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These Baked chicken drumsticks are so crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and easy to make. Made with a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce, it is the perfect chicken recipe to serve your guests all year round.
You will also like my baked BBQ chicken breast recipe served with some crispy baked potato wedges.
My kids love drumsticks and these BBQ chicken drumsticks are one of their favorite. Whether you choose to bake these chicken drumsticks in the oven or outdoors they will be a huge hit.
The drumsticks are seasoned and marinated with garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, ground ginger, and salt and pepper. They are then baked to perfection before smothering them with BBQ sauce. Baked again to get that perfectly tender on the inside and crispy on the outside drumsticks.
If you want to make BBQ sauce from scratch then check out my homemade BBQ sauce recipe.
Why this drumstick recipe is so good
- Super easy: Nothing much needed but a handful of spices, drumstick, and BBQ sauce. Simple and easy to put together and let the oven do most of the work!
- So tasty: the flavors of the spices used coupled with the BBQ will make these drumsticks finger-licking good!
- Healthy: No oil is needed, you may even take off the skin and cook without it for a healthier option. Look for a low-sugar or sugar-free BBQ sauce too!
Ingredients for BBQ chicken legs
- Chicken drumsticks (about 12)
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, Onion powder, Chili powder, Smoked paprika, Ground, ginger, Salt, and pepper.
- BBQ sauce: use your favorite store-bought version that can be low in sugar or make your own at home. Not sure how? Check out my post on how to make a homemade BBQ sauce.
How to make BBQ chicken drumsticks in the oven
- Mix the spices together: First, in a mixing bowl, add drumsticks, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, ginger, salt, and pepper.
- Marinate the chicken: Using your clean hands, generously rub the seasoning all over the drumsticks.
Refrigerate to allow the seasonings to penetrate the meat, for at least 30 minutes. - Preheat oven: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350F and line a roasting tin with aluminum foil for easy
cleanup, if desired. - Bake the drumsticks: Then, transfer the chicken drumsticks to the prepared roasting tin arranging them on the wire rack with a little space in between. Bake, in the middle of the oven, for 40 minutes, flipping half time.
- Add the BBQ sauce: When the time is up, remove from the oven and brush each chicken drumstick with BBQ sauce. Return to the oven and bake for 10 minutes, then flip the drumsticks and repeat the process once again.
- Enjoy: Finally, serve immediately and enjoy them!
Recipe notes and tips
- You may use boneless and skinless chicken breast for a healthier option or chicken thighs.
- Use your favorite healthy BBQ sauce. You can find some with low-sugar or even sugar-free.
- Marinate the chicken for 30 minutes. If pressed for time you can skip marinating.
- Don’t forget to bake again after you add the BBQ sauce to get that extra crisp.
- Place leftovers in a container and store them in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave when ready to eat or you can bake for 10 minutes or so in a preheated 350 oven.
- You can store in a ziplock bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
- The serving size is 2 drumsticks.
Common Questions 🥰
Depending on the oven, drumsticks will take at minimum 40-50 minutes at 350-400 F to fully bake. Turn it over halfway through at 25-30 minutes and let it continue to bake. You will be able to tell when they look really crispy and tender to the touch of a fork or tongs. Another way to check is by using a food thermometer until it reaches 160 F or then the juices coming out of the chicken are no longer pink.
Chicken is healthier meat compared to red meat/beef. Even though the thighs, wings, and drumsticks aren’t as lean and healthy as the breast, the drumsticks are fairly low in fat and high in protein when cooked without the skin.
This is something I prefer not to do if I have the time to just allow the chicken to bake or grill on its own. It is not a bad idea if you want to precook the chicken and later on finish grilling them outdoors to get that smoky charred finish.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItWhat do you eat with drumsticks
So much you can eat with drumsticks. The options are endless but I have a few ideas for you that you can check out. Try them with:
- Potato wedges like this garlic parmesan potato wedges or these crispy baked potato wedges
- Something low in carbs like this Cauliflower mash recipe
- Try it with some Homemade Hummus
- Roasted veggies like these Brussel Sprouts or this roasted cauliflower
- How about some salad like this simple Avocado Tomato Salad
More easy chicken recipes
- Healthy Chicken Alfredo Zoodles
- Easy Butter Chicken
- Broccoli Chicken Fritters
- Greek Chicken Salad
- Chicken Pasta Salad
- Chicken Cabbage Soup
If you try a recipe and you like it, leave me some feedback in the comment section below, and don’t forget to rate it! Pin it and share it with friends and family!
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Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 4 pounds Chicken drumsticks, about 12
- 2 tablespoons Garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons Onion powder
- 2 tablespoons Chili powder
- 2 tablespoons Smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon Ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 2 cups Sugar-free BBQ sauce, or low sugar
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add drumsticks, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, ginger, salt, and pepper. Using your clean hands, generously rub the seasoning all over the drumsticks.
- Refrigerate to allow the seasonings to penetrate the meat, for at least 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 F and line a roasting tin with aluminum foil for easy cleanup, if desired.
- Transfer the chicken drumsticks to the prepared roasting tin arranging them on the wire rack with a little space in between.
- Bake, in the middle of the oven, for 40-50 minutes, flipping half time.
- When the time is up, remove from the oven and brush each chicken drumstick with BBQ sauce. Return to the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, then flip the drumsticks and repeat the process once again.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- You may use chicken breast or thighs
- Use your favorite healthy BBQ sauce
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Overall it turned out good. I had to cook it about another 30 minutes. The chicken was still quite raw at the first 30 minute mark. The legs were about normal size. Maybe this recipe works best for small chicken legs. But flavor was really good in the end.
I substituted no name honey garlic sauce for the BBQ sauce, but found the same thing as Scott…they were not done cooking and needed additional time. I set my oven to True Areo Bake (all around heat plus air circulation) at 350 for 60 minutes (20+20+10+10). I then set my oven to Areo Roast at 400 for another 15 minutes (same as Aero bake with the addition of the overhead broil burner) and unfortunately got distracted and left them for 25 minutes. No worries about mine being crispy! lol ! The sauce on top burned to a crisp (charcoal really, so I was glad I left the skin on) but the drumsticks on the inside were juicy and delicious! Even the crispy outside was tasty. The honey garlic combined nicely with the assorted spices in the marinade rub. I’m sure if I’d taken them out of the oven that final time, at 15 or 20 minutes, they would have been perfect! I will definitely try this recipe again, however I cooked 14 large drumsticks and completely covered them each in the rub and I had enough of the spice mixture left over for at least 4-5 more drumsticks.
Was great!
Awesome!
That was amazing very easy and tasteful.
I spiced night before
So juicy and moist.
Left half with out of barbecue sauce and was so good to.
This is in the oven right now. Omitted the chili powder and ginger. Rubbed them down with avocado oil and spice mix. Roasted them at 450 and turned them half way through. still cooked for 45 minutes. Nice and crispy and juice. Will keep this one
Perfect. Thanks for the feedback
For some reason there was alot of extra spices left over, but that was an easy fix. Also made it in an airfrier. Was soooo good. Husband said best drumsticks ive made so far 🙂
Thanks for the feedback Ashley
It wasn’t done, not even close. Maybe it was the size of my drumsticks but you need to add a LOT more time to the cooking time. Make sure you check it.
Hey. Every oven varies and the size also plays a role. I will make a note of it to try making it again.
They smell amazing but agreed, mine have been in the oven for over 2 hrs at 350 and are still not finished, and the bbq sauce is getting burnt. I cook a lot and haven’t had this issue with other recipes so I know it’s not my oven.
Made it today and it tasted amazing. Wondering if you know how to make it crispier, mine was very juicy but I’d like the skin to be crispier as well.
Thanks!!
amazing! thanks for the feedback
Maybe broil with the bbq sauce for a few minutes?
Made this for my family 2 days in a row! Boneless thighs are there favorites
sounds amazing. Love the idea
Do you need to cover chicken while baking?
Its really optional, you don’t have to.
What do you do if you don’t have a wire rack and do you grease the bottom of the pan?
no, you don’t have to grease it.
Do you bake again for the 10 minutes or just add more sauce
Bake again yes.
Excellent ! I have made this twice in 3 days. Once with legs, once with thighs. Everyone loved it.
So glad you loved it.
I’m wondering if I could bake ahead ,same day and then add the BBQ sauce and put on the BBQ to grill
Sure you can try it
Had this last night. Absolute awesome. When it’s 95 degrees outside, this is the perfect way to have bbq drumsticks. Thanks for this.
Just perfect! Thanks for the feedback.
Loved this recipe i made it with rays low sugar barbecue sauce and it tasted amazing perfect meal for after the gym coupled with an avocado
Sounds perfect. Thanks for the feedback Andrew.
Loved this recipe. Best BBQ I have had. Make sure you have plenty of napkins, sticky sauce, just the way it should be!
So glad you loved it, Gail. Thanks for the feedback.
Hi there! Does it matter if you use chicken drumstick with or without the skin?! Thank you!
Its really what you prefer. I like to keep it on to protect the chicken from drying and stays juicy.
Loved it
Great! glad you liked it