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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.
So so flavorful and delicious! I baked for 60 minutes at 385 (rotating half way), and then brushed bbq sauce and baked for 10 minutes. It was absolutely delicious. My family loved it and I am definitely keeping this recipe around.
So glad you all loved it
These came out so juicy and perfect! I got a good crisp! I just cooked them at 360 for 40 min.. half the sauce time for both sides time at 370. Then broil on high both sides for a few minutes. Everyone loved these!!! *Used G Hughes sugarfree hickory bbq*.
Amazing.
Nothing was crispy following the instructions and yes they were normal sized legs.
Hi there,
All ovens vary. I know this because my basement oven takes much longer than the one on my main floor to cook through and get crispy. Same temperature setting, and different brands, but both are great brands. I always suggest everyone bake based on their ovens. Some ovens will need an additional 10-15 minutes.
It wasn’t crispy for me, but I think that was my fault as I didn’t bake in a rack. I did follow the directions and the chicken was moist and tender. Based upon some other comments in the last half of baking, I increased the oven temp to 375. They were done at the 45 min. mark.
Not crispy at all
Did you cover while baking? It all depends
Excellent recipe. Turned out wonderful. Will make it again. Very tasty and very easy to make.
I made it. It was easy and very tasty. Will make again.
The chicken wasn’t crispy and it should have been cooked at a higher temperature.
This is my go too bbq drumstick recipe! It’s super easy and it comes out crispy in the oven.
I tried this and it came out pretty good a little time consuming but not bad.
If you made this with chicken breasts, how long would you bake them?
I had the opposite question as you and came here from the BBQ Baked Chicken Breasts recipe. The seasonings are similar with the addition of avocado oil, but it looks a little quicker and easier, especially the prep: https://healthyfitnessmeals.com/baked-chicken-breast/
Tried this tonight and they still aren’t done after an hour and 10 minutes. ♀️
Followed recipe to a T. Came out severely undercooked, needed to be baked longer and at higher temperature 165. Everything was at around 130 by end of recipe which can cause foodborne ilness.
Hi Chris. Every oven is different. Even in my own house, the oven in my first-level kitchen cooks way more quickly than the one in my basement. So Most likely some ovens will need more time or higher temperatures. I hope you just let it cook some more. I made a note about this in the note section already. I will clarify some more
This was absolutely delicious!! The time in the recipe was wxactly right for my gas oven. Everything was perfect!
Thank you!
Terrific recipe – drumsticks turned out so juicy and delicious. Like others said I think they could be cooked longer so that’s what I did – 60 minutes plus the extra 20 with the sauce. But like someone said every oven is different.
Best chicken I ever made!
Great recipe–family really enjoyed the flavor! I liked your combination of spices very much!
I made 8 large legs (almost 2#). I mixed the spices in a gallon zip-loc; then added drumsticks and shook well. It’s easier than a bowl by far! I cooked them in a convection oven on 425 for a total of 45 min; flipped them after 20 min, brushed marinade on both sides at 40 min, then cooked another 5 min. They were done perfectly; very moist. Not super crispy, but that’s because of the BBQ sauce, of course!
In the future I think I will use skinless, boneless chicken thighs.
Perfect! Thanks for the feedback
Can you bake without a roasting tin/rack? I only have baking sheets and baking dishes.
Yes you can
My grandma actually makes theses but it’s a little different and always used a 9×13 baking dish. Works well and it keeps the juices and everything inside too. So just have to check on them and flip them. Prefer to cover with tin foil.