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You’re going to love these BBQ Chicken Drumsticks – crispy on the outside, and moist, tender, and juicy on the inside. Made with a spice rub, olive oil and your favorite sweet & tangy barbecue sauce – this barbecue chicken dish practically makes itself while roasting in the oven to tender and crispy perfection.

A pile of drumsticks with bbq sauce on them.

Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

These delicious chicken drumsticks are always a crowd pleaser for game day, or an easy dinner that the whole family will love! Chicken drumsticks get rubbed in a dried seasoning + olive oil mixture and then baked in the oven. Slather on your favorite barbecue sauce and dinner is ready to go. With only minutes of hands-on time, this recipe is a great way to get a delicious dinner on the table with little prep. 

Chicken drumsticks are a meaty part of the leg that gets separated from the chicken thighs. I love cooking with drumsticks because there are so many ways to make them – seasonings, sauces, grilling, baking, drying, crispy skin, and lots of other ways. 

A piece of chicken with sauce and parsley on it.
A piece of drumstick with some taken out so you can see the middle of the meat.

Simple Ingredients Needed

  1. Chicken Drumsticks : For the best results I recommend only using fresh chicken drumsticks. However if using frozen drumsticks make sure they are completely thawed before making the recipe.
  2. Olive Oil : I use extra-virgin olive oil for it’s mild taste but any olive oil can be used. 
  3. Garlic Powder
  4. Onion Powder
  5. Smoked Paprika
  6. Chili Powder
  7. Kosher Salt
  8. Black Pepper
  9. BBQ Sauce : Use your favorite bbq sauce for this recipe. It can be a sweet one, spicy, honey bbq sauce, or brown sugar bbq sauce. Or try using Homemade Barbecue Sauce. 
Ingredients

How To Make Seasoned Baked Chicken Drumsticks With Tangy BBQ Sauce (Printable Recipe Card)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Set aside. 

In a small bowl mix together the olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. 

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Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with a paper towel.

Rub the oil and spice mixture all over the chicken drumsticks and place them onto the prepared baking sheet. 

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Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is nearly cooked. Remove the chicken from the oven and brush each drumsticks generously with BBQ sauce.

Return the chicken to the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, and the bbq sauce is caramelized. 

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Let the chicken rest at room temperature for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!

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process images

Recipe Notes & Tips

  • For extra flavor, marinate the chicken drumsticks in the spice mixture and olive oil for 1-2 hours or up to overnight in the refrigerator. 
  • Always ensure that the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F when cooking or reheating to ensure it’s safe to eat. Use a meat thermometer (instant-read thermometer) to check for an accurate temperature before consuming. 
  • Instead of baking, you can grill the chicken drumsticks over medium heat for about 20-25 minutes, turning occasionally and brushing with BBQ sauce.
A piece of drumstick with some biten out of it to see the juicy chicken middle.

Recipe FAQ’S

What Are Chicken Drumsticks?

Chicken drumsticks come from the lower portion of the chicken’s leg. They are a popular choice for grilling, frying, and roasting and they are a low-fat source of excellent protein. Compared to chicken wings, there is more meat on chicken drumsticks, making it a preferred choice for many.

Should I Use Fresh Chicken Drumsticks Or Frozen?

For the best flavor I highly recommend only use fresh chicken drumsticks in this easy recipe. If using frozen drumsticks, then you want to ensure that they are completely thawed. Most grocery stores sell chicken drumsticks in an 8-pack which is what this easy chicken recipe was tested with.

What Are Classic BBQ Sides?

There are several classic side dishes that are perfect for serving with BBQ chicken drumsticks! Here are some favorite sides that I serve with these drumsticks and some additional ideas to get you started. 

  • Ranch Pasta Salad : A cold pasta salad with broccoli, tomato, cucumber, parmesan cheese, tri color rotini pasta, and all smothered in ranch salad dressing. So easy and always a favorite. 
  • Honey Butter Skillet Corn : This sweet and creamy corn is always a fave with bbq type meals. 
  • BBQ Baked Beans : Easy baked beans that start with cans of baked beans and a few add-ins to make the taste homemade. 
  • Coleslaw Pasta Salad : This salad is a delicious combination of a cold pasta salad + coleslaw in one dish. 
  • Potato Salad
  • Simple Salad : Buy a bag of salad greens and add your favorite veggies to it like cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, red onion, and shredded carrots. Top it with your favorite salad dressing. You can also buy the ready-to-mix salad bags that come with everything in it.

How Do I Get Crispy Skin On The Chicken Drumsticks?

For crispy skin, broil the chicken drumsticks for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking, watching carefully to prevent burning. 

Hero shot of the chicken drumsticks recipe
Hero shot of the chicken drumsticks recipe

More Family Favorite BBQ Dinner Recipes

More Chicken Recipes

A pile of drumsticks with bbq sauce on them.
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Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks


Author Jessica – Together as Family
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 4
You're going to love these BBQ Chicken Drumsticks – crispy on the outside, and moist, tender, and juicy on the inside. Made with a spice rub, olive oil and your favorite sweet & tangy barbecue sauce – this barbecue chicken dish practically makes itself while roasting in the oven to tender and crispy perfection.

Ingredients
  

  • 8 fresh chicken drumsticks
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (I use extra-virgin olive oil)
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400℉. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Set aside. 
  • Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with a paper towel.
    8 fresh chicken drumsticks
  • In a small bowl mix together the olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. 
    2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • Rub the oil and spice mixture all over the chicken drumsticks and place them onto the prepared baking sheet. 
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is nearly cooked. Remove the chicken from the oven and brush each drumsticks generously with BBQ sauce.
  • Return the chicken to the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165℉, and the bbq sauce is caramelized. 
  • Let the chicken rest at room temperature for a few minutes before serving warm. Enjoy!

Notes

Serving Size : Nutrition information is for 8 chicken drumsticks with 4 servings – each serving is 2 chicken drumsticks. 
Chicken Drumsticks : For best results I highly recommend using fresh chicken drumsticks from the grocery store. If you must use frozen, ensure they are completely thawed before beginning the recipe. 
Crispy Skin? : For crispy skin, broil the chicken drumsticks for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Marinate : For extra flavor, marinate the chicken drumsticks in the spice + olive oil mixture for 1-4 hours before baking them. 

Nutrition

Calories: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 1486mg | Potassium: 567mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 872IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 2mg
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