This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure and privacy policy.

Every time I bake chicken drumsticks, my family gets excited. I’m pretty sure I could serve these for Thanksgiving and no one would miss the turkey. (Or the longer bake time.)

I’ve been testing how to bake chicken legs for the past few months to make sure I could share the best baking method possible. At first, I thought I preferred them baked directly on parchment paper, but after a few more attempts, I’ve decided that a wire rack improves things even more.

I’ve also perfected the seasoning blend and discovered a secret ingredient(!) that makes chicken skin crispier as it bakes. The result is some of the best chicken I’ve ever made. If you have guests coming over for dinner, this is the recipe to make.

oven baked chicken drumsticks on a white plate for serving.

Chicken Drumstick Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Chicken Drumsticks. When most people think of chicken legs, they are thinking of drumsticks, rather than the whole leg. (You can buy the leg whole, or separately as thighs or drumsticks.) This recipe assumes you’re using the drumsticks only, though you could bake bone-in thighs similarly.
  • Pantry Spices. I’ve perfected the chicken seasoning with garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. It’s simple, yet tastes ridiculously good.
  • Baking Powder. This is the not-so-secret ingredient that makes chicken skin crispier. Adding this to the spice blend helps add a hint of crust, so it almost tastes like you’re eating fried chicken, but without the breading or deep-frying.
  • Olive Oil. A touch of olive oil helps keep the chicken moist as it bakes, while also helping the spices stick to the meat.

This recipe assumes you’re working with 1.5 pounds of chicken, or about 6 drumsticks. Feel free to double or triple the recipe if you need to cook more.

chicken drumsticks, baking powder, spices, and olive oil labeled in bowls.

How to Bake Chicken Legs in the Oven

Step 1:

Preheat the oven to 425ºF and arrange a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. (Here’s an example of a set that works together.)

You can line the bottom pan with parchment paper or foil if you’re concerned about cleaning up drippings later. I usually don’t do this, as I don’t mind soaking the pan and wiping it down later.

Add the chicken drumsticks to a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. In a small bowl, combine the baking powder, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Stir well, then sprinkle the seasoning blend over the drumsticks.

Toss them well, until the spice blend is evenly distributed all over each chicken leg.

chicken drumsticks drizzled with olive oil and spices mixed.

Step 2:

Lightly spray the wire rack with oil to help prevent sticking, then arrange the seasoned drumsticks on the rack. Allow plenty of space between each other, so they don’t steam as they cook.

Bake on the middle rack in your oven at 425ºF for 35 to 40 minutes. I think the drumsticks look prettiest when you don’t flip them halfway through the cooking time, so I usually leave them undisturbed as they bake. (Feel free to flip them if you want to.)

drumsticks seasoned in a bowl and arranged on a wire rack for baking.

Step 3:

Remove the drumsticks from the oven and let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to distribute throughout the meat, plus you don’t want to burn yourself when picking up a drumstick to eat.

The skin will start to lose some of its crispiness as it cools, so it’s best not to let it cool too much longer after the initial rest time. But the flavor is amazing, even if you get to them later.

chicken drumsticks baked on a wire rack.

How Long to Bake Chicken Legs

What you’ll love about cooking chicken legs is how forgiving they are. Bone-in dark meat stays tender much more easily than white meat. Unlike baked chicken breasts, which require precise temperature checks, you don’t have to worry about baked drumsticks as much.

Dark meat on the bone actually benefits from a bit of overcooking in terms of texture, so instead of reaching an internal temperature of 165°F, your drumsticks will likely reach an internal temperature of 175°F to 180°F when you cook them for 40 minutes at 425°F.

You can get away with just 35 minutes of cooking, if you need to speed things along, but 40 minutes is my go-to cook time for the average-sized drumstick. This recipe assumes you’re getting 5 to 6 drumsticks per 1.5 pounds of meat. If your drumsticks are significantly larger than that, they might require more time.

chicken drumstick with a bite taken out of it on a plate.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Chicken drumsticks are amazing for meal prep because they reheat well. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

To reheat, pop them into an air fryer basket and cook at 350ºF for 5 minutes. Let them cool for a few minutes before handling them, as the bones will be very hot to the touch.

Baked Chicken Drumstick FAQs

Can I cook drumsticks without a wire rack?

Yes, you can cook the seasoned drumsticks directly on a parchment-lined baking sheet if you prefer. Ensure your baking sheet has a rim, so the juices won’t spill over in the oven as they cook. The bottom of your drumsticks will be soggier in this case, because they will sit in juices as they cook. I use the same wire rack used for cooling cookies, so it’s a tool that gets used a lot!

What temperature is best for chicken drumsticks?

I tested this recipe at 400°F and 425°F, and both temperatures produced good results. The skin becomes slightly crispier at higher temperatures, which is what I prefer. However, if you need to bake something else at 400°F at the same time, that will work too.

What do these drumsticks taste like?

This might sound odd, but the first time I tried this seasoning combination, I thought I was eating something from Popeye’s. (Which was my absolute favorite when I was a kid.) I don’t know if that will “sell you” on the flavor, but I’m obsessed with it. It has a hint of spice, but not so much that my kids think it tastes spicy. The spice level comes from black pepper, so reduce it if it’s a concern.

How many drumsticks per person?

Plan on serving 2 drumsticks per person if this is the main protein. (Kids may only eat one.)

baked drumstick lifted on a wire baking sheet.

The Secret to Perfect Baked Chicken Legs

Gone are the days of fighting over who gets the only two chicken legs, because now you can buy them directly from the butcher— as many as you need for serving! These chicken drumsticks are perfectly seasoned and baked to crispy perfection, so they will become your go-to when serving a crowd.
prep10 mins cook40 mins total50 mins
Servings:3

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 pounds chicken drumsticks (about 6 pieces per 1.5 pounds)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425ºF and arrange a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Lightly spray the wire rack with oil to prevent sticking.
  • In a large bowl, add the drumsticks and toss them with olive oil. In a separate bowl, mix the baking powder, salt, garlic, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Sprinkle the mix evenly over the chicken and toss again, rubbing each drumstick to make sure they are fully seasoned.
  • Arrange the seasoned drumsticks on the wire rack, leaving 1 to 2 inches of space between each piece. Bake on the middle shelf of your oven at 425ºF for 40 minutes, or until the skin looks golden and crispy.
  • When the timer goes off, remove the pan from the oven and let the meat rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Then they are ready to serve.

Notes

Nutrition information is for two drumsticks, assuming you cook 6 in this batch. This information is calculated using generic ingredients, so it’s just an estimate and not a guarantee. 
Baking Powder Note: Baking powder is added to help the skin crisp up and become golden. If you don’t keep it on hand, the chicken will still be well seasoned without it, but it won’t be quite as crispy. 
Seasoning Note: This recipe doesn’t taste too “smoky” from the smoked paprika, so I highly recommend trying the spice blend as written. However, you could also use regular sweet paprika as a swap, if needed. There is a hint of spice from the black pepper, so use less if you’re concerned about spice. 

Nutrition

Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 140mg | Sodium: 935mg | Potassium: 490mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.05g | Vitamin A: 235IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked chicken legs, chicken drumsticks

More Recipes to Try

If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below to let me know how you like it.

Megan Gilmore leaning on her white countertop.

Megan Gilmore

Hi, I’m Megan. A former fast food junkie turned best-selling cookbook author. As a Certified Nutritionist Consultant (CNC), I love to make healthier food using simple ingredients. I test these recipes multiple times in my kitchen to make sure they will turn out perfectly for you.

Read More

You May Also LIke

Leave a Review!

I love hearing from you! Submit your question or review below. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked*.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.