Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks Recipe - The Salty Marshmallow (2024)

Baked Chicken Drumsticks Recipe is easy, delicious, and full of flavor! Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner! Tender and juicy, this recipe is an absolute no-brainer. Simply marinate and bake for a recipe your family will be begging for time and time again!

Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks Recipe - The Salty Marshmallow (1)

Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks Recipe:

I love these Baked Chicken Drumsticks because the skin gets crispy in the oven and the homemade marinade makes them so juicy. Plus, drumsticks are an inexpensive cut of meat that doesn’t skimp on taste! This recipe makes 10 drumsticks so your family no longer has to fight over who gets a leg. Similar to cooking chicken thighs, the secret here is all in the marinade. Just a few pantry staples like olive oil, seasonings, and lemon juice are whisked together to create a classic combination that gives you tons of side dish options. Letting the chicken soak in the homemade marinade for at least a couple of hours really seals in all of the flavor and guarantees the chicken comes out tender and juicy instead of dried out. Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks aren’t in my weekly rotation for nothing!

Begging for more baked recipes? Try BBQ Baked Chicken Thighs or Easy Baked Chicken Breast for some classic variations.

What Should I Serve With Baked Drumsticks?

The marinade for these Chicken Drumsticks pairs well with a myriad of side dishes! All sorts of veggies, potatoes, or even mac and cheese would be delicious. Try my Perfect Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Green Beans, or maybe extra cheesy Baked Mac and Cheese and some of my Perfect Baked Beans to complete your meal!

How To Make Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks

  • Let’s make the marinade. The true star of this recipe is surprisingly simple. In a medium bowl whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, chicken seasoning, salt, soy or Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, pepper, and paprika.
  • Add the drumsticks. Place the chicken drumsticks into a large zip-top bag then pour the marinade inside. Close the bag (try to get as much air out as you can) and massage the marinade into the chicken.
  • Let the chicken chill and the marinade marry. Refrigerate the drumsticks for at least 30 minutes. For the absolute best flavor let the chicken marinate for a full 2-12 hours.
  • Time to get cooking. Preheat your oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
  • Arrange the chicken. Place the drumsticks in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for another 5-10 minutes (or until cooked through). Serve and enjoy!

Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks Recipe - The Salty Marshmallow (2)

How to store and Heat Leftovers:

Store leftover Baked Chicken Drumsticks in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days. Heat back up in the oven until warmed through, or eat cold! These are great right out of the fridge for a next day lunch or midnight snack.

Ingredients Notes for Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks

  • Chicken – Make sure the drumsticks reach an internal temperature of 165°F for safe serving. And don’t skip the flip! Flipping them ensures they’re cooked through and gives that nice caramel color on both sides. The trick is to use skin on drumsticks for that outer crisp!
  • Marinade – The marinade doesn’t have to be complicated and you can absolutely swap out the seasonings for unique combos. You could try olive oil and Italian seasoning, a lemon pepper blend, or even add in some honey mustard. Feel free to experiment while maintaining the technique. There’s room for flavorful creativity here!
  • Paprika – For a smoky flavor, swap traditional paprika for smoked paprika. It’s amazing with the sweet brown sugar and tangy worcestershire sauce!

Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks Recipe - The Salty Marshmallow (3)

Enjoy!

~Nichole

Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks Recipe - The Salty Marshmallow (4)

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Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks Recipe

By Nichole

Easy, delicious, and full of flavor, these Baked Chicken Drumsticks are perfect for a weeknight dinner! Tender and juicy, this recipe is an absolute no-brainer. Simply marinate and bake for a recipe your family will be begging for time and time again!

Prep 5 minutes mins

Cook 35 minutes mins

Marinate 30 minutes mins

Total 40 minutes mins

Servings 10

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, soy or Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar garlic powder, onion powder, salt, chicken seasoning, pepper, dijon mustard, chili powder, and paprika until well mixed.

  • Add the chicken drumsticks to a large zip-top bag and pour the marinade over the chicken. Close the bag and massage the marinade into the chicken for a few seconds.

  • Refrigerate the chicken in the marinade for at least 30 minutes. For best flavor allow the chicken to marinate for 2-12 hours.

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.

  • Arrange the chicken in an even layer on prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, until cooked through.

Video

Notes

**Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees before consumption.

Nutrition

Calories: 212kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 69mg, Sodium: 870mg, Potassium: 204mg, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 135IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 15mg, Iron: 0.8mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Like this? Rate & review this recipe below!

Chicken Dinner

Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks Recipe - The Salty Marshmallow (5)

Hey! Nice to meet you! I'm Nichole!

Welcome to The Salty Marshmallow! I'm a mom, animal lover, photographer, & kitchen mess-maker. Here you will find the result of my decades-long passion for chasing the best flavors in the kitchen, all meant to be cooked by regular people with busy lives just like you and me.

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Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks Recipe - The Salty Marshmallow (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take for drumsticks to cook in the oven? ›

How long to bake Chicken Drumsticks in Oven. Typically it takes around 40-45 minutes to bake medium drumsticks at 425°F, although if your oven cooks hot or the drumsticks are on the smaller side they might be done sooner than that.

Is it better to bake drumsticks at 350 or 400? ›

I recommend baking chicken legs at 400 degrees, as it results in a crispier skin on the outside of the chicken. At 400 degrees, the inside of the chicken will still be juicy. Just be sure to flip the chicken over halfway through the baking time.

How to make Gordon Ramsay drumsticks? ›

directions. Heat the oven to 400°F Lightly oil a large baking dish. Season the drumsticks with salt and pepper and arrange in the dish in a single layer. Drizzle over a little olive oil and bake in the hot oven for 20 minutes.

How long to bake chicken legs at 400 uncovered? ›

Cooking chicken drumsticks at 400 degrees for 40 minutes will make them come out nicely crispy and cooked all the way through.

Do you bake drumsticks covered or uncovered? ›

I like to bake them at 425 degrees. The high temperature really helps to crisp the skin. Bake them uncovered on the baking sheet – you don't have to turn them, just leave them to cook and after about 40 to 45 minutes they'll be ready!

Do you need to flip drumsticks in the oven? ›

I definitely recommend turning the chicken over halfway through baking, so the skin gets cooked on all sides. By the end the skin on top should be nice and crispy, but if you prefer it even crispier, set your oven to broil and place the chicken under the broiler for a minute or 2 on each side!

How do you tell if baked drumsticks are done? ›

If you can't get an accurate reading, you can tell if chicken drumsticks and drumettes are finished cooking by looking at the meat on the skinny side of the leg. The meat should shrink up, and you should be able to see a lot more bone than you could when you started cooking.

Can you overcook drumsticks? ›

For perfectly succulent chicken drumsticks, a grilling time between 25-30 minutes is ideal for almost any recipe. Overcooking can char and dry your meat, but you want to make sure you don't undercook poultry either.

Why do chicken drumsticks take so long to cook? ›

Unlike chicken breasts, chicken thighs and drumsticks actually become more tender the longer they cook. That's because of their makeup. Dark meat has an abundant amount of connective tissue, which dissolves into gelatin as the meat cooks, rendering it juicy and tender.

How do you keep chicken drumsticks from drying out in the oven? ›

Brining the chicken legs for 30 minutes to an hour before baking makes a huge difference . The salty brine penetrates the meat, helping it stay juicy and tender during cooking . Just dissolve 1/4 cup of salt in 4 cups of warm water . Add the chicken legs and let them soak .

What are the tips of drumsticks? ›

There are several different shapes of drumstick tips, including round, diamond, teardrop, acorn, arrow and barrel. Round tips strike the drum or cymbal with the same surface area regardless of the angle of the stick, so the sound is consistent.

Why are my chicken drumsticks tough? ›

Why are my chicken drumsticks tough? If the chicken is tough it could be one of three things. The oven temperature was too low, the chicken wasn't cooked for long enough or perhaps it has steamed if you cover it when cooking.

Is it better to bake chicken covered with foil or uncovered? ›

When chicken is covered while baking, it traps steam and moisture within the dish, resulting in juicier results. The covering helps prevent excessive evaporation and keeps the chicken moist throughout the cooking process. Preventing dryness. Chicken tends to dry out more quickly when exposed to direct heat.

Is 400 too high to bake chicken? ›

The best way to bake chicken breasts is the oven is at 400 F. Simply drizzle some olive oil in the bottom of your baking dish, season your skinless chicken breasts generously and add a pat of butter on top of each chicken breast.

How long to cook drumsticks in the oven at 425 degrees? ›

How To Make Chicken Drumsticks in the Oven
  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Pat chicken legs dry. ...
  2. Line a half-sheet pan with aluminum foil, and spray with cooking spray. Set a wire rack in pan. ...
  3. Bake until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion of the leg registers 165°F, 35 to 40 minutes. Rest 5 minutes; serve warm.
Mar 21, 2024

How do you tell if drumsticks are fully cooked? ›

Poke the Meat

This method applies to chicken specifically. For properly cooked chicken, if you cut into it and the juices run clear, then the chicken is fully cooked. If the juices are red or have a pinkish color, your chicken may need to be cooked a bit longer.

How long do you cook chicken in the oven at 375? ›

Here's the shortest answer we can give you: For large boneless, skinless chicken breasts: cook them 20 to 30 minutes in a 375 degrees F oven. For large bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts: cook them 35 to 40 minutes in a 375 degrees F oven.

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