Chicken drumsticks are a classic barbecue favorite. When coated in a sweet and tangy bbq sauce and baked until tender and juicy, they are irresistible. Baking drumsticks allows you to achieve finger-licking goodness without having to grill or deep fry. With just a few simple steps, you can make perfect bbq baked chicken drumsticks right at home.
Ingredients Needed for BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Baking delicious bbq chicken drumsticks starts with gathering the right ingredients:
- Chicken drumsticks – Choose fresh, skin-on chicken drumsticks for maximum flavor and moisture. Plan on about 4-6 drumsticks per person.
- BBQ sauce – Select your favorite prepared bbq sauce or make your own. Sweet tomato-based sauces pair well with chicken.
- Seasonings – For seasoning, basics like salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and chili powder are great options.
- Cooking oil – Coat the drumsticks with a thin layer of oil. Vegetable, canola, olive oil, or melted butter all work.
- Aluminum foil – Foil helps the drumsticks cook evenly and keeps them from drying out.
Having these ingredients on hand will ensure you can bake up some finger-licking bbq chicken drumsticks anytime.
Steps for Baking BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Baking bbq chicken drumsticks takes just a few easy steps:
1. Prep the Drumsticks
- Rinse the chicken drumsticks under cold water and pat them completely dry with paper towels.
- If desired, use a fork to poke holes all over the skin side of the drumsticks. This allows the seasoning and bbq sauce to really penetrate the meat.
- Generously coat both sides of the drumsticks with the cooking oil. The oil helps the seasoning stick and keeps the meat moist.
2. Season the Drumsticks
- In a small bowl, combine the seasonings – salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chili powder, or any other desired spices.
- Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of the oiled drumsticks, gently rubbing it in.
3. Preheat the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
4. Wrap in Foil
- Tear off sheets of aluminum foil that are large enough to fully wrap each drumstick.
- Place each seasoned drumstick in the center of its own foil sheet.
- Wrap the foil tightly around each drumstick, sealing in the edges. The drumsticks can touch each other on the baking sheet, so long as they are each sealed in their own foil packet.
5. Bake the Drumsticks
- Arrange all the foil wrapped drumsticks on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes, then carefully open one packet to check doneness. The drumsticks should be cooked through with no pink left inside.
- If needed, re-seal the opened packet and return to the oven for 5-10 more minutes until fully cooked.
6. Apply the BBQ Sauce
- Once cooked, open the foil packets and thickly brush bbq sauce all over the drumsticks.
- Return them sauce-side up to the baking sheet.
- Bake uncovered for 10 more minutes to caramelize the bbq sauce.
7. Rest and Serve
- Allow the bbq chicken drumsticks to rest 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve hot, with extra bbq sauce for dipping if desired.
In less than an hour, you can enjoy fall-off-the-bone bbq chicken drumsticks with crispy skin and finger-licking sauce.
Tips for the Best Baked BBQ Drumsticks
To take your baked bbq chicken drumsticks from great to outstanding, keep these handy tips in mind:
- Pat the drumsticks very dry before oiling and seasoning – this helps the seasoning adhere better.
- Use indirect heat by baking in the oven, not grilling over direct heat which can burn the outside before the inside cooks.
- Poke skin with a fork to allow seasonings and sauce to fully penetrate the meat.
- Wrap in foil packets to cook evenly, seal in moisture, and prevent burning.
- Brush on sauce twice – once before baking to caramelize, and once after for sticky goodness.
- Let rest before serving so juices can redistribute through the meat for optimal juiciness.
- Offer extra sauce for dipping so folks can customize their drumstick to their desired sauciness.
With these simple tips, your baked bbq chicken drumsticks will impress every time. Juicy, saucy, tender, with crispy skin – bake up a batch soon!
Frequently Asked Questions About Baking BBQ Drumsticks
What is the best bbq sauce for baked chicken drumsticks?
Sweet, tomato-based bbq sauces pair especially well with chicken. Ketchup-based sauces like Sweet Baby Ray’s are classics. For bolder flavor, try an apple cider vinegar or mustard-based sauce.
What temp should I bake bbq drumsticks at?
Bake bbq chicken drumsticks at 375°F (190°C). This temperature ensures the exterior gets nicely browned while the interior cooks through fully.
How long should I bake bbq chicken drumsticks?
Bake for 30 minutes wrapped in foil, then 10 more minutes unwrapped with bbq sauce brushed on. Check for doneness before serving. The minimum baking time is 40 minutes, but thicker drumsticks may need up to 50 minutes total.
Should I bake drumsticks skin side up or down?
Start bone side down for even cooking, then flip to skin side up for the last 10 minutes once bbq sauce is brushed on. This allows the skin to brown and caramelize.
Can you bake drumsticks without foil?
It’s best to start drumsticks wrapped in foil packets – this allows them to steam and cook evenly. Remove foil for the last 10-15 minutes for the sauce to caramelize on the skin.
How can I make baked bbq drumsticks extra juicy?
- Brine drumsticks in saltwater before seasoning
- Coat with oil before cooking
- Wrap in foil to seal in moisture
- Bake at 375°F – high heat dries out the meat
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving
What sides go well with bbq baked drumsticks?
Baked bbq drumsticks pair deliciously with classic barbecue sides like cornbread, coleslaw, baked beans, mac and cheese, potato salad, or collard greens.
Recipes for Sauces and Rubs for BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
The sauce and seasoning you choose can take your baked bbq drumsticks from “ho hum” to “wow!” Here are some tasty recipes to try:
Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce
Ingredients:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly.
- Use immediately, or store leftover sauce in the fridge up to 2 weeks.
Dry Rub Seasoning
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1⁄2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly.
- Generously coat drumsticks on all sides with the rub right before baking.
Apple Cider Vinegar BBQ Sauce
Ingredients:
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1⁄2 cup ketchup
- 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne
Instructions:
- Whisk all ingredients together in a saucepan.
- Simmer over medium heat 5 minutes until thickened slightly.
- Use as sauce for drumsticks.
Get creative and come up with your own signature sauces and spice mixes! The options for flavoring baked bbq chicken drumsticks are endless.
Conclusion
Baking chicken drumsticks coated in bbq sauce is one of the easiest ways to put a finger-licking dinner on the table. Preparing them is as simple as oiling, seasoning, wrapping in foil, and baking until cooked through. Finishing with sauce under the broiler caramelizes the exterior to sticky sweet perfection. Brush on your favorite prepared or homemade bbq sauce, or get creative and come up with your own signature flavors. Baked bbq chicken drumsticks are ideal for feeding a crowd at your next backyard barbecue or weeknight family dinner. Juicy, saucy, and tender, they are sure to be a hit however you bake and sauce them.