A smoked seasoning mix infuses these chicken drumsticks with plenty of taste with virtually no effort required.
I frequently include my spiced chicken drumstick recipe in our weekly dinner lineup for the family. These oven-baked chicken drumsticks turn out delightfully crisp and packed with a smoky, robust flavor, plus they're very simple to prepare. What makes this dish particularly special for me is that it offers an enjoyable cooking experience I can enjoy alongside my son—typically, he has lots of fun coating the drumsticks in seasoning by shaking them inside a bag, turning this into a delightful shared activity in the kitchen.
This largely hands-off method provides me with great flexibility during hectic evenings. Essentially, you can just shake it, bake it, and ignore it, which allows me more time to whip up an accompanying dish. scalloped potatoes , a chopped salad , or quinoa As the chicken bakes, my son prepares a quick dipping sauce alongside: he mixes mayonnaise, lime juice, and a dash of hot sauce. Delicious!
Use It With Different Types of Chicken Pieces
In our home, drumsticks are preferred for this dish, but feel free to use alternative parts of the chicken as well.
- Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs: These are an excellent choice with a cook time comparable to drumsticks—about 40 to 50 minutes, turning them midway for consistent crispiness.
- Chicken wings: Chicken wings make an excellent party appetizer! Bake them for 45 minutes, turning once midway to ensure they crisp evenly.
- Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts: Based on their thickness, cook these for 25 to 30 minutes.
How to Prepare My Simple Four-Ingredient Spiced Chicken Thighs
To prepare four portions, you will require:
- 2 1/2 pounds chicken drumsticks (about 10 to 12 drumsticks)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons hot smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne, optional
- Nonstick cooking spray
Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. In a large bowl or zip-top bag, combine the vegetable oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and cayenne, if using. Add the chicken, seal the bag if using, and toss thoroughly to ensure the drumsticks are evenly coated with the oil and spice mixture. For maximum flavor, marinate the drumsticks in the refrigerator overnight. If you’re short on time, marinate for at least 1 hour.
When you’re ready to cook, if you marinate the chicken overnight, remove it from the fridge and let it stand at room temperature while the oven preheats to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil, set a wire rack inside, and lightly grease it with nonstick cooking spray. Place the drumsticks on the greased rack. Bake until crisp and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of one of the drumsticks reads at least 165°F, 45 to 50 minutes, flipping the drumsticks halfway through to ensure even crisping.
Storing and Freezing
Keep leftover portions in a sealed container inside the refrigerator for up to four days. When reheating, place the drumsticks on a baking tray and cook at 400°F until they become crisp once more and the chicken is thoroughly warmed, which should take between seven to ten minutes.
These drumsticks can also be turned into some of the finest freezer meals! For freezing, place the fully cooked and cooled drumsticks in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and let them freeze until they're hard. Afterward, move them to a zip-top bag for easy storing and keep frozen for up to three months. Allow at least an entire day to thaw them in your refrigerator for optimal consistency before proceeding with the reheating steps mentioned earlier.
Spice Rub Variations
You can readily tailor the seasonings for this chicken to match your preferences:
- Increase (or decrease) the cayenne: Personally, I enjoy some spice and often go as far as using up to one teaspoon of cayenne pepper, but feel free to omit it entirely if you prefer milder flavors—or simply add a small dash instead.
- Try different paprikas: You can swap the hot smoked paprika with sweet paprika if you are not in the mood for a smoky or spicy flavor.
- Add some cumin: To achieve an earthy, toasty flavor, I occasionally stir in a teaspoon of ground cumin.
- Play with allium flavor: Sometimes I swap the garlic powder with onion powder to change things up.
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