Juicy, herb-packed, and bursting with sun-dried tomato flavor, these marinated chicken drumsticks bake to perfection every time. A no-fuss, family-approved dinner you’ll want on repeat.
Oven baked drumsticks are the perfect family meal. With just a few basic ingredients you can get the chicken in the fridge marinating in no time. Perfect to prep the night before you want to serve them or even during your meal prep session.
A note from my kitchen
Chicken has always been a go-to meal in my home. Easy, versatile, family-friendly, and the kind of protein that pairs with just about any side or salad. But growing up, we didn’t have the financial means to buy every cut of chicken. Wings and drumsticks were what we could afford, and to this day, they remain my absolute favorite part of the bird. They’re full of flavor, stay wonderfully moist in the oven, and always feel a little nostalgic to me.
If you’re cooking chicken drumsticks, look for pieces that are uniform in size so they cook evenly. It’s such a simple detail, but it makes all the difference for juicy, perfectly done chicken every time.
wHY YOU’LL LOVE THESE MARINATED CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS
👉🏻 Family favorite: Everyone loves drumsticks, kids and adults alike.
👉🏻 Easy: In just a few simple steps you can create a delicious and satisfying meal.
👉🏻 Juicy: Marinating the chicken helps it cook up moist and juicy.
👉🏻 Flavorful: Sun dried tomatoes along with Italian herbs, garlic and onion powder create a super tasty marinade for a super flavorful dish.
Ingredients Notes
- Chicken drumsticks – Look for plump, pinkish drumsticks, uniform in size.
- Olive oil – Extra virgin olive oil is great but any kind of oil is good.
- Sun-dried tomato – Use sundried tomatoes in oil, this is the jar of sun dried tomato in oil that I use, the tomatoes are beautifully infused in oil. This is key ingredient to make juicy flavorful chicken drumsticks. Use tomato paste as an alternative
- Dried herbs and spices – For this recipe I used ground pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and Italian herbs round out the flavor of these drumsticks. Alternative seasonings you can add are paprika, oregano, Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce with a drizzle of lemon juice, dijon mustard with honey or maple syrup to balance the sweetness. Play around with the flavors to find your perfect match.
- Fresh herbs – Garnish with a few sprigs of cilantro. If you aren’t a cilantro fan use parsley.
How To Bake Chicken Drumsticks in the Oven.
Step 1: Rinse the chicken in cold water, pat it dry and place inside a large Ziplock bag.
Step 2: Whisk oil, pepper, and seasonings in a small bowl.
Step 3: Pour the oil marinade over the chicken inside the bag and seal it. Toss the bag around to distribute the marinade evenly.
Step 4: Place the chicken in the refrigerator to marinate for at least one hour. You can also let the chicken marinate overnight.
Step 5: Once the chicken has finished marinating, transfer it to a baking pan and bake at 400F degrees for 50 minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve.
Check for doneness about halfway through the cooking time to ensure the chicken thighs don’t overcook and get dried out. If you find the skin is starting to brown you can flip them over and allow them to cook on the other side.
Tips and Variations
- Swap the chicken drumsticks. Try chicken breasts or wings instead of drumsticks.
- Use tomato paste. If you don’t have sundried tomatoes on hand use tomato paste instead plus extra olive oil.
- Mix in some spice. Add a touch of chili flakes or cayenne pepper to the marinade for a touch of spice.
- Change up the seasonings. Stir in some thyme, rosemary or any other dried spices you have on hand.
WHAT SIDES GO WELL WITH CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS?
FAQs
For best results, coat the drumsticks evenly in the marinate and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. The longer the chicken sits in the marinate the herbs and sun-dried tomatoes will soak in and tenderize the chicken.
Chicken drumsticks are fully cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 165F and juices run clear. The skin should look golden and slightly crisp.
No, keep the skin on. It helps lock in moisture and crisp up in the oven. If you prefer skinless chicken, reduce the cooking time by a few minutes. Skinless chicken will cook faster and dry out faster too. Keep an eye on it!
Absolutely! Air fry at 380F for about 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through. The skin will get extra crispy!
Make ahead and storage
Chicken drumsticks can easily be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Chicken drumsticks freeze very well and will keep in the freezer for 3 months.
Marinate the drumsticks up to 24 hours in advance, then bake right before serving. It’s a great meal-prep recipe for busy nights.
Looking for more chicken recipes?
- Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Sheet Pan Vegetable Thighs With Vegetables
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
- Garlic Chicken Thighs and Green Beans Skillet
Marinated Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 2 lb chicken drumsticks
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp sun dried tomato preserved in oil sub for tomato paste
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian herbs
- fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Prep chicken by rinsing in cold water, then pat dry with paper towels. Transfer chicken to a large ziplock bag and set aside.
- In a small bowl whisk together oil, salt, pepper and seasonings.
- Pour marinade over the chicken. Zip the bag shut and toss it around to distribute the marinade evenly.
- Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Can be marinated overnight.
- Bake at 400F degrees for 50 minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
