• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
Fox Valley Foodie
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About the Fox Valley Foodie
  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Recipe

    Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

    Published: Oct 3, 2018 · Modified: Jan 2, 2020 by Fox Valley Foodie · This post may contain affiliate links

    • Facebook47
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks recipe #chicken #bbq #baked #drumsticks #dinner

    These baked BBQ chicken drumsticks are roasted to perfection and lacquered with a finger-lickingly sticky BBQ sauce.

    I am pretty sure sticky BBQ sauce is the true nectar of the gods. No, I am not talking about any ol' BBQ sauce, I am talking about BBQ sauce the bubbles and boils under intense heat until it thickens into a sticky jam, clinging to your chicken drumsticks with more fervor than a southern revival evangelist clinging to the good book as he proclaims God's will. I'm telling you, one bite and you'll be singing "Hallelujah!"

    Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

    Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

    These baked bbq chicken drumsticks are deliciously simple to make, and a sure family favorite. You can use your favorite BBQ sauce for this recipe, however, if you are motivated enough to make your own, I recommend my Homemade BBQ sauce recipe. The amount of BBQ sauce needed will vary depending on how thickly you apply it on the chicken, but figure between 1-2 cups.

    How to Make BBQ Chicken Drumsticks in the Oven

    There are multiple ways to make BBQ chicken drumsticks in the oven. Some recipes apply the BBQ sauce right at the beginning, others apply it at the end. The benefit to applying it at the beginning is that allows the sauce to thicken in a jam, however, the skin on the chicken stays rubbery and soft. The benefit to applying the sauce at the end is it allows the skin to crisp up, but the BBQ doesn't have time to caramelize and thicken.

    My baked BBQ chicken drumsticks recipe overcomes these challenges by baking at a high temperature to firm up the skin, then broiling the sauce at the end to thicken it. Broiling the sauce is the real secret to this recipe because as the sauce broils it thickens into a jam, radically intensifying the flavor.

    How to Make Chicken Drumsticks in the Oven

    What Temperature to Bake Chicken Drumsticks

    Recipes for baked chicken drumsticks vary from 375 degrees to 450 degrees. 450 degrees is the best oven temperature for baking chicken drumsticks because the high heat is needed to prevent the chicken skin from being rubbery and soft.

    How Long to Bake Chicken Drumsticks

    It takes 40 minutes at 450 degrees to bake chicken drumsticks. However, this cooking time can vary depending on the size of your drumsticks. Drumsticks baked at a lower temperature will take longer to cook. It is always recommended to use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.

    How to Get Crispy Chicken Skin

    How to Get Crispy Chicken Skin

    Baking chicken drumsticks at 450 degrees is a great way to firm up the skin. However, if you want truly crispy skin the secret is to broil it. 

    Bonus Tip: I did not include this in the recipe, to keep it simple for everyone, however, if you want maximum crispiness, after 40 minutes of baking broil the drumsticks on all sides until the skin is crisp. Then add the BBQ sauce and broil until the sauce thickens into a jam.

    Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks

    If the idea of messing with your broiler intimidates you, or you just decide that you don't have the energy for it, you can make this recipe easier by just applying the BBQ sauce directly to the drumsticks after 30 minutes and then return them back to the oven to bake for another 15 minutes. Easy peasy, hassle-free, and still delicious!

    Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks recipe
    Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks recipe

    Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

    These baked BBQ chicken drumsticks are roasted to perfection and lacquered with a finger-lickingly sticky BBQ sauce.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 55 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 487kcal
    Author: Fox Valley Foodie

    Ingredients

    • 10 Chicken Drumsticks (~4 lbs)
    • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
    • ¼ teaspoon Paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
    • ¼ teaspoon Onion Powder
    • ¼ teaspoon Salt
    • ¼ teaspoon Fresh Ground Pepper
    • BBQ Sauce (click link for my recipe, or use your favorite)

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
    • Place chicken in a large bowl and add oil and seasonings then toss to evenly coat.
    • Set drumsticks on a large rimmed baking sheet so they are not touching each other and place in the oven. Bake for 40 minutes.
    • Remove chicken from the oven and set broiler to high.
    • Generously slather BBQ sauce over the chicken and place on the middle oven rack and broil for 5 minutes, rotating and removing from heat as needed to prevent burning.
    • Flip drumsticks over and slather the other side with BBQ sauce and repeat the broiling process again for 5 minutes.
    • Chicken is done when it reaches 165 degrees and BBQ sauce has thickened into a sticky jam.
    • Let cool briefly and serve.

    Notes

    You can broil on the top rack if desired. It will broil much faster but it also has a higher risk of burning. I like broiling on the middle rack because the sauce seems to thicken more evenly when broiled slowly.
     
    IF YOU LIKED THIS RECIPE you will love my crispy Baked Chicken Wings recipe too!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 487kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 174mg | Sodium: 1076mg | Potassium: 587mg | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 310IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 1.7mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @FoxValleyFoodie or tag #foxvalleyfoodie!

    If you enjoyed reading my Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks recipe then you should probably like me on Facebook and follow me on Pinterest too. That’s what I would do at least, because if you don’t get to know me but you still use my recipe it is kind of like taking candy from a stranger, and your mom taught you not to do that. Don’t disobey your mom, subscribe to Fox Valley Foodie today!

    Get My FREE eCookbook

    mailer

    Subscribe to FoxValleyFoodie.com and get each tantalizing new post sent directly to your inbox, along with my complementary eCookbook just for signing up!

    « Beer Cheese Dip
    Healthy Chicken Seasoning »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jenny and Luke

      July 03, 2020 at 6:19 pm

      5 stars
      My husband was so happy with this recipe that he told me I needed to respond about how well it worked. The temperature of our chicken legs (pretty hefty sized) was 200 degrees after following directions. You would think it could be dry, but it was soooo juicy and the gooey bbq sauce after the broiling was delish! We used Sweet Baby Rays because this was last minute. Will try the recipe on here next time. Thank you for a simple and amazing chicken recipe for the holiday.

      Reply
    2. Kris

      February 06, 2020 at 4:33 pm

      5 stars
      My kids LOVE your recipe and it's so delicious I won't cook it any other way now! Thank you for the awesome explanations and recipe!

      Reply
    3. Kay

      November 09, 2019 at 8:30 pm

      5 stars
      PERFECT! My family approved 100%!!!!! Moist inside, crispy skin outside. Will make again, definitely.

      Reply
    4. David K

      August 27, 2019 at 8:49 am

      5 stars
      Perfect! I was searching for the ideal baked drumsticks recipe for a family party where we compete for the best entree. Drumsticks are ALWAYS a hit but never win because of the skin turning to goo.

      Foodie, you were spot on and the results were over the top!

      I don't like the SUPER sweet BBQ sauce so I use a thinner base. The results was a very Cuban chicken looking drumsticks! Middle rack for the final broil put the icing on this wonderful dish.

      Thank you. I bet I win this year!!!!

      Reply
    5. Kris

      August 15, 2019 at 6:22 pm

      5 stars
      Great explanations of cooking process, delicious recipe!

      Reply
    6. Lisa Gagliano Dawson

      May 12, 2019 at 11:44 am

      5 stars
      Not only was the result fantastic--Best BBQ Oven Chicken Ever--the directions were so clear and precise that it calmed my fears of having dry chicken after cooking it for 40 minutes in a 450 degree oven (something I had obviously never done before). The explanations behind the method made me feel more confident. The chicken was so moist (even when the skin looked dry) that I had no qualms slathering on BBQ sauce and broiling it some more. I got rave reviews. Finally, BBQ chicken from the oven without the nasty rubbery skin ruining it. Thanks Fox Valley Foodie for sharing your recipe and the great explanations!

      Reply
    7. Candace

      December 13, 2018 at 9:03 pm

      5 stars
      This was great!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Subscribe

    15834

    Get each tantalizing new recipe

    sent directly to your inbox.

    AND GET MY eCOOKBOOK FREE!

    Search for your favorite post!

    Popular Posts

    Close up Sloppy Joes

    Homemade Sloppy Joes - Better Than Manwich

    Big Mac Sauce Copycat Recipe

    McDonald's Big Mac Sauce (Copycat Recipe)

    Brown Sugar Meatloaf with Secret Ingredient

    Brown Sugar Meatloaf - With a Secret Ingredient

    Classic Chicken Salad Sandwich

    Classic Chicken Salad

    Homemade mozzarella sticks with string cheese

    Homemade Mozzarella Sticks with String Cheese

    Beef Tips and Gravy recipe

    Beef Tips and Gravy

    Classic Taco Dip in pan

    Classic Taco Dip

    Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs - Bone In

    Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs (Bone-In)

    As featured in yahoo, buzzfeed, oprah, msn and more!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Fox Valley Foodie, LLC

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme