If you're craving juicy, sticky, fall-off-the-bone BBQ chicken but don't have a grill, don’t worry! These oven-baked BBQ chicken legs are super easy to make, packed with smoky-sweet flavor, and come out perfectly caramelized every single time.
Be sure to checkout these Air Fryer Chicken Legs and Baked Chicken Leg recipes while you're here too!
Whether it’s a weeknight dinner, summer cookout, or game day snack, this recipe is always a family favorite!
Ingredients for BBQ Baked Chicken
See recipe card for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Here’s everything you’ll need to make the best oven-baked BBQ chicken legs at home:
- Bone-in chicken legs (drumsticks)
- Olive oil
- Seasonings: Cajun seasoning (or all purpose seasoning), Garlic powder, Onion powder, Smoked paprika, Black pepper, Salt, to taste
- Your favorite BBQ sauce, honey bbq or sweet and spicy are the best!
- Optional: a splash of honey or hot sauce for extra kick
How to make Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
See recipe card for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Follow these steps and you will have the most juicy, tender, and flavorful chicken ever! Here's how to make barbecue chicken legs in the oven:
- Step 1: Add your cajun seasoning, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt to a bowl.
- Step 2: Sprinkle the seasonings over the chicken.
- Step 3: Rub the seasoning evenly over all of the chicken drumsticks.
- Step 4: Arrange the chicken in a baking dish and cover with foil.
- Step 5: Bake the chicken at 375ºF for 30 minutes.
- Step 6: Remove the foil and baste the chicken with barbecue sauce and bake uncovered for an additional 30 minutes.
Recipe Variations
- Make them spicy: Add 1–2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to your dry rub, and mix some hot sauce or sriracha into your BBQ sauce for a spicy kick. Perfect if you like your food with a little fire!
- Garlic Parmesan BBQ Chicken: Skip the traditional BBQ sauce and instead toss the baked chicken legs in a mix of melted butter, garlic powder, and grated Parmesan cheese. Finish under the broiler for a cheesy, crispy coating.
This is a budget friendly meal!
One of the best things about making BBQ chicken legs in the oven is how affordable they are. Chicken drumsticks are one of the cheapest cuts of meat you can buy, but they’re still super flavorful and satisfying.
With just a few pantry staples and a bottle of BBQ sauce (which you probably already have), you can feed a whole family for under $10. It’s the perfect recipe for college students, big families, or anyone ballin’ on a budget but still wanting that homemade comfort food vibe.
Expert Tips
- Pat the chicke dry: Always pat the drumsticks dry with paper towels before seasoning. Removing excess moisture helps the skin get crispy, not soggy.
- Add Sauce Late in the Game: Start baking the chicken without BBQ sauce to let the skin crisp up, then brush on sauce in the last 15–20 minutes. This prevents burning and gives that sticky, caramelized finish.
- Finish Under the Broiler: For that grill-like char, broil the chicken for the last 2–3 minutes. Just watch it closely — the sugars in the BBQ sauce can burn fast.
FAQs
Yes, allow them to thaw completely before cooking. Frozen chicken legs will not cook evenly.
It is completely optional, but honey BBQ and sweet and spicy BBQ are delicious options.
Using a meat thermometer is ideal. The internal temperature should be 165ºF, but 185ºF gives you the fall-off-the-bone tenderness!
What to serve with Barbecue Chicken
Need side dish suggestions for your baked bbq chicken drumsticks? Here are some of our favorites:
- Mac and cheese homemade or boxed, it's all good
- Corn on the cob with butter and a little seasoning, chef's kiss
- Coleslaw for crunch and contrast
- Baked beans or sweet potatoes
- Cornbread or garlic toast
This combo gives straight-up summer vibes, even if you’re baking indoors!
More Chicken Recipes to try
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
After you try this BBQ Chicken Leg recipe, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Comment below and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for more delicious recipes!
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 8-10 bone-in Chicken legs drumsticks
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil or Avocado oil
- 2 teaspoons Garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Pepper and salt to taste
- 2 cups of your favorite BBQ sauce one cup to bake and one for serving
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning or all purpose seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (204°C) and line a baking dish with foil or parchment paper (easier cleanup = happy you).
- Now add your chicken legs to a large bowl and pat the chicken dry with paper towels. This will help the skin get crispy during baking.
- Toss the drumsticks in olive oil, then add your seasonings including the with cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Rub it all over the chicken to make sure each piece is coated evenly.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the chicken from the oven and flip each piece over.
- Brush on the BBQ sauce generously on each piece of chicken. Then bake uncovered for another 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, flip again, brush more sauce on the other side, and bake for 10–15 more minutes. You want that sauce thick, sticky, and slightly charred around the edges.
- OPTIONAL: if you want your skin more crispy, set your oven to broil and broil for 2–3 minutes at the end to caramelize the sauce even more. Watch it closely!
- Remove from the oven and serve with a side of bbq sauce if desired. Enjoy!
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