Description
These Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks are juicy inside, perfectly crisp outside, and packed with flavor from a simple pantry spice rub. No frying—just a hot oven and hands-off cooking for a weeknight-friendly, family-loved main.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks (bone-in, skin-on; ~2.5 lb / 1.1 kg)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp chili powder (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat & pan: Heat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil and set a wire rack on top (optional for extra crispiness).
- Make the rub: In a small bowl, mix salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and chili powder (if using).
- Season: Pat drumsticks very dry with paper towels. Toss with olive oil, then sprinkle the seasoning blend over and coat evenly.
- Bake: Arrange on the sheet/rack with space between pieces. Bake 35–40 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and the thickest part reads 165°F (74°C).
- Rest & serve: Let rest 5 minutes to keep juices in. Serve warm with your favorite sides.
Notes
- Crisp tips: Dry chicken thoroughly, use a wire rack for airflow, don’t overcrowd the pan, and keep oven at 425°F. For extra crunch, broil 2–3 minutes at the end.
- Even cooking: Flip halfway through; aim for 165°F (74°C) internal temperature.
- Variations: Try lemon-herb (add lemon zest & oregano), Cajun blend for heat, honey-mustard (toss lightly after baking), or an Asian-inspired soy-ginger glaze.
- Marinating: Marinate if you like, but pat dry before baking for crispy skin.
- Storage: Refrigerate up to 4 days. Reheat at 375°F (190°C) for 10–15 minutes; broil last 2–3 minutes to re-crisp. Freeze up to 2 months.
- No rack? Bake on parchment and flip halfway to crisp both sides.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baked, Oven
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: oven baked chicken drumsticks, crispy drumsticks, chicken leg rub, baked chicken legs 425F, easy weeknight chicken, sheet pan chicken