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Spiced Chicken Drumsticks 

With the cost of meat rising all the time, chicken drumsticks are still an affordable choice for dinner for the whole family. These Spiced Chicken Drumsticks are so delicious and super easy to make!

Just mix up a spice rub, let it marinate, and bake for a meal that’s flavorful and filling, and goes with everything from. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a flavorful and healthy meal that your whole family will love.

Why You’ll Love Spiced Chicken Drumsticks

Chicken drumsticks are a great meal option. They’re economical for one thing, so you can make plenty for the whole family In fact, this meal is easy to double or even triple if you have a small army to feed.

But chicken drumsticks are also really juicy and flavorful, and unlike chicken breast, they’re pretty forgiving to bake. They don’t dry out easily, even if they spend some extra time in the oven, so a novice home cook can be successful with this recipe.

The spices used in this recipe are delicious, too. It has a simple enough flavor that everyone will enjoy, but just enough of a kick to make it taste special.

Helpful Equipment To Make Spiced Chicken Drumsticks

These tools will help make this recipe even easier!

• Mixing bowls
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Lemon juicer
• Wooden spoon
• Tongs
• Baking dish
• Parchment paper or cooking oil spray

Recipe Ingredients for Delicious Spicy Chicken Drumsticks

• 8 chicken drumsticks
• 1 teaspoon of minced garlic (or 1-2 cloves of garlic)
• 2 teaspoons of paprika
• 1 tablespoon of dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon of cumin
• 2 tablespoons of dried rosemary
• 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 1 whole lemon
• 2 tablespoons of virgin olive oil
• Pinch of salt and pepper

How To Make Spiced Chicken Drumsticks

Place all of your drumsticks in a large mixing bowl. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, add your spices: garlic, paprika, oregano, cumin, rosemary, lemon juice, oil, salt, and pepper. Stir all the spices together until fully combined.

Pour the mixture over the drumsticks and mix everything together with tongs, a large spoon, or even your hands. Make sure the drumsticks are fully coated.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking pan or sheet with parchment or give it a light spray of cooking oil.

After 30 minutes, remove the chicken from the fridge and place it on your baking tray. Leave a bit of room between each drumstick. Place it in the preheated oven. 

Bake for 45 minutes, turning the chicken over every 15 minutes. Cook to an internal temperature of 165°F (73°C). 

Serve hot with a summer salad, coleslaw, potato salad, rice, or veggies.

Prep Time

This chicken takes approximately 10 minutes to prep. 

It marinates for another 30 minutes before going in the oven.

Are Spiced Chicken Drumsticks Gluten Free or Vegan?

Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free and vegan! 

Can I use other types of chicken for this chicken drumsticks recipe?

Absolutely! This mix is delicious on any kind of chicken. Try bone-in chicken breast, bone-in chicken thighs, or even boneless chicken. You’ll need to adjust your baking time. 

Bone-in chicken thighs – 1 hour

Boneless chicken thighs – 35-45 minutes

Bone-in chicken breast – 1 hour 15 minutes

Boneless chicken breast – 1 hour

These times are estimations. Use a meat thermometer to verify doneness. Cook until the thickest part of the meat is 165°F (73°C). 

What can I Serve with Spicy Chicken Drumsticks?

I think chicken is such a simple meat to serve because almost anything goes well with it. With these spices, here are a few things that go particularly nicely:

• Mashed potatoes
• Roasted veggies (carrots, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, zucchini)
• Sweet potato fries
• Eggplant salad
• Rice pilaf
• Mac and Cheese
• Coleslaw (like this Vegan Coleslaw I love)
• Garden salad

Tips & Tricks and Recipe Notes

• Make sure your oven is heated when you put your chicken in. This will help the skin seal quickly over the flesh, locking in the flavor and juices.
• I like using parchment paper to cook chicken because the chicken won’t stick to it so you have no messy clean up, but your meat will still get a great crispy outside. 
• Instead of a bowl, you can place your chicken in a large Ziploc bag and pour the spice mix overtop. Seal the bag and squeeze everything together to coat. Then, just set the bag in the fridge.
• You can leave your chicken marinating longer – even overnight if you want. The longer it sits, the stronger the flavors will be.

How to Store Leftover Chicken Drumsticks

Leftover chicken drumsticks will stay good in the fridge for up to 3 days. I suggest wrapping your leftovers tightly in foil.

You can also freeze your chicken leftovers. Just wrap them tightly in foil and put them in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag. Use within 3 months.

To reheat chicken drumsticks, leave them wrapped in foil and place them in an oven at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, or until hot through.

FAQs

What spices go with chicken drumsticks?

Chicken drumsticks are so versatile, so it’s easy to make them delicious. Consider what kind of cuisine you’d like to enjoy and go from there.

Simple spices like Italian or Greek seasoning taste delicious on chicken drumsticks. You can use fajita seasoning for a Mexican vibe. Try garam masala for a taste of India. The options are endless.

Conclusion

I hope this recipe has helped you learn how to make spicy chicken drumsticks that your whole family will love.

These chicken drumsticks will make a delicious dinner, and your leftovers will make a yummy lunch! Baked chicken is an easy and forgiving meal that you can come back to time and time again.

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