Easy Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks
posted by Andrea | 02/11/2020
If you’re stuck in a meal-planning rut and need an extremely simple recipe to pull you out of it, add a family pack of chicken legs to your grocery list and make a big batch of these Easy Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks ASAP!
I just started making them again a few months ago (they were tricky when the kids were younger) but my old standby recipe for chicken drumsticks has become an instant sensation with the Dekker children — all of whom ask for seconds every time I make them!
As you’ll see by the super simple “recipe” below (if you can really even call it a recipe), Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks are just about the easiest meal to make.
They require a little extra time to bake, but as long as you have the ability to shake some seasonings and shove a pan in the oven, you totally have this meal covered!
Easy Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks
If you're stuck in a meal-planning rut and need an extremely simple recipe to pull you out again, add a family pack of chicken legs to your grocery list and make a big batch of these Easy Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks ASAP!
With only 5 minutes of prep-work, you'll have a delicious meal on the table with minimal effort!
Ingredients
- chicken drumsticks (or any type of chicken)
- paprika
- garlic salt
- pepper
Instructions
- preheat oven to 425ºF
- place chicken pieces in a large baking dish
- sprinkle generously with paprika, garlic salt, and pepper
- bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until chicken is cooked through
Notes
You can use any type of chicken for this recipe -- you just might need to adjust the cooking time.
Keep in mind that chicken with bones will take longer to cook than boneless chicken breasts -- however, it totally depends on how thick your boneless chicken breasts are. I'd start with 30 minutes for boneless chicken, and add additional time as necessary.
Also, feel free to cover chicken with aluminum foil if the skin starts browning too quickly.
It only takes 5 minutes to get a huge pan of chicken ready for the oven… and I use the hour-long baking time to whip up a few other side dishes.
It feels like we’re eating a big holiday meal with minimal effort on my part.
Plus, I usually make enough to have leftovers as a second meal later in the week so I save time later in the week too! (NOTE: reheat in the oven at 350º for 20 minutes or for about 2 minutes in the microwave.)
Our Favorite Side Dishes for Baked Chicken:
- Cheesy hashbrown potatoes
- Mashed Potato Casserole
- From-scratch Mashed Potatoes
- Loaded Baked Potato Casserole
- Semi-Homemade Baked Beans
- Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
- Roasted Vegetables
- Baked Carrots
- Broccoli Bacon Salad
- Easy Layer Salad
- Fresh Fruit
- Applesauce
- Fresh Bread or Rolls
More of our Favorite Easy Chicken Recipes:
- Crispy Cheddar Chicken Bake
- Easy Pesto Chicken
- Chicken Parmesan
- Mango Salsa Chicken
- Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Chicken and Wild Rice Stew
I shared the “recipe” for these oven-baked chicken drumsticks in my Instagram stories a couple of months ago. Since then, I have gotten SO many messages from people who have made it (and begged me to put the recipe on my blog.)
I hope this easy recipe will help you simplify dinnertime for your family… and give you a little extra time and mental energy to devote to the other projects and to-dos on your list!
What’s for dinner at your house tonight?
Visit my virtual recipe box for more simple, delicious, family-friendly, recipes!
Filed under: Food • Holiday Foods • Main Dish
Nancy
02/25/2020I made a mental note of this the day I read this post, and today was the day we finally fixed this! Easy sides: cooked carrots, cole slaw, and apple slices. Thank you for the idea; we all enjoyed dinner tonight.
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Andrea Reply:
February 25th, 2020 at 9:18 pm
yum! Thanks for sharing, Nancy!
I have this on our menu for tomorrow night! 🙂
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Elizabeth
02/18/2020Made these this past weekend and they were sooo good! I only had a few drumsticks leftover. I plan on pulling off the meat and making tacos for dinner tonight!
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Andrea Reply:
February 18th, 2020 at 9:10 pm
YAY!!! So happy to hear this!
And yes, I always cut the extra meat off the bone and use it for soups or casseroles!
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Anna
02/12/2020Thanks so much for sharing! Do you have any posts about making a meal plan for the week? For some reason it seems daunting to me, and I could really use some pointers about how you make meals for your family inexpensively! Your grocery budget blew me away.
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Andrea Reply:
February 12th, 2020 at 4:17 pm
Hi Anna!
here’s a great post for you — it’s not necessarily a step-by-step process, but I think it will be helpful for thinking through the process and NOT over-complicating it! ?
You can read ALL my meal planning posts here.
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LaRae McCullough
02/12/2020I have extra pecans and walnuts left over from Christmas. If I put them in the freezer will they keep longer
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Andrea Reply:
February 12th, 2020 at 3:05 pm
yes, all nuts will fair better and last longer if you put them in the freezer. the oils can go rancid if they are left out for too long!
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yettie
02/11/2020This is almost exactly what we’re having for dinner tonight except I’m using chicken thighs and Tony Chachere’s for seasoning. 10 years after I moved out of Louisiana, I finally appreciate why they absolutely love Tony Chachere’s. It’s become my go-to spice for almost any meal now.
Our sides will be either french fries or fried plantain with some apple slices. Definitely simple!
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Andrea Reply:
February 11th, 2020 at 3:47 pm
yummy!!
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Cathy
02/11/2020Tonight its my easy peasy GF Lasagna. My 4 year old grandson requested it and since he will be here, I will make it. lol My look on food is that-
You can’t control the weather,
You cant’t control peoples mood,
But if you plan and have good food,
You have smiles and
can make the weather bearable and
it might even change peoples moods!!!
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Andrea Reply:
February 11th, 2020 at 3:32 pm
yay — enjoy your easy lasagna night (and spending time with your grandson!)
love the quote!
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Chris
02/11/2020Delicious! I think simple seasoned chicken is one of the most delicious foods there is.
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Andrea Reply:
February 11th, 2020 at 3:43 pm
I have to agree with this!
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