Crispy Baked Drumsticks
These Crispy Baked Drumsticks have the texture and taste of fried chicken without all the fat and mess of frying. What a great fake out! I’ve also included a simple and delicious recipe for a Honey-Mustard Sauce for dipping, which adds a little tangy-sweetness to the meal.
We have a thing for drumsticks around here.
If you take a quick browse around our chicken recipes, you’ll quickly see that we have all sorts of recipe options when it comes to drumsticks.
My personal favorite are the 4-Ingredient Drumsticks made in the Instant Pot or made in the slow cooker. It’s an easy cut of meat to work with, they aren’t expensive, and kids love them.
While drumsticks are delicious coming from the slow cooker or Instant pot, these Crispy Baked Drumsticks have that desired crunchy exterior that make the kids think they are eating Chick-Fil-A.
Here is how easily they come together!
3 Steps to Making Crispy Baked Drumsticks
Before you get started, line a baking sheet with foil and place a cooking/baking rack on top. Spray the baking rack with cooking spray.
Step 1: Roll in Flour
After dabbing the chicken with a paper towel to dry them off, give them a roll in a bed of whole wheat flour. You can use all-purpose flour or even gluten-free flour, but whole wheat flour adds more nutrition.
Step 2: Coat in Egg Mixture
Next, they are off to a trip to an egg and milk mixture. You can use a non-dairy milk, if desired.
Step 3: Add the Breadcrumbs
After that, they go swimming in some crispy whole wheat Panko bread crumbs. If you can’t find whole wheat ones, regular Panko or any other dried bread crumbs will work. If you’re gluten-free, try using gluten-free breadcrumbs.
Place them on a cooking rack over a foil lined baking sheet. The foil makes clean up much easier!
(Optional) Step 4: Make our Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
In a small bowl, mix together the plain Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, honey, and salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste. Place in the fridge until ready to use.
How Long to Bake Drumsticks
This recipe cooks at a pretty high temperature to ensure those breadcrumbs get nice and crispy. You’ll bake them at 475°F for about 25-30 minutes. Give them a turn halfway through.
How to Freeze Chicken Drumsticks
Believe it or not, these make a great freezer meal! Just be sure to freeze the drumsticks BEFORE baking them in a single layer in a freezer bag. Divide layers with parchment paper.
When you want to eat them, simply thaw using one of these safe ways to thaw chicken and then bake as directed. You’ll never know they were a freezer meal!
What to Serve with Crispy Baked Drumsticks
If you want comfort food, serve them up with some mashed potatoes and Whole Wheat Buttermilk Biscuits. You can also freshen things up with a Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette, since you’ll have most of the ingredients for it!
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These Crispy Baked Drumsticks are as good as the fried version without all the added fat, grease, and calories. Easy and freezer friendly!
Ingredients
Drumsticks
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- salt and pepper
- 2 large eggs
- splash of milk or water
- 1 1/3 cup whole wheat panko bread crumbs (regular will work fine)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4–1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 chicken drumsticks (about 2 lbs)
FOR HONEY MUSTARD DIPPING SAUCE:
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoon honey
- salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
Make It Now: For Crispy Baked Drumsticks:
- Preheat oven to 475 degrees F. Coat a wire rack generously with cooking spray and set it on a large rimmed baking sheet. (I highly recommend covering the baking sheet with foil for easier clean up.)
- Put flour on a plate and lightly season with salt and pepper. Beat the egg, milk, and a dash of salt and pepper together in another shallow dish. Mix breadcrumbs, paprika, onion powder, salt, garlic, and pepper in the last shallow dish. Drizzle with oil and mash with a fork until the oil is thoroughly incorporated.
- Pat the drumsticks dry. Dredge in the flour on all sides, and then in the egg mixture. Then press into the breading mixture until evenly coated on all sides. Place the chicken on the prepared rack. Discard any remaining dredging mixture.
- Bake the chicken until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer (inserted into the thickest part of a drumstick without touching bone) registers 165 degrees F, about 25-30 minutes. Turn halfway through the cooking time.
- While the chicken bakes, mix together the Honey-Mustard Dipping Sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set in the fridge until ready to serve.
- Serve the drumsticks warm with the dipping sauce on the side.
Freeze For Later: After breading the drumsticks, carefully lay them in a single layer in a gallon-sized freezer bag or shallow container with lid. Use parchment paper to separate layers, if needed. Seal and freeze. (Note: The Honey-Mustard Sauce needs to be made fresh. We do not recommend freezing it.)
Prepare From Frozen: Note: You’ll need the Honey-Mustard Sauce ingredients on hand. Thaw over night in the fridge. Preheat the oven to 475°F. Then, follow Steps 4-6.
Want more Freezer Meals?
Swing by our 70+ Healthy Freezer Meals for ideas! These are well-tested, family-friendly recipes with real food ingredients. Enjoy!
Super yummy! We don’t like dark meat, so I followed same instructions, but made tenders using boneless/skinless chicken breasts. Turned out great! We ate with your oven-roasted broccoli.
★★★★★
Great idea!
thank you
I love this idea… chicken legs and thighs are ALWAYS on sale and I’m always looking for recipes that help with the weekly budget! We’re entertaining for a football party this weekend so I’m going to make these… winning… both reasonably priced and full, of yummy flavors! ? ? ?
Love this recipe. I have used it many times. As an FYI: I always take the chicken skin off because I can’t stand it. This makes the breading fall off when frying or baking. I learned a trick recently and use it when making this recipe. Add 1/2 tsp of gelatin to your dry breading mixture and it binds the breading to the meat. Works great!!!
Wow, thanks for the tip. I’m going to go back and try this one again soon!
I wonder if these would also be good with chicken breast? Going to give it a try…
Oh yeah, great idea! This would be awesome.
I cooked these on the gas grill tonight to avoid using the oven in this crazy heat. I put them on a pampered chef grill pan with foil under the pan and they were perfect!
I’ve never thought to do that. But since I often set off the fire alarm when baking at high temps, I will definitely try this method! Thanks for the idea, Lauren!
Have you ever frozen the sauce?
No, I haven’t. My guess is that the yogurt won’t defrost well. But the sauce is awesome and worth making.
Great recipe! They were just as crunchy and crispy as fried. The sauce was also very yummy!
do you bake the chicken then freeze???
No, you will freeze this before baking. When ready to cook, thaw and bake according to the directions.
I just prepared this meal and froze it. When i am ready to cook it, do i need to let the drumsticks thaw before cooking them at 475 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes?
Yep, make sure they are thawed. I would put them in the fridge the night before and give them close to 24 hours to completely thaw. Hope you enjoy them!
Also, keep a close eye on them so the outside doesn’t burn. My oven may be a bit different than yours.
Just bought my Smart Chicken drumsticks off the Gerbes manager's special (1/2 off!!!) Going to make these tomorrow night. Thanks,
These look delicious! I can't wait to try em!