Oven BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Did you know it's possible to make tender, juicy baked BBQ chicken legs at home? These drumsticks are coated in a barbecue sauce and baked in the oven for the perfect crispy skin (that doesn't require a deep fryer or grill).

These drumsticks will rival your favorite chicken restaurant — and the best part is they only require five minutes of active hands-on time!

How to Make Baked BBQ Drumsticks?

Homemade baked drumsticks are super easy to make with chicken drumsticks and a homemade barbecue sauce. You'll find the full step-by-step recipe below, but here's what you can expect:

Start by making the barbecue sauce, with ketchup, vinegar, water, brown sugar, butter, salt, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, and chili powder. Coat the drumsticks with the sauce, then bake them until the juices run clear and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Do You Put Barbecue Sauce on Before or After Baking?

This recipe calls for you to add the barbecue sauce before baking, but there's nothing stopping you from whipping up a second batch of sauce to add to the drumsticks after.

Should You Bake BBQ Drumsticks Covered or Uncovered?

For perfectly tender, juicy chicken drumsticks, you should bake them covered with foil — just like in this recipe. You can take the foil off for the last few minutes of the bake to let the skin crisp up, though.

How Long Do You Bake BBQ Chicken Legs?

Baking time for drumsticks will vary depending on the size of them. This recipe calls for an hour of baking time. But, you'll know when the drumsticks are done with the juices run clear and a digital thermometer reads 165 degrees F when inserted near the bone.

What to Serve with Baked BBQ Chicken Legs

Chicken drumsticks make for a great appetizer or dinner (when paired with hearty sides). If you need some side dish inspiration, try one of our favorite, top-rated side dishes:

Garlic Mashed Potatoes Secret RecipeMicrowave Corn on the CobClassic Restaurant Caesar SaladLime Cilantro Rice

Or, explore our entire collection of side dish recipes.

How to Store Baked BBQ Chicken Legs

Store leftover drumsticks in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat in the oven until warmed through — or eat them cold!

How to Freeze Baked BBQ Chicken Legs

Freeze cooked chicken legs in a zip-top freezer bag labeled with the date for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

Cookdap Community Tips and Praise

“I loved this! Wish I had made more! My husband & I had to give half of our chicken to our kids (ages 5 & 4) because they ate theirs and most of ours,” says Cookdap Allstar tcasa. “I made the sauce per directed and poured half on before cooking, then the rest on after an hour, uncovered the baking dish and baked it again for another 10 minutes. The sauce was thick & delicious.”

“So so easy and everyone in my family loved it. I made it exactly as it is shown. With the water, it ended up being a bbq glaze instead of a sauce but I didn’t mind. The flavor was delicious and the meat was so moist and tender,” raves Kim Lombardi.

“Took no time at all to prep, simple ingredients that will be found in most kitchens and the best part is the kids ate it up,” according to 123shaun.