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BBQ Baked Chicken Legs

Make BBQ baked chicken legs your go-to when you need dinner in a pinch. Tender, juicy drumsticks are coated in a homemade BBQ rub and roasted to perfection for a flavorful, fuss-free meal every time.

BBQ Baked Chicken Legs on a platter with corn.

Key Ingredients

  • Chicken: Use bone-in chicken for this BBQ chicken recipe—drumsticks, thighs, breasts, or leg quarters all work. Adjust cooking times as needed and ensure the internal temperature hits 165°F (74°C), regardless of what you choose. Personally, I love drumsticks because they are super affordable and a crowd-pleaser for a quick weeknight meal, BBQs, or potlucks.
  • BBQ Sauce: Brush the drumsticks with homemade or store-bought BBQ sauce. Sweet Baby Rays is my go-to, and they offer a sugar-free option. If you make your own, you can easily adjust the sweetness, tang, and spice level to fit your taste.

What’s the Best BBQ Sauce for BBQ Chicken?

The best barbecue sauce for BBQ baked chicken legs comes down to personal preference, but here are a few options to consider:

Sweet: Cheerwine BBQ Sauce, Pineapple Barbecue Sauce, Kansas-City Style Bull’s-Eye Original BBQ, Famous Dave’s Honey Hickory BBQ Sauce

Spicy: Pappy’s Moonshine Madness, Trader Joe’s Sriracha BBQ Sauce

Mustard-Based: Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce

Vinegar-Based: Scott’s Carolina BBQ Sauce, George’s BBQ Sauce, Stubb’s BBQ Sauce

Smoky: Raspberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce, Lilli’s Smoky Barbecue Sauce

Additions and Substitutions

How to Make BBQ Baked Chicken Legs

The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Pat the chicken with a cloth or paper towels, and transfer them to a mixing bowl. Add the spices for the BBQ rub and combine. Cover and marinate in the fridge for 6-24 hours (at least 30 minutes).

Drumsticks in a bowl with seasoning.

Step 2: Remove the chicken from the fridge and preheat the oven to 500°F (260°C). Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with foil and a wire rack. Arrange the drumsticks on the wire rack in a single layer.

Drumsticks on a wire rack.

Step 3: Lower the oven temperature to 400°F (204°C) and roast for 25-30 minutes until they reach 165°F (74°C), flipping the drumsticks halfway through.

Drumsticks cooking in the oven.

How do you know when the chicken is done?

The drumsticks are done cooking when they reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Check the temperature by inserting a food thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken, avoiding the bone.

Step 4: Brush the drumsticks with BBQ sauce and cook for 3 minutes. Flip them over, brush the other side, and cook for 3 minutes. Remove the drumsticks from heat and set them aside for 5-10 minutes to rest.

Drumsticks brushed with BBQ sauce.

Step 5: Optional: If you enjoy crispy drumsticks, set the oven to broil and cook for 1-2 minutes before resting.

Drumsticks on a baking dish.
BBQ Baked Chicken Legs on a platter with corn.

Expert Tips

  • Let it marinate. Toss the chicken in olive oil and spices, then cover and refrigerate for 6 hours (at least 30 minutes) to let the flavors penetrate and work their magic.
  • Prepare the drumsticks. For crispy skin on your drumsticks, pat them dry with a cloth or paper towels before seasoning and roasting them. Do this to remove excess moisture on the surface of the chicken, which can prevent the skin from crisping up properly. Also, remember to remove the marinated drumsticks from the fridge 30 minutes before baking time. Chicken at room temperature cooks more evenly.
  • Get the oven hot. Start with a hot oven by preheating the oven to 500°F (260°C), the same way you would preheat a grill. Then, lower the temperature and roast the BBQ chicken drumsticks at 400°F (204°C) for even cooking.
  • Use a thermometer. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken; the safe internal temperature for chicken is 165°F (74°C).
  • Don’t skip the rest. Remove the chicken from the grill and rest on a cutting board, allowing the juices to redistribute within the meat for moist and tender chicken.

If you enjoy BBQ baked chicken legs, try more drumstick recipes from Jamil Ghar!

BBQ baked chicken legs on a platter.

Serving Suggestions

Do you need help deciding what goes with BBQ chicken? Pair them with classic side dishes like corn on the cob, baked beans with hamburger, Dutch oven mac and cheese, and vinegar coleslaw.

Serve BBQ baked chicken legs with baked potatoes, roasted potatoes, and French fries. Or lighten the meal with your favorite saladblueberry goat cheese salad, cucumber beet salad, or arugula quinoa salad are great options.

What To Do With Leftovers

  • Refrigerate: Store leftover drumsticks in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
  • Freeze: Let the chicken cool and transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. BBQ baked chicken legs freeze for 4-6 months.
  • Thaw: Defrost the chicken in the fridge overnight.
  • Reheat: Warm the chicken legs in the oven at 350°F (177°C) for 15-20 minutes for the best results.

More Baked Chicken Recipes:

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know how it turned out for you by leaving a comment and rating below. And if you’re looking for more healthy international recipes for everyday cooking, sign up to get them delivered straight to your inbox.

BBQ Baked Chicken Legs on a platter with corn.

BBQ Baked Chicken Legs

Tressa Jamil
Make BBQ baked chicken legs your go-to for dinner in a pinch. Juicy, seasoned drumsticks roast perfectly for a flavorful, fuss-free meal every time.
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Marinating Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 298 kcal
Ingredients
  
For the BBQ Rub:
For the Chicken:
  • 3 pounds chicken drumsticks, bone-in and skin-on
  • 2-3 tablespoons BBQ rub
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce, homemade or store-bought
Instructions
 
  • Pat the chicken with a cloth or paper towels, and transfer them to a mixing bowl. Add the spices for the BBQ rub and combine. Cover and marinate in the fridge for 6-24 hours (at least 30 minutes).
  • Remove the chicken from the fridge and preheat the oven to 500°F (260°C). Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with foil and a wire rack. Arrange the drumsticks on the wire rack in a single layer.
  • Lower the oven temperature to 400°F (204°C) and roast for 25-30 minutes until they reach 165°F (74°C), flipping the drumsticks halfway through.
    Tip: The drumsticks are done cooking when they reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Check the temperature by inserting a food thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken, avoiding the bone.
  • Brush the drumsticks with BBQ sauce and cook for 3 minutes. Flip them over, brush the other side, and cook for 3 minutes. Remove the drumsticks from heat and set them aside for 5-10 minutes to rest.
  • Optional: If you enjoy crispy drumsticks, set the oven to broil and cook for 1-2 minutes before resting.
Notes
Serving Size: 2 Drumsticks
Expert Tips:
  • Let it marinate. Toss the chicken in olive oil and spices, then cover and refrigerate for 6 hours (at least 30 minutes) to let the flavors penetrate and work their magic.
  • Prepare the drumsticks. For crispy skin on your drumsticks, pat them dry with a cloth or paper towels before seasoning and roasting them. Do this to remove excess moisture on the surface of the chicken, which can prevent the skin from crisping up properly. Also, remember to remove the marinated drumsticks from the fridge 30 minutes before baking time. Chicken at room temperature cooks more evenly.
  • Get the oven hot. Start with a hot oven by preheating the oven to 500°F (260°C), the same way you would preheat a grill. Then, lower the temperature and roast the BBQ chicken drumsticks at 400°F (204°C) for even cooking.
  • Use a thermometer. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken; the safe internal temperature for chicken is 165°F (74°C).
  • Don’t skip the rest. Remove the chicken from the grill and rest on a cutting board, allowing the juices to redistribute within the meat for moist and tender chicken.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 Serving | Calories: 298 kcal | Carbohydrates: 13 g | Protein: 27 g | Fat: 15 g | Saturated Fat: 4 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6 g | Cholesterol: 140 mg | Sodium: 405 mg | Potassium: 428 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 8 g | Vitamin A: 253 IU | Vitamin C: 1 mg | Calcium: 72 mg | Iron: 3 mg
Did you make this recipe? Let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and follow @thejamilghar or tag #thejamilghar on Instagram!
5 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




Matt W.

Tuesday 12th of July 2022

Seriously love this recipe, perfect for a grilling kind of dinner. I specifically like the combination of the garlic and cayenne pepper in the rub. Recipe flows nicely, my fiancé and kids loved it. My son had 3 helpings and my daughter had 2.

Tressa Jamil

Tuesday 12th of July 2022

Our kids love this meal too; I am so happy you all enjoyed it!