Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks

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These Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks are juicy on the inside, perfectly browned on the outside and full of flavor.  Whether baked or grilled, they are quick and easy, healthier than the fried version and a super family-friendly solution for dinner any night of the week.

Jump to:

• Easy Baked or Grilled Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks
• What Sides To Serve With Grilled Chicken Drumsticks
• Ingredients in Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks
• How to Bake Garlic Parmesan Chicken Drumsticks
• How Long Should I Bake Chicken Drumsticks In the Oven?
• Tips For Making the Best Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks
• How to Grill Chicken Drumsticks
• Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks
• Other Easy Chicken Drumstick Recipes

Easy Baked or Grilled Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks

This chicken drumstick recipe is one of those simple, adaptable dinner recipes that you can feel good about feeding to your family.  It’s full of protein, amino acids and healthy fats, but you don’t need to tell your little ones that!  Drumsticks are always a major hit in our house.

Baked chicken recipes are nice to have on hand as an alternative for the winter months, or for evenings when you don’t feel like firing up the grill for just one thing.  These Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks are really as simple as preheating your oven (or grill), tossing in a bit of oil and seasoning and baking.  Once cooked, slather in garlic Parmesan butter sauce and voila!

These work great as an appetizer, served with your favorite dipping sauce, or else as a main dish along with your favorite rice, potato or veggie side dish.  For a main course, you can plan on 1 drumstick per child and 2 per adult.

What Sides To Serve With Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

These sides would work well with either grilled or baked chicken drumsticks, either for a BBQ, potluck or easy weeknight meal.

• Easy Spanish Rice
• Lemon Herb Rice
• Broccoli Salad with Bacon
• Wedge Salad Kabobs
• Rosemary and Parmesan Fingerling Potatoes
• Oven Roasted Broccoli with Garlic and Lemon

Ingredients in Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks

Drumsticks

• Chicken Drumsticks - you can also substitute chicken thighs, which have a similar cooking time, or chicken wings, which will cook slightly quicker.
• Oil - we like to use avocado oil, but you could substitute with canola, vegetable or olive oil.
• Salt and Black Pepper - add to taste.
• Garlic - here you can use either garlic powder or finely minced fresh garlic.  

Sauce

• Butter - this should be melted.
• Garlic Powder - we like to use powdered garlic rather than minced since it has a nice sweetness to it, whereas the raw garlic can be a little more abrasive.
• Parmesan Cheese - you want to use finely grated Parmesan cheese.  In fact, the cheese from the can will actually work just fine in this case!
• Red Pepper Flakes - you can add a little more or less, depending on your heat preference.
• Parsley - fresh chopped parsley adds such a nice freshness to round out all of the flavors in these drumsticks.

How to Bake Garlic Parmesan Chicken Drumsticks

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
2. Cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and set a baking rack on top.  Remove drumsticks from their package and gently pat them dry with a paper towel.
3. In a large bowl, add the drumsticks.  Drizzle avocado oil over them, then add the garlic powder, salt and pepper. Toss until the drumsticks are completely coated.
4. Place drumsticks on the baking rack on the baking sheet, making sure that they are not touching.
5. Bake in a preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes, or until a digital thermometer reads 165 degrees when inserted into the chicken, and the drumsticks are golden brown.
6. While the drumsticks are in the oven, mix together the melted butter, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes and parsley in a small bowl.
7. When the drumsticks are done, remove from the oven and toss the hot drumsticks in the Garlic Parmesan sauce until they are completely coated.  Serve immediately with your favorite blue cheese or ranch dressing.  Enjoy!

How Long Should I Bake Chicken Drumsticks In the Oven?

You want the oven temperature to be nice and hot, but not too hot!  We like to cook chicken drumsticks at 400 degrees as this temperature gets the skin nice and crispy and bakes the chicken fast enough so that it never has a chance to dry out.

If you try to bake them much lower, you risk drying out the chicken, and losing that crispy skin.  Or, if you try much higher and you may torch the outside before the chicken cooks through completely.

That being said, it should take between 30-35 minutes for your chicken drumsticks to bake through and get nice and crispy.  You should always double check the internal temperature of chicken with a digital thermometer to be sure it has reached 165 degrees F because the cooking time will also vary slightly, depending on the size of the drumsticks and your oven.

Tips For Making the Best Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks

• Make sure to pat the drumsticks dry before you start.  It helps them live up to their full crispy potential.
• Make only as many as you will want to eat.  They don’t reheat well.
• If they just aren’t getting crispy enough in the oven, you can toss them in the broiler for 1-2 minutes to finish them off.
• Using a baking rack for baked drumsticks helps the fat drip down underneath so it isn’t cooking in it and getting soggy.
• We highly recommend using fresh herbs, but in a pinch you can substitute dried.  If you are using dried herbs, try rubbing them together in your hands to release a little more of the oils and making them more flavorful.
• For a fresh and zesty finish, serve with lemon wedges so that each person can squeeze fresh lemon juice over their drumsticks.

How to Grill Chicken Drumsticks

Grilling drumsticks is quick and easy, and a great way to make these Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks during the summer months when you don’t want to heat up the kitchen.

1. Preheat the grill to a medium to medium-high temp.  If your grill has a thermometer on it, it should register around 375- 400 degrees. 
2. Remove the drumsticks from their packaging and gently pat them dry with a paper towel.
3. In a large bowl, add the drumsticks and drizzle avocado oil over them.  Then, add the garlic powder, salt and pepper.  Toss until the drumsticks are completely coated.
4. Place the drumsticks on the grill, and cook for 2-4 minutes on one side. Flip the drumsticks and cook for another 2-4 minutes, until the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F.
5. While the drumsticks are on the grill, mix together the melted butter, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes and parsley in a small bowl.
6. Once cooked, take the chicken off of the grill and toss the hot drumsticks in the Garlic Parmesan butter, making sure they are completely coated.
7.  Let the chicken rest for a few minutes, then serve hot.

Other Easy Chicken Drumstick Recipes

• Simple Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks
• Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Drumsticks
• Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks
• Garlic and Herb Chicken Drumsticks

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Whether baked or grilled, these Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks are juicy on the inside, perfectly browned on the outside and full of flavor.  They make a quick, easy and healthy dinner that you can feel good about feeding to your family any night of the week.