- 2 tbsp cilantro (or coriander leaves)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions:
- Use a kitchen knife or scissor to cut the skin and tendons around the base of each drummete.
- Peel, scrape and push the meat down to the thick end, from top to bottom. It made the drumette looks just like a lollipop.
- Repeat with remaining chicken drumsticks.
- In a bowl, prepare the Marinade ingredients. Add in the chicken drumettes, coat well and marinate for at least 1 hour, or best overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Arrange the chicken drumettes on the wire rack set over a baking pan. Bake until the chicken is nicely browned and slightly charred, and completely cooked through, for about 35 minutes.
- Serve with the dipping sauce of your choice. They are delicious as is without any dipping sauce.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.
Dianne C says
This dish was a big hit!! I wrapped the chickens with bacon and they tasted like bombs. Very kid-friendly too bec of the foil wrap. Thank you !!!
Bethany G says
I’m so excited to try these chicken lollipops, and its a good idea to wrap them in foil to avoid messy hands.. Yas!!
Gloria F says
These looks amazing!! Never thought to make these chicken as finger food. I cant wait to try these lollipops…
Suzanne says
Cravings for Asian food.. but I’m not sure if this is an Asian dish. In fairness, they look appetizing to me and look easy to tackle. I’m excited to try these pops later. Thanks.
Tiffany B. says
I’m so glad to find your recipe, I would definitely try these chicken lollipops this week. They look so yummy and tempting… for sure, my kiddos would love these.
Helen Marsh says
I love how you put the foil on each chicken, no more messy fingers. I also wrapped my version with bacon and they came out so good.
Cheney T says
One of my favorites.. so glad to find this recipe, my kiddo would love nibbling these chicken. Your pictures look gorgeous..
Felice N says
Been wanting to re-create these chicken lollipops for months and we did. Oh boy! these are so delicious!! I tried to bring these as well for our potluck and everybody loved these. Thank you for posting the recipe.
Dolore S says
This insanely good-looking lollipop chicken will be included on our next meal. I cant wait to try these.. look so delicious!!
Natasha A says
Thank you for posting the picture on how to cut the bones. I made this dish yesterday and they taste fabulous!! I wrap some with bacon and they turned out so good..
Courtney H says
This is perfect for the weekend family get together. I can create my own sauce and make it more spicy. Yum!!
Calleigh says
@Moni,
Yes, they were “marinated” meaning they got messy hands due to sauces and marinades as we were talking about finger foods.
Moni says
Ok, is it just me or is anyone else wondering why you need to “marinate” each child after they finish the meat on the plate?
Cakes For Beginners says
Nice tips! I have been seeking for things like that for a while currently. Thanks!
Laura charles says
These look so good! Even I want some! You’ve totally nailed the creative part of this! Don’t see how anyone could beat these chicken lollipops!
Radif Rahman says
Oh, so yummy, I cant’wait for eating chicken lollipop as the chicken is my favorite. Great recipe.
Nina says
This is so weird, yet I’d love to try it. I think you’ve done an amazing job! 😀
Via Bella says
Wow! That seems like a lot of work to take off everything on the bone but it looks great and so practical too.
Victoria says
Your food photography is amazing
Chichi uguru says
Haven’t seen this before. It looks so tasty too. Pinning this for later.
Shivangi Chauhan says
Do you know Chicken Lollipops are so famous in India as a starter dish and your pictures and recipe has me drooling.
Apolline Adiju says
Wow! Who would have thought that suc a recipe existed? My daughter is going to love it.
Debby says
Yes, yes a thousand times yes! I always order these at any restaurant that has them on the menu. It never occurred to me that I could look up a recipe. I am very excited to try them. I have pinned the recipe. Thanksde
Tanvi Rastogi says
Your presentation is on point. I bet my husband would love to take a bite.
Nik G. says
Chicken lollipops are such a genius idea. Cheers to whoever thought of it! Your recipe sounds really delicious. Anything with an Asian flare, I”m all for. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Nicole V says
Interesting concept! I don’t eat chicken anymore, but i imagine this makes them easier to handle and eat.
Sue Tanya McHorgh says
Oh wow these look delish! I think its a great idea to make them into lollipops! This is great for parties. Thanks for sharing.
Jaime Oliver says
my kids would certainly love these and if I’m honest i would too. I have a serious love of chicken based party foods and these look and sound super
Jordyn galan says
A great appetizer and the sauce sounds amazing! My family would love these.
Andrea says
OMG! These chicken lollipops look sooooo cute! And yummy!!! I’m still not over the fact these look so incredibly cute! Never thought cooked chicken could be so cute! Lol! I’m definitely making these, but I do need to be mentally prepared that preparing the drumettes won’t be a piece of cake. Thanks for sharing this! Oh, these are perfect for showing off culinary skills! haha 🙂
Lori | Choosing Wisdom says
What a great idea! I love how you wrapped the bone with foil to help keep fingers clean. Ingenious!
Nicole says
Oh wow these look delish! I wonder if I could use the same recipe except with any pieces, not just the drumsticks like that. Well done though, I’m getting hungry just reading this!
Emily says
These look so delicious, what a great idea to make them into lollipops!
Amy | The Cook Report says
What a fun recipe, great for a party!
Juli Meyers says
I love changing the front of food. The flavors look as good as the chicken.
Marie | Yay! For Food says
Family get-togethers can definitely be a little stressful especially when you are tasked with providing the food! I love the presentation of the chicken lollipops. The marinade and dipping sauce sounds so so delicious as well.
Jillian says
Fun appetizer for all ages!