These crispy baked chicken drumsticks have become one of our favorite weeknight dinners, and for good reason. They’re budget-friendly, packed with protein, and made with simple ingredients we almost always have on hand. Even better? They’re one of those meals the whole family gets excited about, which is always a win around here.

If you’ve forgotten about chicken drumsticks, consider this your reminder to add them back to your grocery list! They’re an inexpensive cut of meat that turns out incredibly juicy on the inside with perfectly seasoned, crispy skin on the outside. Pair them with roasted potatoes, veggies, a simple salad, or your favorite summer sides for an easy meal that tastes like you spent way more time in the kitchen than you actually did.

Whether you’re feeding a family on a budget, trying to hit your protein goals, or just looking for a dinner everyone will actually eat, this recipe checks all the boxes. I hope you love it as much as we do!

Print Recipe

Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks

Crispy, juicy, and kid approved. One of the easiest and cheapest high protein dinners around – add it to the rotation!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Servings: 8 drumsticks

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken drumsticks skin-on, about 2.5 lbs total weight
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp Italian herb seasoning
  • salt & black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with foil.
    • For extra crispiness, you can add a wire rack on top of the foil, spray with avocado oil spray, and arrange the drumsticks on top of there!
  • To a large bowl, add the avocado oil & spices. Mix with a fork until it forms a paste.
  • Add the drumsticks to the bowl (pat them dry a bit first so it sticks well) and toss to coat with the paste on all sides. Lay the coated drumsticks out on the baking sheet in a single layer.
  • Bake the drumsticks at 400ºF for 30 minutes, then flip and cook for 10 more minutes. You can broil for 2-3 minutes at the end if you need some extra crispy browning!
    • I use a meat thermometer and check for the internal temp. For darker meat chicken, I insert the thermometer to where it's not touching a bone, but in the center of the meat, and look for a temp of 175ºF to 180ºF for tender, juicy, fully cooked drumsticks.
  • Serve warm with your favorite sides, and enjoy!

Notes

I often double this recipe & use a big ~6 lb pack of drumsticks from Costco!  Makes 15 drumsticks and only costs $10.98.  Such a win!  Just double the oil & seasonings and use an XL baking sheet to fit them all.
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