The Easy Baked Chicken I Can't Get Enough Of

A smoky spice blend gives these chicken drumsticks tons of flavor with almost no work.

By
Shayma Saadat
shayma-saadat
Shayma Saadat

Shayma Owaise Saadat is a cook, recipe developer, and food photographer, and stylist. She's written for Bon Appetit, BBC, Food52, Globe and Mail, New York Times, Toronto Star, Wine Enthusiast, Simply Recipes, and more.

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Published November 06, 2025
shayma-saadat
Spiced Chicken Drumsticks on a platter

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Why Make This

  • Made with only 3 ingredients, these chicken drumsticks get plenty of smoky, deep flavor from smoked paprika and garlic powder.
  • Optional cayenne pepper means you can tweak the spice level to your taste.
  • Marinate the drumsticks overnight for the best flavor, but even just an hour of marination time works well.

My spiced chicken drumsticks recipe is always in rotation for my family’s weeknight dinners. These crispy baked chicken drumsticks are smoky, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make. I especially love this recipe because it’s something I can make with my son—I usually coat the drumsticks in spices by shaking them in a bag, a step he totally loves, making it a fun kitchen moment we get to share. 

The mostly hands-off technique gives me tons of flexibility on busy nights. You can literally shake it, bake it, and forget it—freeing me up to prepare a side dish like scalloped potatoes, a chopped salad, or quinoa while the chicken roasts. In the meantime, my son whisks together a simple condiment to go with it: mayo, lime juice, and some hot sauce. So good!

Make It With Other Cuts of Chicken 

Drumsticks are a favorite in our household for this recipe, but you can easily use other cuts of chicken:

  • Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs: These are a fantastic option with a cooking time similar to drumsticks—40 to 50 minutes, flipping halfway through for even crisping.
  • Chicken wings: Wings are perfect for a party snack! Cook these for 45 minutes, flipping halfway through for even crisping.
  • Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts: Depending on their thickness, bake these for 25 to 30 minutes. 
overhead view of Spiced Chicken Drumsticks on a rack over aluminum foil lined baking sheet

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Freezing

These drumsticks also make one of the best freezer meals! To freeze, lay the baked-and-cooled drumsticks in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer to a zip-top bag for compact storage and freeze for up to 3 months.

Thaw in the fridge overnight for the best texture, then arrange the drumsticks on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F until the skin is crispy again and the chicken is heated through, 7 to 10 minutes.

Spice Rub Variations

You can easily customize the seasonings for this chicken to suit your taste:

  • Bump up (or down) the cayenne: I personally love a bit of heat and sometimes use as much as a full teaspoon of cayenne, but you can skip it altogether if that’s not your thing (or just add a pinch).
  • 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: For some earthy, toasty flavor, I sometimes add a teaspoon of ground cumin.
  • Play with allium flavor: Sometimes I swap the garlic powder with onion powder just to change things up a bit.

Spiced Chicken Drumsticks

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Marinating Time 60 mins
Total Time 110 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings
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Ingredients

  • 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

Method

  1. Marinate the drumsticks:

    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.

  2. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

    When you’re ready to cook, if you marinated the chicken overnight, remove it from the fridge and let it stand at room temperature while the oven preheats.

    Line a large baking sheet with aluminium foil, set a wire rack inside, and lightly grease it with nonstick cooking spray.

  3. Bake and serve:

    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.

    Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To reheat, arrange the drumsticks on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F until the skin is crispy again and the chicken is heated through, 7 to 10 minutes.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

    overhead view of Spiced Chicken Drumsticks on a platter and a plate with salad on the side of drumsticks

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
347 Calories
22g Fat
1g Carbs
34g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 347
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 28%
Saturated Fat 5g 24%
Cholesterol 180mg 60%
Sodium 669mg 29%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 34g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 20mg 2%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 404mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.