Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Legs

Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks are a quick and easy dinner idea that your whole family will love. You'll have tasty oven-baked bbq chicken drumsticks in no time - no need for the grill. As long as sugar free BBQ sauce is used this recipe is gluten free, sugar free, low carb, and keto!

Watch how to make BBQ Chicken Legs in the Oven

You'll love these Baked BBQ Chicken Legs

Easy

A simple and easy recipe, and no need for a grill! 🙂 Simply season the chicken and bake. Slather with the delicious BBQ sauce after baking then serve.

Tasty

There is just something about the combination of the dry rub and the BBQ sauce recipe (below) that make it super delicious. It will equally be delicious if you use your own favorite BBQ sauce for chicken too! 

Healthy

The nutritional analysis in the recipe is used with our Dry Rub for Chicken Recipe and the BBQ sauce recipe below. It is low carb, there is no sugar added, and it is ketogenic. A serving size is 2 drumsticks.  🙂  

What you'll need to make Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks in Oven

Here are the ingredients needed for making these Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks:

• Chicken Drumsticks - chicken legs are so economical!
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Dry Rub for Chicken: make our easy healthy smoky dry rub or use 3 tsp garlic salt and 1/2 tsp pepper
• BBQ Sauce: see our sugar free variation below, or use your favorite store -bought brand.

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 cup unsweetened ketchup (we used Primal Kitchen brand)
• 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar substitute (we used So Nourished brand brown sugar substitute)
• 1/2 to 1 tsp liquid smoke (Love this stuff!! I add 1 to 2 tsp to pulled pork too! Yum.)
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp celery salt
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

How to make BBQ Chicken Legs in the Oven

Here's how to make baked bbq chicken drumsticks! They're super easy!

1. In a large bowl toss chicken drumsticks with olive oil and dry rub. (You can do this step up to 24 hours in advance)
2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheet with foil and place chicken drumsticks on the pan.
3. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink.
4. Remove from oven and place chicken pieces in a large bowl. Toss with bbq sauce and serve.

How long to cook BBQ chicken legs in oven

Cook drumsticks in the oven at 400 degrees F for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the juices are no longer pink inside.

USDA recommends a safe cooking temperature for chicken is 165 degrees F. An instant-read thermometer is the easiest way to check. Check the temperature by inserting the thermometer in the thickest part of the drumstick, being careful not to touch the bone.

BBQ Drumsticks in Oven (Sugar Free variation)

This is the sugar-free version of our yummy homemade BBQ sauce. If you don't want sugar-free, use regular ketchup and regular brown sugar. If you use sweetened ketchup, reduce the brown sugar called for in this recipe by 1/4 cup. Enjoy!

How to serve Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Legs

Since the chicken is easy, here are some really easy side dishes to serve with the chicken drumsticks...

• Dill Pickle Slaw
• Blue Cheese Wedge Salad Recipe (Keto Salad)
• Italian Roasted Cabbage Slices (Low Carb & Keto Cabbage Recipe)
• Baked Zucchini Casserole With Cheese
• Keto Zucchini Recipe – Zucchini Carpaccio

Baked BBQ Chicken Legs storage

Store leftover BBQ chicken legs in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days. They can also be frozen up to 4 months.

BBQ Chicken Legs in Oven FAQs

Related Recipes

• Best Grilled Chicken Recipe
• Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
• The Best Baby Back Ribs Recipe
• Herbed Butter Steak
• Grilled Romaine Hearts
• Dry Rub For Chicken

Recipe

BBQ Drumsticks in Oven

You'll have delicious oven-baked bbq chicken drumsticks in no time. Tons of flavor - no grill! Perfect for busy weeknights!

5 from 2 votes

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Author Kori

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Course chicken recipes

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 523 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

• ▢ 8 chicken drumsticks
• ▢ 3 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ ¼ cup dry rub for chicken (or use 3 tsp garlic salt & ½ tsp pepper)
• ▢ 1 cup BBQ sauce (recipe below, or use your favorite store-bought brand)

(Optional) Sugar Free BBQ Sauce

• ▢ 3 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ ½ cup finely chopped onion
• ▢ 4 garlic cloves minced
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper
• ▢ 1 cup beef broth
• ▢ 1 cup unsweetened ketchup we used Primal Kitchen brand
• ▢ ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar
• ▢ ½ cup brown sugar substitute we used So Nourished brand brown sugar substitute
• ▢ 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
• ▢ ½ teaspoon cumin
• ▢ ½ teaspoon celery salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

 

Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

• In a large bowl toss chicken drumsticks with olive oil and dry rub. (You can do this step up to 24 hours in advance).
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheet with foil and place chicken drumsticks on the pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink. 
• Remove from oven and place chicken pieces in a large bowl. Toss with bbq sauce and serve

(Optional) Sugar Free BBQ Sauce

• In a nonstick saucepan pan, saute onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until the onions are soft. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 25 to 30 minutes until the sauce is very thick. Stir occasionally to keep the sauce from sticking.
• Makes approximately 1¼ cup. Note: if sweetened ketchup is used, reduce the brown sugar by ¼ cup. 

Video

Notes

Helpful Hints:

• You can easily substitute any bone-in chicken. Thicker pieces may take longer than 40 to 45 minutes.

 

Nutrition

Serving: 2drumsticksCalories: 523kcalCarbohydrates: 7.7gProtein: 51.6gFat: 30.8gSodium: 1358mgFiber: 0.6gSugar: 3.1g

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