Coated in a delicious tangy with a dash of sweet no cook homemade BBQ sauce and then baked to perfection, these Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks are absolutely scrumptious with each juicy bite! It’s a one pan recipe that is ideal for a game day gathering!
Easy Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Chicken drumsticks remind me of my childhood. They are the one part of the chicken that is just the right amount to feed a kid. Ironically, both Baked Chicken Drumsticks and Crispy Fried Drumsticks are super tasty. So I like to think that getting tossed a chicken leg as a kid was a treat. And I still love them!
So this Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks recipe is one of my new favorite chicken dishes. The legs are slathered in a homemade tangy sweet simple BBQ sauce bursting with flavor! And get this, you don’t even have to cook the sauce or turn on your grill. You just mix the ingredients together and the flavors meld as the dish bakes in the oven.
Not to mention, these drumsticks are the perfect potluck or game day finger food when served alongside some Cheesy Beef Quesadillas and Cucumber Sandwich Bites. As well as an easy dinner with a side of Mashed Potatoes.
Why We Love These Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- Super Simple! To make this dish you just have to mix the BBQ sauce ingredients together in a bowl, coat the legs with it, and bake. It’s the most uncomplicated way to make BBQ chicken.
- Tangy Sweet BBQ! Barbecue chicken is all about a delicious BBQ sauce. This recipe is well balanced with both tangy and sweet ingredients that blend together perfectly.
- Party Favorite! Drumsticks are always a crowd pleaser! They are a fantastic option for your next kid’s birthday party, office potluck, or Sunday football gathering.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken Drumsticks – You need a package of chicken drumsticks to make this recipe.
- Ketchup – Any brand of ketchup will work to make the BBQ sauce.
- White Vinegar – Adds a touch of tang in combination with the ketchup.
- Brown Sugar – Used to sweeten the sauce, it naturally has molasses in it which adds another layer of flavor.
- Butter – Adds richness and rounds out the acid from the white vinegar and ketchup.
- Salt – All chicken dishes need to be seasoned with salt to make them tasty.
- Black Pepper – Regular ground black pepper is perfect.
- Worcestershire Sauce – Adds both salt and umami to the sauce.
- Dry Mustard – It adds a bit of mustard bite, but also helps to bind the sauce together and to the chicken as it cooks in the oven.
- Smoked Paprika – It’s the best spice to add some delicious smokey flavor without every turning your grill on.
How To Make Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
This recipe is the easiest way to make baked chicken legs with homemade BBQ sauce. With no need to pre-make the sauce as a separate step! I’ve created a way to just mix together the sauce, coat the chicken legs, and bake!
Preheat The Oven And Lay Out The Legs
To begin, you need to preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) so that it is ready to go. Then put the chicken drumsticks in a 9×13-inch baking dish. You can also use a sheet pan with a rim, but a baking dish will be a lot less messy.
Make The BBQ Sauce And Coat The Chicken
Making this BBQ sauce is super simple. Once you put the drumsticks in the baking dish, just whisk all the remaining ingredients together in a bowl until well combined. Now, pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken making sure to fully coat all the drumsticks. Then cover the baking dish with foil to prepare to bake.
Bake The BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Now that the drumsticks are good and coated in the yummy sauce mixture it’s time to bake! So pop the baking dish into the preheated oven and bake the chicken for 30 minutes. Then remove the chicken from the oven, remove the foil, and brush the legs with the BBQ sauce in the baking dish. Now, put the baking dish back into the oven and bake the chicken for another 30 minutes or until cooked through.
Serve
Before serving, when the baked BBQ chicken drumsticks are done cooking, check to make sure that they have reached an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C) using a digital cooking thermometer. If not, put them back in the oven for a few more minutes and then test the temperature again.
Then transfer them to a large plate and serve them with your favorite sides like Cowboy Caviar and Baked Mac And Cheese.
Can I Add Other Spices To The Sauce
Yes! You can easily customize the BBQ sauce by adding herbs and spices. For example, to make it spicy, add some ground chipotle or cayenne pepper. To make it herby, add herbs like thyme or oregano to the sauce. And to make it sweeter, more sugar. Feel free to be as creative as you like.
How Long Do Chicken Drumsticks Take To Bake?
Every oven is different, so this can vary. However, baked BBQ chicken drumsticks typically take about 60 minutes at 400°F (204°C) to be fully cooked. However, the best way to know if your chicken is done is by checking it with a digital cooking thermometer.
Expert Tips
- Use the dry mustard. The mustard not only adds flavor but it helps to emulsify the sauce and keep the butter from separating.
- Cover with foil. Do not forget to cover the baking dish with foil for the first half of cooking. It helps to seal in the flavors and keep the drumsticks from drying out.
- Temp the chicken. To make sure your drumsticks are fully cooked you will want to use an instant-read digital meat thermometer to ensure they have reached at least 165°F (74°C) for food safety.
Leftovers
These baked BBQ chicken drumsticks will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months in an airtight container or sealed bag.
To reheat, simply put them in the microwave for a few minutes on medium heat or in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 10 minutes. If they are frozen, it’s best to reheat them in the oven for about 30 minutes.
Other Delicious Chicken Recipes To Try
- Crispy Fried Chicken
- Honey Mustard Chicken
- Crispy Chicken Cutlets
- Baked Chicken Thighs
- Garlic And Paprika Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Katsu With Tonkatsu Sauce
Craving More? Follow Along:
Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper ground
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Place the chicken drumsticks in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a small bowl combine the rest of the ingredients and whisk well.
- Pour the bbq sauce mixture evenly over the drumsticks. Cover the baking dish with foil.
- Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake for 30 minutes covered. Remove the aluminum foil from the baking dish and brush the chicken drumsticks with bbq sauce from the baking dish. Bake for another 30 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone reads 165°F.
Tips & Notes:
- Use the dry mustard. The mustard not only adds flavor but it helps to emulsify the sauce and keep the butter from separating.
- Cover with foil. Do not forget to cover the baking dish with foil for the first half of cooking. It helps to seal in the flavors and keep the drumsticks from drying out.
- Temp the chicken. To make sure your drumsticks are fully cooked you will want to use an instant-read digital meat thermometer to ensure they have reached at least 165°F (74°C) for food safety.
- These baked BBQ chicken drumsticks will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months in an airtight container or sealed bag. To reheat, simply put them in the microwave for a few minutes on medium heat or in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 10 minutes. If they are frozen, it’s best to reheat them in the oven for about 30 minutes.
Vicki W. says
These are really good. I bought a big pack of legs…there were 14 in all, so I made one and a half times the sauce, and there was plenty. I baked them about 10 minutes longer than stated, but wanted to make sure they were well done. Will make them again!