Ready in about 50 minutes and with a prep time of just 10 minutes, this is a great recipe for weeknight dinners since the oven does most of the work! You’re in for a treat! This is one of my most reliably loved chicken recipes. As long as I don’t make it too spicy, everyone loves it - adults and kids. My family loves homemade buffalo wings, and I make them often. We also adore these buffalo chicken lettuce wraps, made with shredded cooked chicken breast. But the first time I made this recipe, all I had in the fridge were chicken drumsticks. So I decided to use them. We all loved it so much, that I now make this recipe regularly.
Ingredients
You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make these buffalo chicken drumsticks. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need:
For the chicken:
Chicken drumsticks: I use three pounds of chicken in this recipe, which typically equals 10-12 drumsticks. Olive oil spray: I love using this very flavorful oil. But you can use avocado oil spray if you prefer an oil with a higher smoke point. To season: I use kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. I prefer garlic powder to minced fresh garlic because I feel it better coats the chicken.
For the sauce:
Melted unsalted butter: I love using creamy European butter, but any butter will be delicious. Hot pepper sauce: I use a hot habanero chipotle sauce. You can use your favorite hot sauce and go as hot or as mild as you like.
Instructions
Making this buffalo chicken drumsticks recipe is easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here’s an overview of the steps: First, you coat the chicken pieces in oil, season them, then bake them in a hot (400F) oven until they are wonderfully crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. While the chicken is baking, quickly mix the sauce. When the chicken pieces are fully baked, you coat them in the sauce. That’s it! Easy!
Expert tip
It’s a good idea to make the sauce in advance, while the chicken is cooking. This allows the sauce to slightly thicken, which helps it better adhere to the chicken. If you make the sauce at the last minute it is thinner, and then it tends to just slide off the chicken pieces.
Frequently asked questions
Variations
The best way to vary this recips is with the seasonings you use. You can add a pinch of dried thyme to the chicken. You can also add a pinch of garlic and smoked paprika to the buffalo sauce.
Serving suggestions
Serve this dish just as you would serve buffalo wings, with celery sticks and a dipping sauce - either ranch or blue cheese. I usually serve 2 drumsticks per person for dinner, with celery and blue cheese dressing or homemade ranch. There’s no need for other sides, although you can add additional raw veggies for dipping.
Storing leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. To avoid overcooked leftovers, reheat them covered in the microwave, on 50% power. They’re also good cold!
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Recipe card
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