Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Drumsticks

These garlic butter baked chicken drumsticks are perfectly seasoned, extra juicy and fantastically tender. They’re completely mouthwatering and easy to whip up, making them the perfect meal and something the whole family will enjoy.

This buttery bake chicken legs recipe is also healthy! It’s low carb, high in protein and even gluten free. I also love that this recipe can be paired with so many different sides. The options are endless, which allows you to use up the produce you’ve got on hand and keep food waste to a minimum.

Garlic butter baked chicken drumsticks in a white baking dish.

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If you enjoy these Baked Chicken Drumsticks, I’ve got tons of other Garlic Butter recipes you’re guaranteed to really love.

Be sure to take a peek at my Garlic Butter Cod, Garlic Butter Pork Chops, Garlic Butter Halibut Fish, Garlic Butter Steak Bites or Skillet Steaks! You can’t go wrong with any of these options.

And for an extra fancy occasion or holiday, Garlic Butter Roasted Whole Chicken, Turkey Breast or Pork Tenderloin would all be perfect.

How To Make Baked Chicken Drumsticks

Ingredients:

Olive oil — You can use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. Really any oil with a high smoke point will work for this recipe!
Seasonings — I generally use spices like smoked paprika, onion powder, cumin, salt and black pepper for my drumsticks. Feel free to play around and use other seasonings if you want such as garlic powder! You can even add a little cayenne pepper if you like spicy food. One of the reasons this recipe is so good is because the seasoning blends so well.
Drumsticks — Skin-on chicken and bone in! You can also make Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Thighs or Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Breast if preferred.
Garlic — Finely mince two or three fresh cloves to mix in with your butter!
Parsley — Adds gorgeous, fresh green color and flavor.

Instructions:

Make garlic butter:

Before you do anything else, don’t forget to preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C)! Nothing is worse than forgetting to heat up the oven, am I right!?
Next, prepare your baking dish or sheet pan by lining it with parchment paper or aluminum foil. You can also simply grease it with a bit of olive oil or cooking spray instead of lining with parchment.
Now melt butter in a small bowl and mix in minced garlic and parsley.

Left: garlic and parsley added to melted butter. Right: garlic and parsley mixed into butter.

Season chicken:

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Measure all of your seasonings into a small bowl or jar, then stir until well incorporated.
Use a paper towel to pat chicken down, removing excess moisture helps to create a nice golden-brown skin.
Place drumsticks in a large bowl and sprinkle the spice mixture evenly over the chicken, now pour your garlic butter over the seasoned meat and stir to coat thoroughly.

Left: seasoned drumsticks in bowl. Right: garlic butter added to seasoned drumsticks.

Bake drumsticks:

We’re almost done! Line the seasoned chicken drumsticks on your prepared baking dish and place them in the oven.
Bake for 35-40 minutes, until golden and with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), ensuring that it achieves that desired crispy skin.

Unbaked, seasoned drumsticks lined in a baking dish.

Serve chicken:

Take your Baked Chicken Drumsticks out of the oven and let them rest for a few minutes so they get extra juicy.
Serve chicken hot with all of your favorite dipping sauces and sides. I like to make Fluffy Rice with this chicken drumsticks recipe so that I can use it to soak up any excess garlic butter sauce!

Close up of garlic butter baked chicken drumsticks in a white baking dish.

Recipe Tips

Sometimes when I make this baked chicken drumsticks recipe, I double up my seasonings mix and save the rest for another batch in the future. This is a great way to save time in the kitchen!
For a crisp skin, be sure and thoroughly pat excess moisture from each piece of chicken before seasoning.
Leave space between drumsticks while they bake, and don’t overcrowd your sheet. This also helps the skin to crisp up and results in faster, more evenly cooked chicken.
A meat thermometer comes in super handy when making these drumsticks. Avoid overcooking your meat so it stays nice and juicy.
Rest time is key! If you cut into your baked chicken drumsticks too quickly it won’t retain as much moisture, making it less juicy and tender. 5-10 minutes will make a world of difference.
You can also make this baked chicken legs recipe with chicken wings or chicken thighs.

How To Store Leftovers

To Store: Allow baked chicken drumsticks to cool and place them in an airtight container. Place it in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days.
To Freeze: You can also freeze your leftover chicken legs for up to 4 months. I recommend wrapping drumsticks tightly in plastic wrap and then placing them in a Ziploc bag to help protect from freezer burn.
To Reheat: Thaw leftovers in the refrigerator overnight (if reheating from frozen). Reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through. You can also shred meat from the bone for use in soup and casseroles!

What To Serve With This Chicken Drumsticks

These Baked Chicken Legs go with almost ANY accompaniment/side dish, which is so great because I can always find something in the refrigerator to pair with my protein.

Try a side salad! Whip up this simple, fresh arugula salad to go with your chicken or make a grain quinoa carrot salad. Either one would pair seamlessly, as would a couscous or corn salad.
Add bread to your spread: Serve your drumsticks with some crunchy garlic bread or soft, low-carb dinner rolls!
Veggies anyone? Stick with the theme and make a side of garlic butter sautéed zucchini, mushrooms or garlic butter green beans. You can also do balsamic roasted veggies, roasted sweet potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower casserole or this cheesy zucchini casserole.
Bust out your air fryer: make some crispy potato wedges, brussels sprouts or tender asparagus.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take drumsticks to bake?

It will take approximately 35-40 minutes for your drumsticks to bake through at a temperature of 400°F (204°C). Use a meat thermometer to check your drumsticks, when then reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) they are done.

What temperature should I bake drumsticks at?

I recommend baking chicken legs at 400°F (204°C) for around 35-40 minutes. You can lower the temp if desired, but you’ll probably need to increase bake time. I find this tends to dry out my chicken, which is why I prefer a higher temperature.

Should I cover drumsticks while they bake?

You do not have to cover your chicken drumsticks while they bake. Leaving them uncovered will actually help the skin to crisp up!

More Chicken Leg Recipes To Try

Grilled Chicken Legs

Roasted Lemon Chicken Leg Recipe

Easy Roasted Turkey Leg

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