Baked buffalo drumsticks bring spicy wing-style flavor to a hearty chicken dinner. Seasoned with chili powder and garlic powder, the drumsticks roast until the skin is crisp, then get coated in a sauce made with melted butter, hot sauce, and a little barbecue sauce. A final spell in the oven finishes the coating.
This recipe starts with eight drumsticks and makes four servings. With about 10 minutes of preparation, most of the cooking happens in the oven, leaving you time to put together a side dish or prepare the rest of your game-day spread. Allow about an hour and fifteen minutes altogether.
Pat the chicken dry with paper towels before tossing it in the seasoned oil. Removing surface moisture helps the seasoning cling and supports browning. Arrange the drumsticks with space between them so they roast evenly, and use the wire-rack setup called for in the recipe.
An oven-safe wire rack with a rimmed baking sheet is useful here. The rack lifts the chicken above the drippings and lets air circulate around it. Check that your rack is intended for oven use before putting it in the pan.
While the chicken bakes, stir together the butter, hot sauce, and barbecue sauce in a bowl large enough for tossing. After the initial roast, coat the drumsticks and return them to the rack for the final 10 to 15 minutes. Have the bowl ready beforehand to make that step easier.
The recipe card also includes a milder maple-lime sauce option if you’re feeding guests with different preferences. Serve the finished drumsticks with macaroni and cheese for a filling meal, or add them to a platter of party food. Put out plenty of napkins and a bowl for discarded bones before everyone digs in.
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Baked Buffalo Drumsticks with Spicy Butter Sauce
- Total Time: 1:15
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 8 drumsticks
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Spicy Sauce:
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Pat the drumsticks dry with paper towels.
- Mix the oil, chili powder, garlic powder, and some salt and pepper in a medium bowl or resealable plastic bag. Toss the drumsticks in the seasoned oil to coat well.
- Bake the drumsticks on a wire rack placed on a baking sheet (so air circulates around chicken) until very tender and the skin is crisp, 50 minutes.
- For the spicy sauce: Mix together the butter, hot sauce and BBQ sauce in a large bowl.
- Toss the drumsticks in the spicy sauce until well coated. Return them to the rack and bake for another 10–15 minutes. Before serving, check that the thickest part of each drumstick reaches at least 165°F on a food thermometer, avoiding contact with the bone.
Notes
- Cook’s Note: For an alternate milder sauce, whisk together 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 teaspoon hot sauce, juice and zest of 1 lime, 1 clove of garlic, minced and some salt and pepper.
- Prep Time: :10
- Cook Time: 1:05
- Category: Main
- Method: Oven