The BEST Chicken Lollipop Recipe (How to French Chicken Drumettes) (2024)

Chicken Lollipop Recipe – These handy drumette lollipops are coated in spicy chili garlic and sweet honey sauce for a delicious, fun, and super impressive appetizer or party snack.

Why We Love this Wing Recipe

If you hear lollipop chicken and think, wait… what? you are not alone! Although a long-loved method to prepare chicken, this cooking technique has only recently become very popular in the United States.

So what exactly are these tasty and handy snacks? And what’s the point? “Chicken lollipops” is a fun name for chicken drumettes – and sometimes even drumsticks – that have been “Frenched.” This simply means the tops are trimmed so that the top bone is exposed, and the meat is packed tightly at the bottom in a round ball.

This not only looks appealing, it makes the chicken drummies much easier to eat and enjoy!

But is it worth the extra work to French in the chicken drumettes? Absolutely!

Although this does take a bit of prep work, you will be amazed at how gourmet your chicken lollipops look, and how easily they slide off the bone. This is a fantastic recipe to make for dinner parties and co*cktail hour.

Pssst… If you’ve got a good butcher, you might even be able to talk them into Frenching the drumettes for you. It certainly doesn’t hurt to ask!

Ingredients You Need

• Chicken drumettes – not drumsticks
• Cornstarch and baking soda – together these make a dredge that makes the chicken skin extra crispy
• Salt – a pinch to enhance the flavors
• Chili garlic sauce – a thick and spicy sauce
• Honey – sweet and delicious to balance the chili garlic sauce’s spiciness
• Butter – melted
• Soy sauce – or coconut aminos
• Smoked paprika – gives the chicken lollipop drumettes a lightly smoky flavor

How to French Chicken

Firstly, preheat the oven to 450°F. Set out a large rimmed baking sheet and line it with parchment paper.

To French the drumettes, lay out one drummie at a time.

With a sharp knife, cut the skin and tendons all the way around the thin part, or handle, of the chicken drumette.

Then, use the knife to clean the bone by scraping around the bone to loosen any additional tendon or meat that is clinging to it. Push the meat down towards the bottom.

Lay the drumette on its side and address the bottom.

Trim off any additional meat or skin pieces that hang off. (You want to create a ball shape.)

Then carefully slice the tip of the bone flat, so that when you stand it up on end, it is level.

Now, this process will seem like a chore on the first couple drumettes. But you will get the hang of it quickly and the process will speed up quite a bit!

As you finish trimming each drumette, place them on the baking sheet, standing straight up.

Once all the drumettes are trimmed, set out a small bowl. Mix the cornstarch, baking soda, and salt in the bowl. Then one at a time, dunk the meaty end of the drumette into the cornstarch and roll it around to coat on all sides.

Tap off the excess cornstarch mixture and set it back on the baking sheet.

Get the Complete (Printable) Sweet n’ Spicy Lollipop Chicken Recipe + VIDEO Below. Enjoy!

Place the drumettes in the hot oven for 30 minutes to bake.

Meanwhile, set out another small bowl for the sauce. Combine the chili garlic sauce, honey, melted butter, soy sauce, and paprika. Mix well until smooth.

Once the timer goes off, carefully remove the pan from the oven. Using a paper towel, pick each drumette up and carefully dunk in the sauce, just up to the top of the meat. Shake off the excess sauce and set it back on the baking sheet.

Repeat until all the drumettes are coated in sauce.

Then place the baking sheet back in the oven for 10 minutes.

Again, remove the drumettes from the oven, and one at a time, dunk each drumette in the remaining sauce to coat the meat. Set back on the baking sheet and continue until all the lollipops are double dipped.

Then place the baking sheet back in the oven for 5 more minutes. Remove and cool briefly before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Sweet and spicy chicken lollipops are a delight to serve as a party snack or appetizer. Guests love grabbing these little drumettes from a serving platter with their hands!

Pair with dipping sauces like BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or a second batch of chili honey sauce. (Note: Do not serve with the same sauce used to dip the drumettes. Although the drummies are baked before dipping, they are not entirely cooked throughout when dunking.)

You can pair these frenched chicken wings with a few side dishes to make them a meal, or set out some extra appetizers for feeding a crowd! Here are some of my favorites:

• Air Fryer Cheese Curds
• Onion Rings
• Veggies with Whipped Cottage Cheese Dip
• Air Fryer Tater Tots
• Shoestring Fries
• Fried Pickles
• Potato Wedges

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the point of chicken lollipops?

This preparation method does not do anything to the taste of the chicken. However, it does make the drumettes easier to grab by the bone, makes the chicken slide off as you bite it, and looks fun and different from typical chicken wing appetizers.

Do you have to French the drumettes to make this recipe?

No, you can make this recipe with drumettes (or full chicken wings) just as they come in the package. But they will not look quite as tantalizing.

Can I make this chicken lollipop recipe ahead of time?

If prepping ahead for a party, the trimming and first 30-minute bake can be done 24 hours ahead of time. Store the chicken in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator until ready to cook.

However, make sure to double-dip and bake the lollipops just before serving

How long do leftovers last?

Chicken lollipops will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.

Looking for More Scrumptious Snack Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:

• Fancy 5-minute Nachos
• Easy Buffalo Chicken Bites
• Roasted Fish Bruschetta
• Chili Lime Baked Chicken Wings
• Low Carb Burger Bites