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Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken Legs

Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken Legs deliver juicy meat under a glossy, sticky-sweet glaze with a gentle kick of cayenne and smoky paprika. The skin caramelizes under high heat for a lightly charred finish that clings to each bite. Serve these crowd-pleasers for a casual weeknight dinner or a game-day spread with your favorite sides.

  • Prep10 mins
  • Cook40 mins
  • Serves3
  • DifficultyEasy
Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken Legs
  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C), and line a baking sheet with foil.

  2. 2

    In a large bowl, combine olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne. Add drumsticks and toss to coat, then arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.

  3. 3

    Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush with barbeque sauce; bake for 7 to 8 minutes. Flip the drumsticks, brush again with barbeque sauce, and bake for another 7 to 8 minutes.

  4. 4

    Position an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and turn on the oven's broiler.

  5. 5

    Brush the drumsticks with more barbeque sauce and broil for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the drumsticks, brush with barbeque sauce, and broil until the chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, 3 to 4 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should register 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).