How to Video
Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
An easy-peasy, flavorful baked chicken drumstick recipe. You can have BBQ Chicken Drumsticks without grilling or frying. Just bake, baste, broil and enjoy! We even teach you how to turn this into a make-ahead freezer meal.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 pounds bone-in skin-on chicken drumsticks
- 1 1/2 cups BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place an oven-safe baking/cooling rack on top. Spray the rack with cooking spray.
- Make the Rub: In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
- Season Chicken: Pat dry the drumsticks and then coat the drumsticks evenly with the mixture. Place the drumsticks on the baking rack.
- Bake: Bake drumsticks for 25 minutes.
- Baste #1: Remove the chicken from the oven, baste with the BBQ sauce on all sides, and bake for another 7-8 minutes.
- Baste #2: Repeat the basting step, and bake another 7-8 minutes.
- Baste #3 + Increase Temp: Remove pan and baste with sauce one last time. Turn up the oven temp to 425°F. Cook the chicken 5-7 more minutes or until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F or are no longer pink inside at all. (Optional: Broil at the end to caramelize the drumsticks even more, if you want it.)
- Cool: Let them sit for at least 10 minutes before eating. Serve with extra BBQ Sauce on the side.
Freezer Instructions
Freeze For Later: Season the drumsticks and place the seasoned chicken in a freezer bag. Try not to stack the drumsticks in the bag; instead, place them flat, side by side. Use parchment paper to divide layers, if needed. Seal and freeze flat. If you want, you can pour BBQ sauce into a small freezer bag or container, seal, and freeze alongside the chicken.
Prepare From Frozen: Thaw. Follow the cooking instructions in the recipe above.
Notes/Tips
- We use this same rub and BBQ sauce in our Instant Pot and Crockpot BBQ Drumsticks.
- You can also use this rub and our BBQ sauce on chicken breasts or chicken thighs. Cook in the slow cooker on Low for 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 hours or in the Instant Pot for 7 minutes with a quick release. Shred and serve on buns for easy BBQ chicken sandwiches.
- We get our chicken from ButcherBox.
Nutrition
Serving: 2 drumsticks | Calories: 341 kcal (17%) | Carbohydrates: 24 g (8%) | Protein: 27 g (54%) | Fat: 15 g (23%) | Cholesterol: 140 mg (47%) | Sodium: 1232 mg (54%) | Fiber: 1 g (4%) | Sugar: 19 g (21%)
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