Baked Chicken Drumsticks

By Lidey Heuck

Published Jan. 29, 2025

Baked Chicken Drumsticks
Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
50 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
45 minutes
Rating
5(296)
Comments
Read comments

Chicken breasts and thighs are perennial favorites when it comes to weeknight dinner recipes, but for another quick-cooking and flavorful chicken dinner, consider these baked drumsticks.  Coated with a mix of everyday pantry spices and roasted until browned and tender, they are reliably delicious with very little effort. Like chicken thighs, drumsticks are forgiving to cook: While technically cooked through at 165 degrees, they remain juicy and moist at even 175 degrees and higher. Serve them with your favorite weeknight side dishes, such as rice pilaf and lemony steamed broccoli, or a big plate of crudités and ranch dressing for dipping. Finally, if you like things on the spicier side, add a pinch of ground cayenne to the spice mixture, or sprinkle with a few shakes of your favorite hot sauce when the chicken comes out of the oven.

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: Give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Share this recipe

  • Print this recipe

Advertisement

Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 2teaspoons smoked paprika 
  • 1½teaspoons onion powder
  • 1teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1½teaspoons kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
  • ½teaspoon black pepper
  • 8chicken drumsticks (about 2 pounds)
  • 2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Chopped fresh parsley (optional), for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

194 calories; 14 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 2 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 0 grams sugars; 14 grams protein; 553 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oven to 400 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

  2. Step 2

    In a small bowl, combine the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper, and mix with one of the measuring spoons.

  3. Step 3

    Pat the drumsticks dry with a paper towel and place them in a large bowl. Drizzle the drumsticks with the olive oil and toss to coat, then sprinkle with the spice mixture and toss again until well-coated.

  4. Step 4

    Arrange the drumsticks, evenly spaced, on the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes, then flip and bake for 15 to 20 more minutes, until the drumsticks are browned and cooked through. (An internal thermometer inserted into the meatiest part of a drumstick should register at least 165 degrees, and preferably closer to 175 degrees.)

  5. Step 5

    Serve hot or warm. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, bake at 350 degrees, loosely wrapped in foil, for about 20 minutes, until heated through. To recrisp the skin, adjust heat to 425 degrees, unwrap the foil and cook for 5 minutes more.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Ratings

5 out of 5
296 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Comments

Jim

Adding a small amount of baking powder to the spice mix will help keep the skin crispy.

Anne Marconi

@Judi M Please pass along the air fryer results!!

SI Grandma

To avoid all of the mixing bowls: Spray the parchment lined baking sheet with EVOO and sprinkle on the spices individually. Arrange the chicken on the sheet, spray with EVOO and sprinkle on the spices as before. I also use a non-salt seasoning blend in addition to the spices mentioned and prefer boneless, skinless thighs to the legs. 400 degrees for 48 minutes.

Hanna

I like the spice mix and prefer to use Thights rather than Drumsticks. Agree with the baking powder addition

Ragbert

Easy and delicious! I took your (and Kenji's) advice, @Jim, and added about a tsp of baking powder to the spice mix, for approx 1.5 lbs of drumsticks. It really did make a difference and kept the skin crispy!

mel693

Made these when I was too tired to cook but wanted something homemade. Used chicken wings instead of drumsticks. Baked at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. So good!!

Private comments are only visible to you.

Recipe Tags

or to save this recipe.