How Long To Bake Chicken Drumsticks In Oven At 400 Degrees?

Whether it’s a weeknight family dinner or a backyard party, chicken drumsticks make a wonderful main course. And they are easy to prepare. I like to prepare chicken drumsticks in the oven. My favourite cooking temp is at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Now the question is this. How long to bake chicken drumsticks in oven at 400 degrees? In this post, I like to share this answer and other tips on the best oven baked chicken drumstick recipe.

How long to bake chicken drumsticks in oven at 400 degrees?

It takes 25 minutes to cook chicken drumsticks at 400 degrees Fahrenheit in the oven. This will bring the drumsticks to a golden crispy crust with a tender meat inside. Drumsticks, like any other part of chicken, is cooked at an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. But you can leave them to cook up to 180 degrees F, if you want to reduce juiciness and increase crispiness. Make sure to check the drumsticks with an instant-read thermometer to guarantee they will turn out just right. And this temperature probe should be placed at the thicker part of the drumstick meat since that area takes longer to cook.

What are other temperatures to cook chicken drumsticks in the oven?

To cut down a bit on the chicken drumsticks cooking time, you can opt to roast them at 425 degrees. It takes just 20 minutes to bake the chicken drumsticks in the oven at 425 degrees for them to come out outstandingly crispy and tender. But if you are not a fan of crunchy and crispy drumsticks, you are better off avoiding this temperature. Instead, you can heat the oven to 375 degrees and get some juicy and silky-textured drumsticks in 30 minutes. It wouldn’t be a mistake if you go for 350 degrees F either. The drumsticks will become super tender and succulent on the inside and moist and soft on the outside. The skin will acquire an light golden skin which tastes just as tender as the meat inside.

Which is the best cooking temperature for chicken drumsticks in oven?

If you ask me, I would say that the optimal temperature for roasting chicken drumsticks in the oven is 400 degrees. It renders the legs perfectly crispy and melt-in-your-mouth tender. A combination that is impossible to achieve with other cooking temperatures. At lower temperatures, the drumsticks will be deprived of the crunchy and golden crust. At higher temps such as 425 or even 450 degrees, they will get pretty tough on the outside which may not appeal to those who prefer just a moderate crisp.

Recipe for baking chicken drumsticks in oven

There are a multitude of ways to cook chicken drumsticks. But I have one favorite. This is the recipe for baking chicken drumsticks in oven that I love to use.

1. Prepare the chicken drumsticks

Remove the chicken drumsticks from the refrigerator one hour ahead of time. Pat dry them with paper towels. This will ensure that there is minimal moisture on the skin which will otherwise hinder the process of creating that satisfyingly crispy crust.

2. Add seasoning for chicken drumsticks

Mix olive oil, salt, pepper, coriander, paprika and granulated garlic in a bowl. Add the drumsticks and toss so that each drumstick gets properly covered with the spices. You can add some bbq sauce if you are a fan of it. To make the meat more flavorful, make some cuts into the skin and stuff seasonings into the created pockets. Then press the skin against the flesh to allow it to stick back and cover the pockets.

3. Arrange on the baking dish

Grease a baking sheet with either olive oil or cooking spray. Place each drumstick on the sheet ensuring they are few inches apart. The space will prevent steaming which occurs when the drumsticks touch one another. And this steaming will also hinder the drumsticks from acquiring the crispiness.

4. Bake in the oven

Bake the seasoned chicken drumsticks in the oven at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until the internal temperature of 165 F is reached. Let them rest on the stove top for 10 minutes. You can cover the drumsticks with some cheese while they rest. After 10 minutes, the cheese will be melted and ready to give you the best satisfaction.

How to cook chicken drumsticks in oven fast?

Broil chicken drumsticks

If you prefer drumsticks with thick and crunchy crust, you can go for a broiler session to shorten their cook time. Bake the drumsticks for 10 minutes, then broil for 5 minutes or until they reach the internal temperature of 165 degrees F. The broiler session will make your drumsticks extra crispy.

Turn on convection

For those who do not wish to have the extra crispiness, turn on the convection in the oven instead to save some minutes of baking.This will allow the circulated hot air to better focus the heat around the chicken drumsticks for a more even and faster cooking time.

Defrost the chicken drumsticks

If you are taking out chicken drumsticks from the freezer, an important thing to do to ensure the drumsticks don’t take too long to cook is to let them reach room temperature before baking. Frozen chicken drumsticks will cook slower and unevenly in the oven.

What to serve with baked chicken drumsticks?

Roasted veggies are a perfect side dish for chicken drumsticks, especially when they are baked together and their flavors blend. If the chicken drumsticks have taken all space on the baking sheet, put the veggies on a separate tray and place it under the one with drumsticks. We recommend you to serve the baked chicken drumsticks with carrots, broccoli, brussel sprouts, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and potatoes. Speaking of potatoes, if you are tired of roasted or mashed ones, change the game with a creamy potato salad. Other sides that make a marvelous pair for chicken drumsticks include fettuccine alfredo, parmesan-coated asparangus, and balsamic mushrooms.

FAQs on roasting chicken drumsticks

Are chicken drumsticks legs?

No. Chicken drumstick are only part of the chicken leg. The entire chicken leg is made up of both the drumstick and the thighs.

How many chicken drumsticks per person?

I normally prepare 3 chicken drumsticks per person. But it depends on the size of your chicken drumsticks. The ones that I prepare are pretty big with 4 ounces of meat.

What temperature are chicken drumsticks done?

The internal temp of chicken drumstick is to reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit for it to be cooked. This is the temperature when the drumsticks are at its juiciest. If you prefer a dryer chicken drumstick, cook it up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. But do not go beyond that as the drumstick meat will be too dry and rubbery. Note that this internal temperature should be taken at the thickest part of the drumstick as thicker meat take longer to cook.