By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on October 4, 2026
Serves 4
425 cal · 105 min
Easy BBQ Chicken Drumsticks in the Oven
Recipe GLPR2f04c010f2dd08
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Average rating: 4.5 (1)
Tender, juicy chicken drumsticks roasted in the oven with a smoky barbecue glaze. This simple weeknight dinner requires minimal prep and delivers maximum flavor with just a few pantry staples. The skin crisps up beautifully while the meat stays moist, making it a family favorite.
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Ingredients
2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken drumsticks
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup barbecue sauce
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
Directions
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels. This helps the skin crisp up during roasting.
Arrange the drumsticks on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle evenly with kosher salt.
Roast in the preheated oven for 30 minutes without sauce, allowing the chicken to cook through and the skin to start crisping.
While the chicken cooks, combine the barbecue sauce and liquid smoke in a small bowl, stirring until well mixed.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Brush or coat half of the barbecue sauce mixture over the drumsticks, turning them as needed to coat all sides.
Return to the oven and bake for another 25 to 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of a drumstick reaches 165°F.
Remove from the oven. Brush the remaining barbecue sauce over the drumsticks. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Comments
Drumsticks and barbecue sauce are supermarket staples at every major Charlotte chain, and liquid smoke is a pantry fixture at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Publix, Walmart, and ALDI for under $4. At roughly $6 to $8 for four servings of chicken alone, cost per serving is reasonable for a protein-centered dinner. The stated 105 minutes is honest—15 minutes of active prep plus 90 minutes roasting—making this genuinely hands-off once the drumsticks are seasoned and sauced, perfect for a weeknight when you want dinner ready without hovering. The dish reheats well in a low oven and leaves no fussy techniques, though diners will want napkins and it does not stretch leftovers into a second meal for most households.
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