Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Name: Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks Legs Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 6 chicken drumsticks; 1 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; ½ teaspoon chili powder (use less if you don't like spicy food); ½ teaspoon garlic granules; ½ teaspoon onion granules; ½ teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon salt; 3 tablespoons BBQ sauce

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By: Diana Posted: 1/26/20 Updated: 1/8/21

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Easy baked BBQ chicken drumsticks served with delicious potato salad. This wonderful appetizer is a crowd pleaser! The chicken turns out so juicy and tender, you will love it!

BBQ chicken drumsticks stacked on a white plate with potato salad side dish and red dip.

Here’s another family favorite! Crunchy oven-baked chicken drumsticks with delicious BBQ glaze!

I recently shared an Air Fryer drumstick recipe as I really love my Air Fryer and use it all the time. And today I’ve decided to share my oven-baked drumstick recipe where the chicken is glazed with layers of tasty BBQ sauce.

Whether chicken legs are cooked in an Air Fryer, or an oven, the result is always delicious! So here’s my recipe:

Four crispy drumsticks on a white platter.

Table of Contents

Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make these drumsticks:

Ingredients needed to make BBQ baked chicken drumsticks

Chicken drumsticks – as many as you would like to cook, or can fit in your Air Fryer. I have a large Air Fryer and can fit 4-6 drumsticks at once.
Smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic granules, onion granules, ground black pepper, and salt. – the seasonings are optional as you can make this with just BBQ sauce, but they add a lot of flavor.
Vegetable oil – canola, corn, or vegetable oil.
BBQ sauce – I used honey BBQ sauce, but you can use any sauce that you like.

Raw and seasoned chicken legs in a bowl.

How to Bake BBQ Chicken Legs in the Oven?

Start by seasoning the chicken drumsticks. Place in a bowl, drizzle with oil, and toss with seasonings until they’re well coated.
Arrange on a sheet pan (preferable with a rack), and bake at 390°F (200°C) for 20 minutes.
Take them out of the oven, and baste/glaze with BBQ sauce using a heat-proof brush. Return the sheet pan to the oven, and bake for 10 more minutes.

A chicken drumstick glazed with BBQ sauce on a baking sheet rack.

If you like extra BBQ glaze, then 5 minutes before the cooking time ends, open the oven door, brush with more BBQ sauce and bake.

How to bake BBQ drumsticks before and after baking (Raw and cooked glazed chicken legs on baking rack to show the difference).

How to Check If the Chicken Is Cooked Through and Safe to Eat?

You can check the doneness of the chicken by using a fork and a knife and cutting through a small piece to see if the meat is well cooked (no longer pink), and the juices are running clear.

The best way to check is using an instant-read thermometer, insert it in the thickest part of the meat (make sure it’s not hitting a bone), and the internal temperature should be around 165°F or 75°C.

If the chicken temperature hasn’t reached 165°F, then cook for 2-3 more minutes.