If you are a spice lover then these finger-licking good Oven-Baked Spicy Chicken Drumsticks are for you! Adding chili flakes, cayenne pepper and Tabasco sauce takes these drumsticks to the next level. Serve these juicy drumsticks as a side for dinner or at your next gathering.
About this Recipe
Chicken drumsticks are quite easy to find. Almost every supermarket or food store will stock fresh chicken drumsticks. Aside from this, chicken drumsticks are also very easy to cook and rich in protein.
Fry them, grill them or boil them depending on your preference. 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!
There are a variety of marinades that can be combined with chicken drumsticks. These Baked Honey Soy Chicken Drumsticks and Crispy Baked Drums are a reader favorite.
Oven-Baked Spicy Chicken Drumsticks Ingredients
The ingredients for this recipe are:
- Chicken drumsticks: Use fresh chicken drumsticks for this recipe. If you do not have fresh drumsticks then use frozen drums instead and make sure they are fully defrosted before marinating.
- Ketchup: This add 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: For greasing the oven tray.
How to Make Oven-Baked Spicy Chicken Drumsticks
- The first step will be to preheat the oven to 400F/200C. The oven should be at this temperature once it is time for the chicken to go in.
2. The next step is to mix all the ingredients for the marinade in a bowl, making sure all the ingredients are well combined. Add your chicken into the marinade and mix thoroughly. For deep flavor, allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.
3. Place the marinated chicken on a greased oven tray and bake for 30 minutes. Reserve 1/4 of the marinade for basting.
4. Flip the chicken at 5-minute intervals and baste with the marinade.
Once done, serve the chicken with Sweet Potato Fries, Jollof Rice or any other main of your choice.
Top Tips
- 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.
FAQs
Depending on the oven temperature, chicken drumsticks can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 45 minutes.
Between 30 – 35 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.
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Oven-Baked Spicy Chicken Drumsticks
Equipment
- Basting brush
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drums
Spicy Marinade
- 6 tbsp of ketchup
- Salt to taste
- 1-2 tsp chilli flakes
- 1-2 tsp of cayenne
- 1/2 onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- A pinch of thyme
- 1/4 tsp of pimento optional
- A few drops of tobasco optional
- Vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 400F/200C.
- Add marinade ingredients to a bowl and mix until well combined. Reserve 1/4 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!