If you're not big on grilling, but still want the BBQ chicken, this recipe for Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks is for you. Tender chicken with crispy skin and sticky bbq sauce makes them look like they came out of the smoker. They're incredible, so easy to make, and ready to eat in an hour.
I can't believe how good these turned out. The secrets are to really pat dry the meat before cooking to get the skin crispy, and after adding the bbq sauce, they go back into the oven to get the sauce really sticky.
Check out this post on over 21 Side Dishes to pair with BBQ chicken too!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe:
- Smoker Quality. Get smoker quality BBQ Chicken right in the oven.
- Easy. Simple prep work then pop them into the oven.
- Minimal Ingredients. Drumsticks, bbq sauce, olive oil and common pantry spices is all you need.
- Easy on the Budget. Drumsticks are usually about half the price of chicken breast, making these great on the budget and a good recipe to feed a crowd.
- High Protein. These drumsticks are about 50 grams of protein per serving (2 drumsticks).
For more BBQ Chicken recipes, try this BBQ Chicken Flatbread, BBQ Chicken Sliders, and Boneless Chicken Thighs on the Smoker.
Ingredients:
Chicken Drumsticks: I highly recommend the Smart Chicken brand for this recipe because they are super clean out of the package. I'm picky about chicken and this brand never disappoints. Plus, these were only about $8 for 5 of them and they're organic.
BBQ Sauce: I bought this Kindred Founder's Reserve BBQ Sauce at Costco in a 3 pack with a few other varieties, and it was delish. I love the thickness of it because it actually stays on the chicken in the oven and doesn't drip off.
*Find the full recipe ingredients and quantities in the recipe card below.
Substitutions and Variations:
- If you want to use an all-purpose seasoning or one for bbq, use about a tablespoon or so. I would use a teaspoon of salt in combination with it, unless you know the seasoning is salty.
- Most bbq sauce will work fine, but it needs to be a thick, original type, so it stays on the chicken. I wouldn't use a vinegar based sauce for this recipe.
Big on BBQ Sauce? Try these BBQ Shrimp, BBQ Pulled Pork Egg Rolls, and Dutch Oven Pulled Chicken.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Drumsticks in the Oven:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cover the inside of a cookie sheet with foil, then top with a wire rack. Remove the drumsticks from the package and place onto a cookie sheet and pat dry really well with paper towels on both sides. Transfer the drumsticks to the wire rack and spread out as much as you can.
Step 2: Brush the drumsticks with olive oil. Mix together the spices and rub them over the entire surface of each drumstick. Bake for 20 minutes.
Step 3: Remove from the oven and flip each drumstick. Return to the oven for 15 minutes.
Step 4: Remove the drumsticks from the oven again and flip back over. Brush with bbq sauce to cover the entire surface. I like to go heavier on the top half of the drumstick that isn't touching the wire rack. Return to the oven until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees (should be between 10-15 minutes) *mine took 50 minutes to cook total.
Step 5: Tent with foil for about 5 minutes, then serve and enjoy! Optional: Top with a garnish of parsley, chives, or cilantro to add a little color.
Expert Tips:
- Pat dry the skin with paper towels really well before brushing on olive oil.
- Don't wait until after baking to add the bbq sauce. You want it on and in the oven for about 10-15 minutes for the best textures.
- Rely on temperature over time when cooking chicken. The internal temperature needs to reach 165 degrees before removing from the oven. Smaller drumsticks will cook faster than the larger ones.
I love to pair this recipe with my Ground Beef Baked Beans, Quick Coleslaw, and Charred Corn in the skillet.
More Chicken Recipes You'll Love:
If you tried this Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
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Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 10 drumsticks 1x
Description
If you're not big on grilling, but still want the BBQ chicken, this recipe for Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks is for you. Tender chicken with crispy skin and sticky bbq sauce makes them look like they came out the smoker. They're incredible, so easy to make, and ready to eat in an hour.
Ingredients
- 10 chicken drumsticks (about 2.5-3 lbs)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ cup thick bbq sauce (not vinegar based)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¾ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- Optional: 2 teaspoons fresh chives, cilantro or parsley, minced (I used chives)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cover the inside of a cookie sheet with foil, then top with a wire rack. Remove the drumsticks from the package and place onto a cookie sheet and pat dry really well with paper towels on both sides. Transfer the drumsticks to the wire rack and spread out as much as you can.
- Brush the drumsticks with olive oil. Mix together the spices and rub them over the entire surface of each drumstick. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and flip each drumstick. Return to the oven for 15 minutes.
- Remove the drumsticks from the oven again and flip back over. Brush with bbq sauce to cover the entire surface. I like to go heavier on the top half of the drumstick that isn't touching the wire rack. Return to the oven until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees (should be between 10-15 minutes) *mine took 50 minutes total.
- Tent with foil for about 5 minutes, then serve and enjoy! Optional: Top with a garnish of parsley, chives, or cilantro to add a little color.
Notes
- Pat dry the skin with paper towels really well before brushing on olive oil.
- Don't wait until after baking to add the bbq sauce. You want it on and in the oven for about 10-15 minutes for the best textures.
- Rely on temperature over time when cooking chicken. The internal temperature needs to reach 165 degrees before removing from the oven. Smaller drumsticks will cook faster than the larger ones.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
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