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This Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks recipe is the perfect way to cook up those chicken legs so the whole family will love it! These chicken legs are seasoned to perfection and baked up nice and crispy on the outside and juicy inside!

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Friends, imagine my dilemma. Every time I roast a turkey, bake a chicken, or otherwise prepare fowl of any sort, there comes a great battle between my three sons over the prized drumsticks. I never in a million years would have guessed this would be such an issue in my house!

Obviously, the standard chicken comes with only two legs which is not cutting it for our three boys. So what’s a mom to do? Make an entire meal of yummy Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks! You should have seen the surprise on my kid’s faces (I don’t think they realized you could buy the chicken legs for recipes without buying the entire chicken!)

Why I love this recipe

This is going to be one of my very favorite recipes in rotation on my meal plan from now on. The seasoning on the outside of these crispy chicken legs is divine, it bakes up perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy and tender inside.

They are also easy to prep, which is a bonus for me! You can also make this recipe by baking bone-in chicken thighs or chicken wings as well. They turn out just as good as the chicken drumsticks-any part of the chicken leg will do!

Ingredients

chicken drumsticks
Italian seasoning
salt
garlic powder
paprika
ground black pepper

You might also like these other delicious chicken recipes: Baked Chicken Breast, Easy Chicken Marsala, Homestyle Chicken and Noodles, Spanish Style Chicken Thighs & Rice

Step by step

At least an hour before cooking rinse and pat dry chicken. Lay in a single layer on a baking sheet in the fridge to allow to dry out.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a baking sheet with a rack on top.
Combine all spices in a small bowl and mix. Blot any moisture off of the chicken drumsticks with a paper towel if needed to ensure they are dry.
Place prepared chicken in a large bowl and sprinkle with spices. Turn to coat each piece completely. Place chicken in a single layer on prepared pan with rack.
Bake chicken legs for 50 minutes or until the internal temperature shows 165° Fahrenheit with a meat thermometer, turning the chicken half way through the cooking time.

Tips for best results

The key to getting the crispy chicken skin on the outside is not only cooking on the rack as you can see above, letting the juices fall into the pan beneath but also making sure they are dry before you season and bake.
I like to take my drumsticks and rinse them off with water, then lay in a single layer on a baking sheet and keep in the fridge at least an hour before I plan to start cooking.
Before seasoning, blot the drumsticks with a paper towel to dry them as much as possible. This makes a big difference in the crispiness. If crispy skin isn’t your thing, just rinse, blot, then season immediately-they will still taste delicious!

Variations

Change up the flavor by experimenting with your seasoning blends: thyme, oregano, onion powder, and cayenne pepper are all great flavors to try on your drumsticks.

Serving suggestions

Serve these drumsticks withside dishes like roasted potatoes, roasted vegetables like bell peppers, mashed potatoes, or my favorite collard greens and Texas toast!

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer for the crispiest results. You can reheat in the microwave but it will not have the crispy skin.

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!