Oven Roasted Drumsticks

Oven roasted drumsticks are marinated chicken legs roasted to golden brown perfection. In about 1 hour, you have a delicious dinner entree that’s perfect for any night of the week.

Oven Roasted Drumsticks

I roast drumsticks often because they are so easy to pull together and the kids really love them. Plus the smell of the chicken roasting in the oven is drool-worthy. Feel free to swap the drumsticks for chicken thighs if that’s your preference.

Add it to the weekly rotation along with Jerk Chicken Wings, Oven Baked Pineapple BBQ Chicken, and Oven Roasted Chicken.

Why You’ll Love This Roasted Drumsticks Recipe

• Easy Weeknight Dinner: This recipe is simple enough to make in the middle of the week and delicious enough to become a dinner staple.
• Flavorful: I love roasting drumsticks because the skin gets perfectly crisp and the meat is succulent and juicy.
• Versatile: I keep it simple with the seasoning but you can season it however you’d like.

Baked Drumsticks vs. Roasted Drumsticks

I refer to this recipe as roasted drumsticks because roasting requires cooking meat at a higher temperature (around 375°F or higher). This creates a crispy exterior and a tender center. The cooking process for baking is slower and more gentle, which can result in a softer texture, especially when the chicken is cooked in a sauce or covered to retain moisture.

Are drumsticks the same as chicken legs?

Although the terms are used interchangeably (even within this post), they are not quite the same. A chicken leg (or chicken leg quarter) is actually the thigh and drumstick of the chicken. Whereas, the drumstick is just one piece of the chicken leg.

Ingredients for Oven Roasted Drumsticks

Oven roasted drumsticks come together easily with ingredients you already have stocked in your kitchen.

• Chicken drumsticks: Keep the skin on for crispy skin. This also keeps the meat underneath moist.
• Seasoning: Make a seasoning blend with onion powder, granulated garlic, paprika, salt, cayenne pepper, ground ginger, allspice (optional), and ground cinnamon (optional).
• Spicy Brown Mustard: This adds a zesty quality to the chicken and also tenderizes the chicken. Don’t worry; the drumsticks won’t taste like mustard.
• Ketchup: Use Whole30 Compliant if you are on a round.
• Coconut Aminos: Use this or cooking sauce.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Roasted Drumsticks

Season Drumsticks

Preparing roasted drumsticks takes a little bit of time. Pull the ingredients from the pantry and mix them together. Here I have granulated garlic, onion powder, ground ginger, paprika, ground cinnamon, allspice, and of course salt and pepper. These are spices I always have on hand.

Just top the dried spices off with some ketchup (be sure it is compliant if you are doing Whole30), some spicy brown mustard and little bit of coconut amino or cooking sauce (like The New Primal’s Citrus Herb Cooking Sauce and we are in business.

This chicken is best when it marinates overnight but let’s be honest I don’t always have time for that. Sometimes it is 5 p.m. and I need to get dinner started. So I grab my pantry staples, mix it all up, and sprinkle over the chicken. Add the other ingredients. Put the chicken in a skillet and stick it in the oven. And it works every time. The chicken is still flavorful and enjoyed by all!

Roast Drumsticks

I love roasting the chicken on high heat (450°F) for 30 minutes uncovered. Then turn the drumsticks over, basting and roasting for another 30 minutes.

Of course, you can keep it roasting on the same side for the entire cooking time, but the underside of the drumsticks will not have the rich brown color of the top of the legs.

My children love grabbing them (caveman style) and biting into them and I can’t imagine what their reaction would be if the chicken legs didn’t look the same at every angle. I admit, they are a little spoiled with my cooking!

After basting with the pan juices (using a turkey/poultry baster). I continue to roast the chicken for another 30 minutes and then the chicken is ready. How easy is that? Season, stick in the oven, baste halfway, bake some more, and then you’re done. Enjoy your roasted drumsticks!

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Rehat leftovers in the microwave or the air fryer.

Tips for the Best Roasted Drumsticks

• Before applying the marinade or seasoning, pat the drumsticks dry with paper towels. This helps in getting a crispy skin when roasting.
• Marinate the drumsticks for at least 30 minutes to infuse them with flavor.
• Preheat your oven to 450°F. The initial high heat will help in crisping up the skin.

Frequently Asked Questions