These Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks are an easy recipe that is made without firing up the grill. These baked drumsticks are family favorites at my house!
Table of Contents
For more oven-baked favorites, try these Easy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs and these Dr. Pepper Baked Hot Wings.
Grilling chicken is the best. I love to grill all types of food, not just in the summertime. However, sometimes it just isn’t practical. Like when it is snowing in Utah in May. Ugh! Today, I am sharing a recipe for BBQ Chicken drumsticks that you bake in the oven. That’s right, you can make crispy, flavorful chicken that tastes like it came straight off the grill but really came straight out of the oven!
These Barbecue Chicken Drumsticks Are A Hit
This chicken is amazing! It has the perfect amount of sticky, charred, juicy flavors in every single bite. You will be licking your fingers during this meal for sure. With this recipe, each drumstick is covered in a rub while the chicken bakes and then BBQ sauce while it is broiled.
These Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks are so easy to make that you can enjoy them as a simple weeknight meal or even serve them to a crowd. Either way, they are sure to be a hit!
Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks Ingredients
To make these drumsticks, you’ll need:
Quick Brine:
- Water (4 cups): The base of the brine
- Salt (2 tbsp): Enhances flavor and helps the chicken retain moisture.
- Cornstarch (2 tbsp): My secret to crispier chicken skin.
Chicken:
- Chicken drumsticks (4 lbs): Budget-friendly, flavorful, and juicy.
Dry Rub:
- Paprika (1 tbsp): Adds mild smokiness and deep color.
- Chili powder (1 tbsp): Brings a warm, earthy kick.
- Brown sugar (1 tbsp): Balances the spices with a hint of sweetness.
- Salt (1 tsp) & Black pepper (½ tsp): Essential seasonings to enhance all the flavors.
BBQ Sauce:
- BBQ sauce (1 ¼ cups): I love Sweet Baby Ray’s, but use your favorite for a personalized touch!
How to make Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- Brine the Chicken: Combine water, salt, and cornstarch in a bowl. Soak the chicken for at least 15 minutes (but no more than an hour). This helps keep the drumsticks tender and juicy.
- Make the Dry Rub: Mix paprika, chili powder, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Season the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the brine, pat it dry, and coat it with the dry rub.
- Bake the Drumsticks: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, place a wire rack on top, and coat it with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange the chicken on the prepared rack and bake for 25 minutes in a preheated 425°F oven. Flip and bake for another 5-10 minutes or until they reach 165°F internally.
- Broil for a Charred Finish: Move the oven rack closer to the broiler and broil for 5-10 minutes, flipping halfway for even browning.
- Add the Sauce: Brush the chicken with BBQ sauce, broil for another 5 minutes, flip, brush with more sauce, and broil again until caramelized.
- Serve & Enjoy: Let the drumsticks rest for a few minutes before serving with extra BBQ sauce on the side.
What goes well with BBQ drumsticks?
- Baked Mac and Cheese
- Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
- Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
- Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
- Oven Roasted Broccoli
- Panera Mac and Cheese
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Baked BBQ Drumsticks in Oven
Video
Equipment
- mixing bowls
- wire rack
- baking sheet
- tongs
- pastry brush
Ingredients
QUICK BRINE:
- 4 cups water
- 2 Tablespoons salt
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
CHICKEN:
- 4 pounds chicken drumsticks trimmed
CHICKEN AND RUB:
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
BBQ SAUCE:
- 1 ¼ cup BBQ sauce I used Sweet Baby Ray's
Instructions
BRINE CHICKEN:
- In a large bowl, combine water, salt, and cornstarch. Add chicken, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 15 minutes, but no longer than an hour.
PREP BAKING SHEET & OVEN:
- Set wire rack in an aluminum foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and coat with vegetable oil spray.
- Move the oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 425°F.
MAKE RUB:
- In a small bowl, combine paprika, chili powder, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.
PREP CHICKEN:
- Remove the chicken from the brine and place it on a clean cutting board. Quickly dry the chicken with a paper towel.
- Cover the chicken pieces with the rub and transfer the chicken to the prepared baking sheet.
BAKE CHICKEN:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Then, using tongs, turn the chicken over and bake for another 5-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
BROIL CHICKEN:
- Adjust the oven rack to 6 inches from the broiler and heat the broiler. Broil the chicken until lightly charred, about 5-10 minutes, flipping it halfway through.
- Brush the chicken with one-third of the sauce and continue to broil until lightly charred, about 5 minutes. Flip and brush the chicken with more sauce. Brush the chicken with the halfway through remaining sauce. Serve.
Notes
Storage Tips
SERVE: The drumsticks can be kept at room temperature for about 2 hours before they need to be refrigerated. STORE: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 4-5 days. To reheat, place the chicken on a lightly baking dish and heat in a 325-degrees F oven for 10-20 minutes or until heated through. FREEZE: You can freeze these drumsticks; just don’t put the final slathering of BBQ sauce on them. Store them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months.Nutrition
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Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks FAQs
It takes 40-45 minutes for drumsticks to bake in the oven. You want the meat to reach 165°F with an instant-read thermometer to ensure it is done cooking. The exact cooking time will vary depending on the drumsticks’ size and the oven’s accuracy.
Yes, you can overcook chicken drumsticks. Overcooking chicken is a common mistake because we get nervous about salmonella and want to make sure we cook the chicken all the way through. To avoid this, cook your chicken until it reaches 165°F with an instant-read thermometer.
The quickest way to check if your chicken drumsticks are cooked is to check the internal temperature. It should be at 165°F. If you do not have a thermometer, another way to check to see if it is done is to look for clear juices coming from the chicken.
Which temperature you choose will depend on your personal preference. If you want crispy skin, bake at 425°F. If you want more tender meat, bake at 400°F.
You can bake chicken drumsticks at either 400°F or 425°F, depending on your preference and the results you want to achieve.
Here’s a general guideline for both temperatures:
400°F (200°C)
Cooking Time: Bake for approximately 30-35 minutes.
Results: This lower temperature will result in slightly longer cooking times but may yield drumsticks with a slightly juicier interior and a less crispy exterior.
425°F (220°C)
Cooking Time: Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes.
Results: Baking at a higher temperature will cook the drumsticks faster and give them crisper skin. The meat may be slightly less juicy compared to baking at 400°F, but the skin will be more golden and crispy.
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This recipe is amazing . Best Bbq chicken I ever had / made .
Can the chicken brine for longer than an hour?
Generally speaking, you can brine chicken for longer than an hour, but it’s essential to adjust the brine concentration to avoid overly salty chicken. For a standard brine, brining for 1-2 hours is common for chicken pieces, but you can extend it up to 4-6 hours if you use a milder brine solution.
This is the best chicken recipe I’ve ever made. My daughter always tells me the chicken is dry and she ends up using ketchup. This time she said it is the best chicken and it does not need ketchup at all. Very juicy and I used Apple Bacon barbecue sauce. So very yummy.
Megan, I’m thrilled that your daughter loved this recipe! Thanks for stopping by to let me know. 🙂
Can you use chicken leg quarters
You can, you’ll have to cook them for longer though.
Easy enough and who doesn’t love BBQ chicken?! I’m always happy to eat this! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I want to put that chicken rub on all the things! This looks so droolicious!
I love BBQ chicken! Sweet Baby Ray’s is one of my favorite BBQ sauces too!
This is the perfect recipe for when it’s to cold to grill outside! Can’t wait to try it!
These baked chicken are amazing. Had them for dinner and the whole family loved them.
Can you do a combination of drumsticks and breasts?
Yes, you can. Just note that the breasts will take a little longer to cook.
Delicious!
Talk about mouth watering!
I can’t wait to try your recipe for:
BAKED BBQ CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS
The recipe sounds easy!
Who knew this would be such an easy and delicious dinner? Your recipes are always a hit with my family. The broiling at the end of this recipe really takes it up a notch. SO good!
Lisalia,
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe and others on the site. Your comment made my day! 🙂
These are our very favorite! So easy and SO good!