Omg you guys, I have got the easiest, best new recipe for you: Seasoned Crispy Chicken Drumsticks.
These crispy baked chicken drumsticks are one of my favorite easy dinners. They’re packed with flavor, require just a few pantry spices, and come out perfectly juicy with crispy skin every time.
If you’re looking for an affordable high-protein dinner that’s family-friendly and simple enough for busy weeknights, these oven-baked chicken legs are hard to beat.
Unlike fried chicken, these drumsticks are baked in the oven until golden brown and crispy, making them an easy healthier option without sacrificing flavor.
Why You’ll Love These Crispy Chicken Drumsticks
Let me start by saying I never thought anything would come close to my Honey Glazed Garlic Chicken Wings, but these drumsticks hit. They’re fall-apart-in-your-mouth tender and seriously seasoned to perfection. What makes these the best:
- Super crispy skin without frying
- Ready in under an hour
- Naturally gluten-free
- Budget-friendly
- High in protein
- Great for meal prep
- Kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing
Whether you’re serving these crispy chicken drumsticks with roasted vegetables, potatoes, rice, or a fresh salad, they’re guaranteed to become a staple dinner recipe.
This is truly a recipe everyone needs to try at least once. Sharing the full recipe below, but all you need to do is pat the drumsticks dry, toss with olive oil and all the seasonings, and pop ‘em in the oven to bake for a bit. Effortless, to say the least!
A Simple High-Protein Chicken Recipe Anyone Can Make
If you ask me, chicken drumsticks are underrated. They don’t get enough attention, but I’m here to change to that.
Drumsticks are an excellent source of a handful of vitamins and minerals like selenium, vitamin B6, phosphorus, iron and zinc.
If you’re unfamiliar with some of these, I got you! Selenium is an essential mineral that can help support the healthy functioning of your body, including your metabolism, immune system, and thyroid function.
Phosphorus is known to play an essential role in how the body stores and uses energy, as well as helps to filter out waste in the kidneys. Phosphorus is also known to aid in reducing muscle pain after a workout. Love that for all of us.
Ok now if all of the above isn’t enough to sell you on these Seasoned Crispy Chicken Drumsticks, then let’s take a moment to talk about the seasonings that really make this recipe so drool-worthy. Garlic + chili powders, oregano, paprika, salt + pepper, aka seasoning perfection. Trust me when I say this is a must-make nutritious and delicious recipe!
What to Pair With These Crispy Chicken Drumsticks
While these Seasoned Crispy Chicken Drumsticks are finger-lickin’ good on their own, they somehow taste even more incredible when paired with my Creamy Buttery Mashed Potatoes and peas. I mean … game. over. You need this dinner asap! It’s seriously such a good comfort meal.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Pasture-raised chicken drumsticks
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Sea salt
- Garlic powder
- Chili powder
- Oregano
- Paprika
- Ground pepper
How To Make Seasoned Crispy Chicken Drumsticks:
- Preheat the oven to 420 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pat all of the drumsticks dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture, then add to a large bowl.
- Once all drumsticks are in a bowl, make sure the skin of the chicken is covering the drumstick, not folded. Toss with olive oil, then add your seasonings and mix until fully coated.
- Prepare a baking sheet and rack by spraying with oil (with the rack stacked on top of the baking sheet, to allow enough air to circulate around the drumsticks while cooking). Add each drumstick to the pan, then bake for 35 minutes. Remove and flip before baking for the remaining 15 minutes.
- They’re done once they’re golden and crispy. Enjoy! Store any leftover, cooked drumsticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
Recipe Tips & Suggestions
- Pat the chicken dry, moisture prevents crispiness.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan, air circulation helps the skin crisp.
- Use a wire rack if possible, this allows heat to circulate underneath.
- Bake at a higher temperature, higher heat produces golden, crispy skin.
For serving these drumsticks, they go great with Creamy Buttery Mashed Potatoes and peas. Sometimes I’ll also serve them with dinner rolls, like these Everything Biscuits from Cappello’s (bonus points because they’re gluten-free; I have a gluten intolerance).
You could also try serving with my Crispy Buttery Broccolini and rice. So many options!
How to get perfectly crispy chicken in the oven:
One reason your chicken drumsticks may not be crispy after baking in the oven is the temperature was too low. To achieve crispy chicken skin, it’s best to bake the chicken at a higher temperature, as I do here for these Seasoned Crispy Chicken Drumsticks – baking at 420. Generally, depending on the recipe and size of the chicken, you’ll want to bake them anywhere between 375 to 425.
It’s also important to bake them on a rack on top of a baking sheet to allow the air to circulate around them to cook evenly and prevent them from cooking/sitting in their juices.
SHOP THIS RECIPE:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get chicken drumsticks crispy in the oven?
Pat them dry, season generously, and bake at a higher temperature without overcrowding the pan.
Is it better to bake chicken drumsticks at 400 or 425?
Both work well. Baking at 425°F produces crispier skin and slightly shorter cook times.
Should chicken drumsticks be covered while baking?
No. Leaving them uncovered allows the skin to become crispy.
What temperature should chicken drumsticks be cooked to?
Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F, though dark meat becomes even more tender closer to 175–185°F.
Can I meal prep chicken drumsticks?
Absolutely. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat in the oven or air fryer.
How do you keep drumsticks from drying out in the oven?
For starters, it’s important to cook them at the right temperature as overcooking is a surefire way to dry them out. As mentioned above, you’ll want to use a rack on top of a baking sheet when baking them as this allows air to circulate, helping them cook evenly.
Another important step that sometimes gets overlooked is allowing the drumsticks a few minutes to rest after removing from the oven. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ultimately making it juicier.
Also, don’t be shy with the seasoning. Generously seasoning your drumsticks is key, but you could also try marinating or brining your drumsticks a few hours before baking to add moisture and enhance the flavor.
More Easy and Delicious Dinners To Try:
Honey-Glazed Garlic Chicken Wings
3 Meals Using Chicken Breast That Will Get You Excited About Dinner
Click here to watch the reel I made of this recipe 🙂
Seasoned Crispy Chicken Drumsticks
Equipment
- baking rack
- baking sheet
- large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 3 packs pasture-raised chicken drumsticks, or about 13-15 drumsticks
- 3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 420 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pat all of the drumsticks dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture, then add to a large bowl.
- Once all drumsticks are in a bowl, make sure the skin of the chicken is covering the drumstick, not folded. Toss with olive oil, then add your seasonings and mix until fully coated.
- Prepare a baking sheet and rack by spraying with oil (with the rack stacked on top of the baking sheet, to allow enough air to circulate around the drumsticks while cooking). Add each drumstick to the pan, then bake for 35 minutes. Remove and flip before baking for the remaining 15 minutes.
- They’re done once they’re golden and crispy. Enjoy!
- Store any leftover, cooked drumsticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
Chicken came out great! Crispy and juicy and very tasty. Definitely add a good amount of seasoning. Thanks for this quick and easy meal!
So easy and good! Turned out crispy and flavorful. Thanks for a great recipe!
So easy & so tasty! I’m trying to branch out from our usual chicken breasts & these drumsticks were a huge success! Crispy skin, juicy meat & perfect seasoning. Will definitely make again. Thank you!
Loved it! Great recipe Rachael.
They do out crispy and yummy.
I don’t know how to cook, but boy, this recipe makes me a chef to my husband! It came out so good and juicy. Although I have to work on its crispiness, overall, we are happy campers eating it!
I really enjoyed how flavorful these came out! Not dry at all. I did add a good amount of spices and chef merito chicken seasoning. Very easy to make and very tasty thank you!
I made these for supper and was told to save this recipe. They were so darn good!
I washed 24 drums in a basin with cold water and baking soda, swished them around, rinsed, then laid them out on a clean tea towel, put another towel on top to dry them. I put 12 at a time into a large glass baking dish and painted (silicon brush) them with olive oil, added the spices, (added fenugreek to the mix) turned them over and did the other side. I also painted the racks in the preheated over, right before laying the drums on them. Make a generous amount of spices for 24 drums, at least a heaping tsp of each spice. I put 12 drums on each rack with about 1/12 inch between them. My convection oven is pretty hot, so I set it at 170 C for 30 minutes, then turned them with tongs, baked another ten minutes. Very tasty.
I just made these chicken drumsticks for dinner and my whole family loved them! Even my pickiest daughter ate them and wanted more. Definitely will be a repeat recipe in our house!