Oven-Baked Spicy Chicken Drumsticks
If you are a spice lover then these finger-licking good Oven-Baked Spicy Chicken Drumsticks are for you! Chili flakes, cayenne pepper and Tabasco sauce are combined to make a bold marinade. In 30 minutes serve these juicy drumsticks as a side.
Jump to:
Chicken drumsticks are quite easy to find. Almost every supermarket or food store stocks fresh chicken drumsticks. They are also very easy to cook and pair well with Creamy Mashed Potato Recipe and Nigerian Jollof Rice.
Depending on your preference, you can fry, grill, or boil chicken drumsticks. One of my favorite ways to cook chicken drumsticks is baking them in the oven. I like oven-baked chicken drumsticks for their simplicity and non-fussy approach. You only need your chicken drumsticks and your marinade, and you are off to go!
A variety of marinades can be combined with chicken drumsticks. These Baked Honey Soy Chicken Drumsticks and Crispy Baked Drums are reader favorites.
Why You Should Try This Recipe
- It has bold and delicious spicy flavors.
- You can double or triple the recipe to feed more people.
- Serve this tasty chicken with Fluffy Turmeric Rice, Easy Coconut Jollof Rice or Coconut Fried Rice with Shrimp.
- It is ready in 30 minutes!
Oven-Baked Spicy Chicken Drumsticks Ingredients
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Chicken drumsticks: For this recipe, use fresh chicken drumsticks. If you do not have fresh drumsticks, use frozen drumsticks instead, making sure they are fully defrosted before marinating.
- Ketchup: This adds a delicious, sweet twist to the marinade.
- Chili Flakes: Add chili flakes to this recipe to add some heat.
- Cayenne Pepper: This also makes the chicken spicy
- Chopped onions: Gives a wonderful flavor to your chicken. You can use white or red onions for this recipe.
- Garlic cloves: Also adds to the flavor of the marinade
- Thyme: Fresh or dried thyme adds a herby taste to the drums
- Tabasco sauce (optional): For even more heat at some tobasco.
- Salt: To taste
- Vegetable oil: This is used to grease the oven tray.
Tips and Substitutions
- Paper towel: A good tip is to use a paper towel to dab the chicken drumsticks in order to remove excess water. This allows the marinade to stick better on the chicken.
- Frozen drumsticks: If you happen to use frozen chicken drumsticks, make sure it is defrosted thoroughly and you use a kitchen towel or paper towel to dab off any excess water before use.
- Basting: Don't forget to baste the drums every 5 minutes to intensify the flavors of the chicken.
How to Make Oven-Baked Spicy Chicken Drumsticks
- The first step is to preheat the oven to 400F/200C. Once it is time for the chicken to go in, the oven should be at this temperature.
2. Mix all the ingredients for the marinade in a bowl, making sure they are well combined.
3. Add your chicken to the marinade.
4. Mix thoroughly. For deep flavor, allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.
5. Place the marinated chicken on a greased oven tray and bake for 30 minutes. Reserve ¼ of the marinade for basting.
6. Flip the chicken at 5-minute intervals and baste it with the marinade.
7. Once done, let the chicken rest for 5 minutes.
8. Serve the spicy chicken drumsticks with Sweet Potato Fries, One-Pot Nigerian Fried Rice or any other main of your choice.
Recipe FAQs
Depending on the oven temperature, chicken drumsticks can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 45 minutes.
No. There is no need to cover drumsticks in the oven. Simply place them on a baking/oven tray and pop them into the oven.
Yes. Chicken drumsticks can be made in an air fryer.
Place them in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat the chicken in the microwave when you are ready to serve.
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
Oven-Baked Spicy Chicken Drumsticks
Equipment
- 1 Basting brush
- 1 Oven tray
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drums
Spicy Marinade
- 6 tablespoon of ketchup
- Salt to taste
- 1-2 teaspoon chilli flakes
- 1-2 teaspoon of cayenne
- ½ onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- A pinch of thyme
- ¼ teaspoon of pimento optional
- A few drops of tabasco optional
- 5 tablespoon Vegetable oil (or a splash)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 400F/200C.
- Add marinade ingredients to a bowl and mix until well combined. Reserve ¼ of the marinade for basting later.
- Next, add drumsticks to the marinade and mix until well combined. Option: If you have extra time then feel free to cover the drums with cling film in a bowl and leave them to marinate for 30 minutes in the fridge. This will intensify the flavors of the chicken.
- Add marinated chicken drums to a greased oven tray and bake for 30 minutes. Flip drums over and baste with marinade every 5 minutes.
Notes
- Paper towel: A good tip is to use a paper towel to dab the chicken drumsticks in order to remove excess water. This allows the marinade to stick better on the chicken.
- Frozen drumsticks: If you happen to use frozen chicken drumsticks, make sure it is defrosted thoroughly and you use a kitchen towel or paper towel to dab off any excess water before use.
- Basting: Don't forget to baste the drums every 5 minutes to intensify the flavors of the chicken.
Can you use these same instructions on chicken thighs and wings?
Yes, you definitely can!
This chicken had so much flavour. So delicious! I'll have to make this again 🙂