I make this simple everyday recipe for baked chicken drumsticks often. It has this winning combination of being easy AND delicious!
Simply coat the chicken pieces with a mixture of olive oil and spices, then bake them for about 40 minutes. So juicy!
Anyone who has kids knows that they love drumsticks and that when the kids like something, the grownups find themselves eating it frequently.
It's OK. You make sacrifices as a parent. But your food needn't be one of them! These baked chicken drumsticks are simple but good. All they need is olive oil, a few spices, and 40 minutes in a hot oven. Perfection!
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Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
- Chicken drumsticks: I use eight drumsticks in this recipe, each weighing about 4 ounces. I don't remove the skin - it's the best part! If you buy them in packages of five, you can make ten using the same recipe and increasing the olive oil by about half a tablespoon.
- Olive oil: I love cooking with this delicious oil. Melted butter is another good option.
- To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. The cayenne dramatically improves the flavor of this dish. It adds a hint of spice without overwhelming the dish. But if you're not a fan of spicy foods, use just â…› teaspoon (a pinch).
Variations
- As mentioned above, you can coat the chicken drumsticks with melted butter instead of olive oil.
- Vary your spices! Sometimes, I make life easy, and instead of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne, I use a tablespoon of chili powder.
- You can increase the cayenne to ½ teaspoon if you enjoy spicy food.
- Sometimes, I add a teaspoon of dried thyme or ½ teaspoon of dried cumin.
- When I'm lazy, I arrange the drumsticks in the pan, spray them with olive oil, and sprinkle them with spices.
Baked Chicken Drumsticks Instructions
Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the oil and spices into a paste. (Photos 1,2).
- Arrange the drumsticks in a single layer on the baking sheet and coat them with the paste. You can use a pastry brush or your hands. (Photo 3).
- Bake the chicken pieces until their internal temperature reaches 165°F. This should take about 40 minutes for medium drumsticks. (Photos 4,5).
- Serve immediately. You can sprinkle them with chopped parsley for garnish. (Photo 6).
Expert Tip
Check on the drumsticks after the first 30 minutes. If they seem to be darkening too quickly, loosely cover them with foil and keep cooking until they are cooked through.
Recipe FAQs
No, you should not cover them. You want the skin to brown and the chicken roasted, not steamed. To achieve these goals, you should leave the drumsticks uncovered.
Yes, unfortunately, you can. So keep an eye on them. They should be ready after about 40 minutes, but if your oven runs hot, they might be ready sooner.
Chicken should be fully cooked. It should reach an internal temperature of 165°F when measured with an instant-read thermometer, not touching the bone.
Not exactly, although many people use these terms interchangeably. A whole chicken leg (or a chicken leg quarter) can be separated into a drumstick and a thigh. In this recipe, I use the drumsticks. I use the thighs in other recipes (such as these baked chicken thighs). 
Serving Suggestions
Since I bake them in a 400°F oven, I like to serve these drumsticks with a side dish I can cook in the same oven. So, I often serve them with one of the following:
Storing Leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave at 50% power.
Or enjoy them cold! I sometimes remove the skin, cut them into chunks, and use them in a chicken Cobb salad. Or I make a picnic-style plate of cold drumsticks, cauliflower "potato" salad, and quick pickles.
More Drumstick Recipes
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Recipe Card
Baked Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 8 (4 oz each) chicken drumsticks skin-on; about 2 pounds total weight
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ½ teaspoon of any other salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with high-heat-resistant parchment paper and arrange the drumsticks in a single layer on the parchment.
- Make the seasoning paste: In a medium bowl, use a fork or a spatula to mix the olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper.
- Using a pastry brush or your hands, coat the chicken pieces with the seasoning paste.
- Bake the drumsticks uncovered until their internal temperature, measured with an instant-read thermometer and not touching a bone, reaches 165°F, about 40 minutes.
- Baste the drumsticks with the pan juices using a clean pastry brush. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Check on the drumsticks after the first 30 minutes. If they seem to be darkening too fast on top, loosely cover them with foil and keep cooking until they are cooked through.
- Chicken should be fully cooked. It should reach an internal temperature of 165°F when measured with an instant-read thermometer, not touching the bone.
- You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave at 50% power. Or enjoy them cold! I sometimes remove the skin, cut them into chunks, and use them in a salad.Â
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition per Serving
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. 
Liz
These are delicious! I’ve made this recipe twice for just three of us. Now, I’m hosting a family gathering of 15 and need at least 30 drumsticks. Can you please advise measurements for the seasonings, olive oil to cover 30 legs? I assume I should just multiply by approximately four, but don’t want to mess it up! Thank you so much!
Vered DeLeeuw
I'm so glad you like this recipe, Liz!
Yes, simply multiply by around four.
Using the recipe card's tool, it comes to:
8 tablespoons olive oil
4 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt or 2 teaspoons of any other salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
4 teaspoons garlic powder
4 teaspoons onion powder
4 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Lisa
This is a fast, easy, and flavorful recipe. And the spice mix was delicious enough to be used on almost anything.
Vered DeLeeuw
I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Lisa! I agree on the spice mix.
Courtland
Could you list measurements for the spices salt, cayenne pepper, etc?
Vered DeLeeuw
The exact measurements can be found in the recipe card:
https://healthyrecipesblogs.com/baked-drumsticks/#recipe
Trish
this recipe is amazing! Simple and so super tasty. I have now cooked it a couple of times, and it has turned into a family favourite! Thank you!
Vered DeLeeuw
You're very welcome, Trish!
Diane P.
Could you substitute with chicken thighs, or do half and half? And would they bake for same amount of time? Thank you.
Vered DeLeeuw
You can. This is my recipe for baked chicken thighs. As you can see, the thighs need about five more minutes in the oven. You can continue baking the drumsticks for those five minutes or remove them to a plate and cover them while the thighs finish cooking. To ensure the chicken is ready, it's always a good idea to check with an instant-read thermometer.
Michele
It's a Family favorite!
Vered DeLeeuw
I'm glad your family enjoys these drumsticks, Michele.
lise
Made it twice, both times delicious. Only had five drumsticks, but made as much marinade to coat them. Delicious!!! Thank you for the recipe.
Vered DeLeeuw
I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Lise!
Jenn
So delicious, loved it! It wasn’t dried out. Juicy chicken - just perfect I’ll say!
Vered DeLeeuw
Glad you liked it, Jenn. 🙂
Oksana
I noticed that olive oil usually burns at higher temperature. It won't smoke up my oven if cooked at 400°F?
Vered DeLeeuw
I never had an issue with smoking, but if you want to be on the safe side, you can use avocado oil or melted butter.