Description
This recipe for Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks delivers juicy, tender chicken with irresistibly crispy skin. Seasoned with a flavorful blend of garlic, onion, smoked paprika, black pepper, and a touch of baking powder to enhance crispiness, these drumsticks are oven-baked to perfection on a rack for maximum crunch. Perfect for a crowd or family dinner, they’re easy to prepare and satisfy cravings for crispy fried chicken without the added oil and mess.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Drumsticks
- 12 chicken drumsticks
Seasoning Mix
- 3 tsp garlic powder
- 3 tsp onion powder
- 5 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp cooking/kosher salt
- 4 1/2 tbsp plain/all-purpose flour
- 3 tsp baking powder (ensure it is baking powder, not baking soda)
Other Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Oil spray (for spraying drumsticks before baking)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F) or 180°C fan-forced. Line a baking tray with foil and place a wire rack on top. This setup allows air circulation to crisp the underside of the drumsticks for a perfect texture.
- Seasoning: In a shallow bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, flour, and baking powder. Mix thoroughly to create the seasoning blend.
- Coat in Oil: Place the drumsticks in a large bowl and toss with the extra virgin olive oil until evenly coated. Gently stretch and pull the skin on each drumstick to expose and cover as much of the flesh as possible with the oil, which helps the seasoning stick better and the skin crisp up.
- Coat in Seasoning: One at a time, roll each drumstick in the seasoning mix, coating thoroughly. Shake off any excess seasoning to avoid clumping. Arrange the seasoned drumsticks spaced apart on the wire rack.
- Spray with Oil: Generously spray the coated drumsticks with oil spray. This step encourages further browning and crispiness during baking.
- Bake: Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Halfway through baking, rotate the tray for even cooking. After 30 minutes, increase the oven temperature to 220°C (430°F) or 200°C fan and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the skin is deeply golden and crispy. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- Note 1: Use fresh drumsticks for the best texture and flavor.
- Note 3: Use baking powder, not baking soda, to ensure crispy skin without off-flavors.
- Note 4: Using a wire rack elevates the chicken, allowing hot air to circulate and crisp the underside.
- You can serve these drumsticks with a variety of sides such as salads, roasted vegetables, or mashed potatoes.
