Oven baked chicken drumsticks are a healthy alternative for fried chicken lovers! They are seasoned to perfection and baked, not fried!
These tasty oven-baked chicken drumsticks are just as crispy and delicious as their fried alternative, but without the grease! These baked beauties taste delicious paired with Buttermilk Biscuits, Cheesy Hasselback Potatoes, and Roasted Green Beans.
Delicious and more healthy
When I’m feeling motivated to eat healthier, it seems like chicken is all I eat. Even though there are so many wonderful ways to make chicken, it can still get a little old sometimes. So, we’re always on the look out for new ways to switch up our chicken dishes, like this Oven Baked Chicken recipe!
These drumsticks were easy to put together and were a HUGE hit with everyone in the family. The batter coating the chicken is light, tasty, and just perfect enough to make you lick your fingers. The best part is that it tastes just like Kentucky Fried Chicken but they’re not fried at all – they’re BAKED!!
I was surprised that they tasted so good for being baked, but they were, which means I’ll feel less guilty when I have a few. 😉 When a recipe tastes this good and is this easy, it’s a winner in my book.
How to Bake Drumsticks
BREAD. Coat each drumstick in the breading mixture (only 4 ingredients!), and then place in a 9×13 pan with a little bit of melted butter. Once they’re all breaded and in the pan, spray lightly with the spray butter and then place in the oven.
BAKE. Bake at 450° for 30 minutes, then remove from the oven, flip each chicken leg, spray with butter once more, and then bake for an additional 15-25 minutes, until they’re as crispy as you want them to be.
Tip: For easy clean up line the cooking pan with aluminum foil.
Can I use other cuts of chicken besides drumsticks? You can easily substitute other cuts. You will just have to adjust the bake times. Bake until juices run clear.
- Thighs: 375 degree oven for about 30 minutes
- Breasts: 375 degree oven for 20 minutes
- Boneless Wings: 350 degree oven for 30 minutes
- Bone-In Wings: 400 degree oven for 45 minutes
Storing leftovers
Throw away leftover chicken if it has been at room temperature for more than two hours. STORE leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also FREEZE leftovers. Use an airtight container, freezer bags, or wrap in aluminum foil. Freeze for 4-6 months.
To REHEAT chicken in the micrwave, place chicken on a microwave safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel, heat for 45 seconds flip and heat for 45 seconds more.
To heat in the oven place chicken in an oven safe dish. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly coat the chicken with olive oil, heat uncovered for 25 minutes.
These chicken legs are sooooo crispy and DELICIOUS! We just had this recipe again for the second time this month which means it’s definitely a KEEPER. 😉
what to serve with drumsticks:
For more great chicken recipes, check out:
- Chicken Parmesan Bundles
- Chicken Stroganoff
- Bruschetta Chicken
- Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets
- Baked Chicken Fingers
- Boneless Honey BBQ Chicken Wings
Baked Drumsticks Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425.
- Melt butter in a 9x13 baking dish in the oven.
- While butter is melting, stir together Bisquick, paprika, salt and pepper in a bowl. Coat each chicken drum and place in 9x13 with melted butter.
- Spray with butter before putting in the oven and once during baking.
- Bake for 30 minutes, flip and bake an additional 15-25 minutes. ENJOY!!
Video
Notes
Tried and True Findings:
DIFFICULTY: simpleHOW MANY DOES IT FEED: 6-8
ANY CHANGES MADE: used more butter, baked for longer
ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT TIME: none
Adapted from bettycrocker.com.
What do you do with the butter once it’s melted? Add it to the dry ingredients or baste the chicken with it before coating it with the dry ingredients?
You leave it melted in the pan & the chicken goes on top of it 🙂 Hope that helps!
O.k that was an answer to my question!!
Do I pour the butter on the chicken or in the pan?
What do I do with the spray butter?
Can I use drakes fry mix instead of bisquick? It’s what I have on hand
I haven’t tried, but it should be ok. Let me know how they come out! Thanks so much!!
I would cut down the sauce next time. It was a little salty. I dipped the chicken in the melted butter first and then to the mixed ingredients.
Thanks so much for sharing!! You definitely can take some salt out. I’m glad you gave them a try!
This looks so good! I added it to my menu plan for next week 🙂 What do we use the spray butter for? Definitely not the 9×13 since it’s plenty buttered already, right?
Realize I am YEARS late for this answer, but just incase someone else has it and Eads the comments…..
You just spray onto the chicken right before it goes in the oven and then once during the baking, it just makes it crispier!
Thanks for sharing!!
What is bisquick mix? I’m from Sweden so If I know maybe I can find the Swedish equivalent.
Thanks ????
It is a pre-made baking mix. People use it for pancakes or like breads. Hope that helps!!
Can someone answer what was asked, what is the purpose of the spray butter?
We use the spray butter to coat the chicken before putting in the oven, to give it that crispy, golden taste. We also sprayed once during the baking process. Hope that helps everyone 🙂 Thank you!
This looks delicious but we’re not drumstick fans…can this be done with wings instead. How long should I bake them???
I haven’t tried that. I’m not sure what the baking time would be for those. Maybe a little less, since they are smaller?? I’m sorry, I wish I knew. BUt, those would be so good!
WOW ” I HAVE TRIED SO DELICIOUS
I am glad you think so!! Thank you so much!
The step about how to use the spray butter seems pretty important – maybe consider adding it to the instructions? Making this for the 2nd time now, btw, since my kiddos loved it so much plus we’re bringing dinner to a friend and these make plenty to share!
I’ve added it, thank you 🙂 I’m so glad you all like it!! We make it all the time now, ourselves!
I don’t actually see where you added any instructions to spray with butter again during the baking process!
In step 4, I say to spray once during baking, so just in the middle of your baking time will work 🙂
OK. Thank you!
HAS ANYONE USED BONELESS/SKINLESS BREASTS? WHAT ARE THE VARIATIONS IF SO?
I tried the boneless skinless chicken breasts, they were really good. My husband likes legs & thighs & I like breasts so I just did what the recipe said but I baked everything 25 minutes on each side. We really like it.
Thanks Donna!!
What is spray butter? Pam?
It’s just butter that comes in like a spray bottle form. You spray the chicken before putting in the oven and once during baking to give it that crisp 🙂
But is there a brand name for spray butter? I think PAM is a spray oil.
I use…I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter spray. I am sure there are others, that’s just what I have. Hope that helps!!
Another spray “Butter” is Parkay Spray. The reason I know this is my son has pancreatitis and can have no butter or margarine with fat. I hope this helps!
Sharon
Thank you for sharing that Sharon!
This is the best, most tasty, crispy skin, baked chicken I’ve ever had! I had saved this recipe for sometime and finally made it this week. I added 1 & 1/2 tsp. garlic powder to the flour mixture and used Smart Balance spread instead of butter. I also used a whole chicken that I cut up myself. I then sprinkled the remaining flour mixture over the chicken prior to cooking to see if I’d get more of a flavorful coating-it worked! I don’t know if the “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” spray is the game changer, but I’m not going to change it! It was simply delicious! I liked it so much better than cornflake baked chicken. The skin actually crisped up with the flour coating. I feel cornflakes get too mushy. Thank you, so much, for sharing this with us! I’ll never crave restaurant fried chicken again!
You are so very welcome and thank you so much for letting me know! I love hearing when recipes are a hit 🙂
I Am in the mist of making this…don’t have spray butter. Canola spray I have. What should I do?
Tried making these. Butter splatters all over oven. I do not have a self cleaning oven. Any suggestions how to make these so butter won’t get all over?
Hmm..I’m honestly not sure? Mine didn’t splatter all over, but maybe you can just do a smaller amount?
I made this recipe tonight, It was very tasty.
The only thing I did differently was melt more butter and brush it over the chicken since I use only real butter and no margarine/spray butter. I served it with cheddar Bisquick biscuits with garlic butter and a salad. Very good dinner thank you for the recipe.
I am so glad you liked it!! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
What is the recipe for the salad pictured?
Here ya go….https://lilluna.com/penne-tomato-and-mozzeralla-pasta/
Thank you
The video says to bake for 15 minutes then flip & bake for an additional 15 minutes. The written recipe days to bake for 30 minutes then flip & bake another 15-20. Which is correct?
It’s 30 min, then an additional 15-20. Sorry for the confusion. ENJOY!
What is the pasta dish on the plate? It looks so good!
I will have to share that recipe. I don’t have it on the site. It really is good! Keep checking for it 🙂
Did you put foil in the bottom of the pan?
No, i did not. Sprayed the bottom really well 🙂
Could these be air fried?
Haven’t tried, but I am sure they could 😉
I made this chicken tonight…..we had some legs left from the weekend. I was going to do my moms tried and true recipe but thought I’d try something new. Found this recipe which was exactly the same as moms except it called for bisquick vs flour. We were going to meet friends so I did timed cooking. Since we were going to be gone for a few hours, I cooked the chicken for 2 hrs at 300. All I can say is HOLY COW! BEST chicken EVER! My husband just kept raving about it! Tender, juicy, delicious!!!
I love, love, love to hear that!! I am so glad you all liked it!! Thank you for giving it a try!
I don’t see how some of u guys are not getting the recipe It tells u to the t what to do.
This chicken is amazing! my family devoured it. I loved how crispy it was & the taste was delicious! no need for kfc!
We all love this chicken!. The little ones and the adults. Since its all drumsticks its easy to eat and very easy to put toghether. It has a great tAste with a crunchy coating and no frying!
as bad as it sounds, I could eat these drumsticks all day!
great idea. Also, at first I was going to skip the coating due to gluten trouble but then I realized i have gluten free bisquick like substances. Thanks for thE recipe.
You are so welcome!! Thank you for trying it!
These sound great and I added them to my air fryer recipes. The coating sounds light and thin, and I will add some garlic powder. Try them in your air fryer and let me know how they turn out.
Thanks,
Sharon
I definitely will!! Thank you!
i followed exact instructions & my chicken wasnt crispy at all… is it 425 or 450 to preheat oven… the temps are different in notes above..& chicken turned out good but not great.. i will attempt again… it was pretty moist
I love this recipe and so do my kiddos!! My oldest daughter especially loves it. Their ages are 17, 12 and 2. Thank you, for your yummy recipes. Instead of using drumsticks, I use boneless/skinless chicken thighs. ????
Makes me so happy to hear!! I am so glad they like them 🙂 Thank you!!
Delicious
Glad you think so 🙂 Thank you!
I have a question before I make these. Instead of baking in a buttered 9×13 pan could i bake these on a cooling rack on a cookie sheet instead or does the melted butter help with the crisping?
You could try, but, yes, the butter helps with the crisping 🙂
It was deliciOUs! Made tHis with chicken wings. Seasoned wings with creole SEASONing first aNd LIGHTLY dipped with one egg. I only put sea salt Into the bIsquicK flour. I made sure there was enough bisquick cOating on all wings. I didnt have Spray butter. I basted the butter from bottom of pan to chicken halfway. Mmmm, love it. So crispy. My HUSBAND was raving about it. Thank you foR the recipe. Its a keeper aNd will make again and again. Yum.
Sounds delish!! Thanks!!
unless I’m missing this info, is the skin left on or removed? many thanks!
It is on, but whatever you prefer 🙂
I dont have butter spray i have canola spray. Can i use that in ?
Yes, you sure could 🙂 Enjoy!!
Great thanks
You are so welcome! Thank you for stopping by!
total hit with the entire family! Paired this with some Mac n’ cheese and green beans. Even my oldest son who’s my picky eater enjoyed it and even asked for seconds. Recipe is super easy to prepare and clean up is a snap as well. I didn’t have bisquick so i substituted krusteaz pancake mix. my family requested i add this to my recipe rotation.
That sounds like a yummy meal! Thank you so much for sharing that!
Bake at 425 or 450? The written INSTRUCTIONS are different from the recipe instructions at the bottom.
425 degrees
This is soooooo stinkin’ GOOD!!!! I alWays Make extra bc the leftovers are even better!!! This is a regular at my house now. Easy & delicious!!!!!!
Thank you so much for sharing that! I am happy you like them!
Fantastic recipe! I bake these in a roaster-type pan, covered in foil at 350 for 2 hours, rotating the legs after an hour. At the end of baking time, I uncover them and turn the temp up to 400 for 10 minutes or until brown and crispy! Soooo delicious! Thank you for this recipe 🙂
You are so welcome! Thanks so much for sharing what you do! I’m so happy they turned out so well!
Can’t find the video
The video appears underneath the “Delicious and More Healthy” heading in the post. It should also appear on the side of the website as you scroll down. An ad may play first, but the video should play right after. 🙂
Yes I made these awsome chic legs they were the bomb,
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed them!!
Two different temperatures are listed for the drumsticks( 450 before the recipe + 425 in the recipe). Also the cooking times for alternative chicken pieces seem way off. Example: Cooking a large breast piece at a lower heat than the drumsticks and for a mere 20 minutes ? ! ? Can you confirm or correct, please.
A family favorite! We call it Fire Alarm Chicken cause the popping butter has set off our fire alarm a few times. To avoid that now I heat the pan in the oven, then remove it and add the butter to the hot pan.
Haha! I love that name you guys have given it. Glad to hear it never started a real fire. 😉
It is great they love it
So glad to hear that!!
This recipe is so simple and the results are delicious. My only mistake was removing the skin, next time I’m leaving it. You weren’t kidding when you said the drumsticks taste like KFC neither.
Oh I’m so glad you enjoyed the drumsticks! KFC from home, right? 😉 Thanks for your response!
They love it