Barbecue Baked Chicken Drumsticks
38 Comments
Posted: 04/30/19
Updated: 06/22/23
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Easy Barbecue Baked Chicken Drumsticks ~ Marinated Chicken Legs Make an Easy Dinner Recipe! Bake them and Finish with Barbecue Sauce for Juicy, Flavorful Drumsticks! We love to pair these delicious chicken drumsticks with Parmesan Orzo, Smashed Potatoes and Roasted Vegetables.
I’m sure you will agree there are those recipes you love to serve when you are having guests over like Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken or maybe you want to serve more of a fancier meal than usual. We also love this quick and healthy meal of baked boneless chicken thighs.
Or there are those quick and simple appetizer style recipes that hold a spot in your recipe book for brunch or a ladies get together. Recipes like canapes, dips or easy sides.
This recipe, however, is a family favorite for those dinners you want to enjoy with your family around the table. One that is super easy to make and is enjoyed by the whole family.
If it’s summer fire up the grill and make ourbbq chicken marinade for a quick and easy summer dinner recipe.
I love that the drumsticks are not fried. Baking is so much easier and healthier than frying and you don’t have to worry about standing at the stove top and frying the chicken to perfection.
Baked Chicken Drumsticks
Yes, fried chicken is so delicious and has a crunchiness that is so wonderful, but being able to bake the chicken yet get the feeling it wasn’t baked but perhaps fried is pretty phenomenal. These drummies are baked at a high temperature which gives them a crunchiness you normally don’t get when baking food.
Then adding the barbecue on the chicken and baking just a little longer makes the chicken so juicy and doesn’t lose much of flavor yet has the added flavor that the barbecue provides.
You can use your favorite barbecue sauce. We love Sweet Baby Ray’s. It’s not too sweet, not too tangy and gives a great balance of both. You just cannot go wrong with this recipe, friends.
Ingredients for chicken drumsticks
- chicken drumsticks
- mayonnaise
- creamy horseradish
- olive oil
- garlic
- onion
- salt
- paprika
- pepper
- barbecue sauce
Whenever we serve recipes like this one, I always have sweet memories of when I was still at home and my mom would serve us chicken with creamy mashed potatoes and a side salad.
As kids, we loved drumsticks more than any other recipe she would serve us. It was one of those dinners everyone got their fingers in barbecue as they enjoyed their food. Mom would not mind at all that we were making a huge mess!
This marinade is so delicious. It really adds juiciness and so much flavor to the chicken and takes away the blandness drumsticks can sometimes have.
When making salads I always love preparing then with the kiddos together. Though making food with them takes twice as long (if not three times), the memories are unforgettable.
Love barbecue? Be sure to try this recipe for Oven Baked Smokey Barbecue Ribs!
How long do you marinade chicken legs?
At least 3 hours! Place the chicken into the marinade first thing in the morning and refrigerate covered, then bake before you are ready to enjoy dinner.
Then all you have to do when it’s time for dinner is make the sides! How about Roasted Cauliflower or Baked Lemon Asparagus or a Greek Salad or the BEST Vegetable Casserole – don’t they sound delicious?!!
How long should you cook drumsticks for?
Start to finish this, you will bake them for 45-50 minutes.
How do you make baked chicken crispy?
Baking chicken at a high temperature helps crisp up the skin! Though it’s not the issue with chicken legs, if you’re making breasts or thighs – skin on be sure to place the skin side up when baking.
How many calories does a chicken drumstick have?
On an average, chicken legs have just under 100 calories each – this is before any sauce is added. This will vary a bit because chicken drumsticks vary in size.
How to make Barbecue Chicken Drumsticks
- Preheat the oven.
- Combine the marinade – mayo, horseradish, oil, garlic, salt, paprika, and pepper. Pour over chicken and mix well. Add onion, mix again, cover and refrigerate.
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up.
- Lay out chicken on the sheet. Bake about 35 minutes until skins of drumsticks become crispy.
- Remove from the oven and coat drumsticks generously with barbecue sauce.
- Return to oven. Bake another 10-15 minutes.
More of my favorite Chicken Leg recipes!
- Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks Recipe
- Grilled Ranch Chicken Legs
- The BEST Air Fried Chicken Legs
- Roasted Greek Chicken Legs
- Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- Baked Chicken Thighs
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Barbecue Baked Chicken Drumsticks
Marinated Baked Chicken Drumsticks Make an Easy Dinner Recipe! Bake them and Finish with Barbecue Sauce for Juicy, Flavorful Drumsticks!
Video
Ingredients
- 3 lbs chicken drumsticks
- 3 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp creamy horseradish
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 cup barbecue
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Combine the mayo, horseradish, oil, garlic, salt, paprika, and pepper. Pour over chicken. Mix well. Add onion, mix again. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.
- Lay out chicken on baking sheet or parchment paper (clean-up will be easier). Discard of the onions. Bake about 35 minutes until skins of drumsticks become crispy (baking time may slightly vary, depending on the size of drumsticks).
- Coat drumsticks generously with barbecue sauce. Return to oven. Bake another 10-15 minutes.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 363kcal (18%), Carbohydrates: 13g (4%), Protein: 27g (54%), Fat: 21g (32%), Saturated Fat: 4g (25%), Cholesterol: 142mg (47%), Sodium: 1050mg (46%), Potassium: 447mg (13%), Sugar: 9g (10%), Vitamin A: 310IU (6%), Vitamin C: 3.2mg (4%), Calcium: 33mg (3%), Iron: 1.2mg (7%)
Nancy says
Haven’t made this yet, but you need a little editing. What is the last ingredient, “barbecue” Perhaps you means barbecue SAUCE. Also later on, you say: Remove OF the onions. Don’t you mean simply Remove the onions? Your lack of care here does not encourage me to follow your recipes.
Courtney says
Yikes, Nancy. We are sorry that you felt the need to pick out everything we have made a simple mistake on.
Janet says
Sounds like you are a “negative Nancy” 🙄
Courtney says
👍🏼
Carol says
Your high school English teacher is rolling her eyeballs. “Remove” is not a property noun. Do not capitalize. Your sentence of “ what is the last ingredient “ requires a question mark not a coma. Just sayin
P Thompson says
I forgot the olive oil and they still turned out tasty.
Courtney says
Perfect! These are a regular meal in our house.
Linda Ferland says
Delicious & love the mix of ingredients. Thanks.
Julie Evink says
Awesome to hear Linda! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Natalia says
This recipe is so easy and delicious
Julie Evink says
Great to hear Natalia! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
John Simsen says
I tried this last night and was really impressed. Deep flavor, very juicy and tender, almost fall off the bone good. I used Ray’s No Sugar Added to reduce carbs. Still delish. I cooked an extra five minutes as well. I served with stir fry squash and sweet red pepper. Can’t wait to make this again!
Michelle Sperr says
Hi John! The chicken drumsticks sounds amazing with squash and sweet red peppers! I’ll have to try that combo too! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Jill says
The flavor was very good, but despite following the directions exactly, the skin was not crispy 🙁
Julie says
I’m sorry to hear that! I’m glad you still enjoyed the flavor, you could try them in the air fryer if you want really crispy skin!
Theresa Ann Beneda says
Let me tell you when I first saw the marinade I thought the chicken will not be good. It looked yucky to me but I marinated the chicken anyway overnight. The next day I made it with doubts that it will not come out! Boy was I wrong. In the first place I am an average cook. Some times my recipes come out crappy but this recipe was so easy it came out delicious. I give it 5 stars. Very easy and very delicious. Thanks for making it easy. Now I will check out m ore of your recipes!
Julie says
Awesome! I’m so glad it surpassed your expectations, Theresa!
Christine @ myblissfulmess says
This chicken recipe is not only easy and budget friendly, but it’s so delicious! The kids loved them as did I. I prepped them in the morning and let them marinate all day then when I was ready, I popped them in the oven and let them bake away. I used Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ sauce and I did not skimp! I coated them very generously. Served it up with some broccoli slaw, and corn on the cob to round out this easy, delicious dinner.
Julie Evink says
Sounds like a delicious meal! So glad you enjoyed them!
Debbie M Wilson says
I followed the recipe exactly as written but put them in my air fryer. They came out juicy and crispy. I will be making these again and again. Thanks for the great recipe.
Julie Evink says
LOVE that you used your air fryer! Great idea. Thanks for coming back and rating and commenting on the recipe. I appreciate it!
Janie says
Could you please tell more about how you used your air fryer on this recipe? I think I would like to try this method out. Any suggestions would be very helpful. Thanks!
dolfin_dancer@yahoo.com.
Janie says
I did not star this recipe as of now because I haven’t had the chance to try them out yet!!
Taryn says
Crispy skin and barbecue sauce. My favorite type of chicken legs!
Julie Evink says
Gotta have a crispy skin!
Jennifer Farley says
My husband LOVED this! Thanks for sharing!
Julie Evink says
So glad it was a hit!
Danielle Green says
Baked chicken can’t be beat, but you really upped the game with this recipe! Yum!
Jolene Carrera says
Where are the onions in the recipe??
Valentina Ablaev says
Hi Jolene,
In step 1 where it says to add the onions. 😉 ENJOY..
Alma Vorrei says
Sounds wonderfully simple. Perfect for a lazy summer evening.
Valentina Ablaev says
Thank you, Alma. I hope you enjoyed the recipe. :O)
Geraldine Martin says
Hey Valentina! This recipe, even though simple, it looks super impressive. I bet it tastes super delicious. I’m gonna try it this weekend and then I’ll let you know how it was. Thank you!
Valentina Ablaev says
Geraldine,
I hope you enjoyed the recipe. 🙂