Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks
With only 10-minutes of prep time, these Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks make for an easy weeknight meal. They taste just like rotisserie chicken!
This post may contain paid links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.
“Woah, these taste just like a rotisserie chicken from the store.” Our 9-year-old son absolutely loves rotisserie chicken drumsticks. We often keep rotisserie chicken in freezer bags for quick meals, but he always asks for the drumsticks. With that in mind, I set out to make a recipe for him. And these Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks are absolutely delicious!
I’ve been begging (half-jokingly) for a rotisserie oven for years now. Whenever I bring it up, my wife just gives me that look. I then stop begging for a rotisserie oven…until the next year. I mean I get it. They take up a lot of space. But wouldn’t it be cool to make a rotisserie chicken (or perhaps even doner kebab) right in your own kitchen??
Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks
It turns out there isn’t really a secret to making amazing chicken drumsticks at home. Just a nice hot oven, some olive oil and a quick trip under the broiler will yield juicy, flavorful drumsticks that are indeed crispy.
The herb and spice mixture that goes onto the raw chicken drumsticks is the key to amazing flavor. A mixture of paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder go on first. But that’s not all! From there, a mixture of olive oil, fresh thyme, fresh rosemary and minced garlic get added. It might sound like a lot of seasonings, but trust me here. These drumsticks with crispy skin are SO flavorful!
How to Make Baked Chicken Drumsticks in the Oven
Aside from the spice mixture above, there are a couple of tips to baking crispy chicken drumsticks in the oven.
- Pat the chicken drumsticks dry. Using paper towels, pat/squeeze the drumsticks to remove as much excess moisture as possible from the surface.
- Spread the drumsticks out on the pan. You want the hot air in the oven to be able to circulate around the drumsticks. If you have a wire baking rack, feel free to use it. However, I usually just skip the rack and flip the drumsticks over half-way through. They turn out great!
- Broil the drumsticks for a couple of minutes. Once the drumsticks are fully cooked, flip the oven over to broil. This will help ensure the chicken is golden brown and crunchy – just make sure to keep a close eye on those drumsticks to prevent them from burning!
- Let the drumsticks rest for 5 minutes. I know it’ll be difficult once you smell these Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks, but let them rest on the pan for 5 minutes after removing them from the oven. This will help ensure that the drumsticks are nice and juicy inside.
Variations
I will say that the seasoning combination in this recipe is amazing. However, to mix things up a bit, try using other seasoning blends. A Cajun dry rub, a lemon-pepper rub, Italian seasoning or even a dry BBQ rub on these chicken drumsticks would be delicious. Make sure to keep the olive oil in the recipe, though, as it adds both flavor and texture to the drumsticks as they bake!
How to Store Leftovers
Leftover chicken drumsticks can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, just place in a 350°F oven or air fryer for 5-6 minutes. You can microwave the drumsticks to reheat, but they won’t be crispy.
These drumsticks can also be frozen. Just place them in an airtight freezer bag and freeze for up to 4 months. To reheat, let the frozen drumsticks thaw in the refrigerator for several hours (or overnight) and then place in the oven to reheat. The meat can also be removed from these baked drumsticks and saved for chicken salad, soups, pasta dishes, etc.
If you’re looking for an easy and delicious way to bake chicken at home, then put these Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks on the list! They’re now a staple in our house, and our son begs us to make these all the time. Enjoy!
Did you make this baked chicken legs recipe at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog) – I’d love to see your version!
Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 6 chicken drumsticks skin on
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ Tbsp chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 tsp minced garlic
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Line a rimmed sheet pan with foil or parchment paper; set pan aside.
- Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with a paper towel and place drumsticks in a large bowl.
- Using a small bowl, combine the smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. Add spice mixture to the bowl with the drumsticks; toss until well coated.
- Using a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, thyme, rosemary and garlic. Drizzle this mixture evenly over the drumsticks and toss until well coated.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Flip drumsticks over and continue baking for 20-25 more minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. (Note: Make sure the meat thermometer is not touching bone as that will give an inaccurate reading.)
- Turn broiler on high and broil for 2-3 minutes per side, or until drumsticks are golden brown and crispy.
Looking for more tasty chicken recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
Thanks for making me hungry BTW cant wait to make your recipes soon for me
This is a really easy recipe that tastes delicious! Thanks, Ramya!
I love drumsticks. My husband does not. Jeez. And these look so good!
You and Robbie would get along well with your love of drumsticks! 🙂
Your Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks recipe is a game-changer! It’s amazing how a few simple ingredients and a hot oven can create such juicy, flavorful drumsticks that taste just like rotisserie chicken. This recipe is definitely going to be a hit in my household too. Thanks for sharing! 🍗
These drumsticks taste just like a rotisserie chicken! They’re delicious…and really not difficult to make at all!
These drumsticks look so delicious. My favorite part of the chicken is the drumstick too.
Drumsticks come with their own handle! 🙂 Give this recipe a try sometime, Dawn…it’s pretty fantastic!
Such a classic childhood dish for me growing up! Love all the flavors you’ve added to the drumsticks!
This really is such an easy and tasty recipe. Thanks, Michelle!
these sound tasty David. I love lots of herbs and spices on my food. Hubby is definitely not into drumsticks or anything with bones so …
….so that means more drumsticks for you! 🙂 Or you could just pull the meat off for him? Either way, this is a delicious recipe. Thanks, Sherry!
I don’t use my broiler much, and this is proof of why I need to rethink that! Those drumsticks looks so delicious. (I’ll be a rotisserie would be a lot of work to clean!)
These drumsticks are ridiculously easy to make. I agree that I don’t use the broiler all that often, but this is the perfect example of where it makes a huge difference!
Oh these drumsticks look cooked to perfection and just like I love (although most of the times we prefer to go with chicken thighs). And the blend of aromatics (smoked paprika and fresh herbs) is just spot on!
I bet you could do something similar here with chicken thighs. Robbie loves drumsticks which is why I went with drumsticks here – they come with their own handle! 🙂
These drumsticks look really good and I’m sure they’re very tasty.
Thanks so much, Gerlinde – these drumsticks are really tasty indeed!
They look so good. I think I’ll try your seasonings and cooking techniques with thighs. I believe they would be equally good.
I do think this recipe would work well with thighs, too, Karen – let me know how it turns out!
These looks so delicious–I love smoked paprika–and really easy. And drumsticks might be my favorite part of the chicken. I much prefer dark meat and the drumsticks are easier to eat than the thighs. And yes I use my hands!
Well drumsticks come with their own handle – so much easier to eat! This chicken turned out really well, and it was surprisingly easy to make, too.
I have no doubt at all David that these are absolutely delicious. We would love this combination of flavours, and drumsticks are economical to buy. I always have these ingredients at home so I’m set to go. Thanks for the inspiration.
I agree with you, Pauline! We were just talking about the ease of buying cooked rotisserie chicken, and that certainly is easy. But it’s much more economical to buy drumsticks and roast ’em up. And this recipe really is surprisingly easy!