These baked lemon pepper chicken drumsticks combine the rich flavor of drumsticks with a sweet and savory coating featuring the flavors of honey, garlic, and lemon pepper to create an easy chicken main that's full of delicious flavor but not work!
When I make gluten-free main dishes, the first thing I always think of is chicken. It's an affordable, versatile protein that can be used in so many different ways.
I've been a fan of chicken since I was a kid. My mother made chicken all the time because of its affordability and flavor. In fact, my air fryer rotisserie chicken is an ode to her cooking and my take on her roasted chicken.
Of course, I also love making creamy dishes with chicken, like this Marry Me chicken pasta, because the mild flavor of chicken just soaks up all the complex flavors in the recipe.
At the top of my chicken list, though, is baked chicken drumsticks. They're more luxurious and flavorful than breasts, but they still have a mildness that makes them incredibly versatile. And let's not forget that crispy skin!
These sheet pan baked lemon pepper drumsticks are the perfect example of that, combining rich chicken flavor with a sweet, savory, zippy coating to create a chicken dinner main that has everyone reaching for one more piece! Serve them with classic sides like potatoes and veggies, and finish things off with these banana chocolate chip gluten free muffins for a delicious dinner.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: All you need for this recipe are drumsticks and a few other kitchen staples found in any pantry or grocery store.
- Easy: Just coat the chicken and bake it until cooked through and beautifully caramelized. That's it!
- Complex Flavor: Every bite of these lemon pepper drumsticks is loaded with a sweet, savory, and peppery flavor profile that offers deep, complex flavor.
- Customizable: You can easily tweak this recipe to make it your own.
- Great for Meal Prep: These drumsticks are freezer-friendly, so feel free to make extra for future meals.
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Ingredients
I used Springer Mountain Farms drumsticks for this recipe. I love their chicken because it's incredibly high quality, humane, and they never use added antibiotics, hormones, or animal by-products in their feed.
You'll find a complete list of ingredients and their exact amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.
Variations
- Chicken: Chicken drumsticks, thighs, and breasts all work well for this recipe. Use leg quarters for lemon pepper chicken legs or chicken wings for a zesty wing recipe.
- Other Proteins: The sweet, savory, and citrusy flavors in this recipe also pair well with pork chops or shellfish like shrimp, prawns, crab legs, or lobster tails.
- Seasonings: Try adding some onion powder for more flavor.
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or cayenne for a kick of heat.
- Honey: Try maple syrup for a different flavor profile or molasses for a bolder flavor.
How to Make Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Drumsticks
Step 1: Combine honey, olive oil, lemon pepper seasoning, garlic powder, and lemon zest in a small bowl. Then, toss or stir the drumsticks with the mixture in a large bowl until coated.
Step 2: Next, place the drumsticks on a large sheet pan and brush them with the remaining mixture. Sprinkle with parsley.
Step 3: Bake at 400°F for 30 to 45 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking, until the internal temperature registers 165°F.
Step 4: Mix the melted butter and seasonings in a small bowl to make the optional garlic butter sauce.
Step 5: Brush the sauce over the cooked drumsticks with a pastry brush.
Step 6: Serve with rice or mashed potatoes and vegetables, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Rinse your chicken in a colander under a gentle stream of water to minimize splashing. Then, wash your counters thoroughly to remove any bacteria.
- It's important to pat the chicken dry so the honey lemon pepper mixture adheres to it properly.
- Use a large baking sheet so the drumsticks have space between them for even cooking.
- A meat thermometer is the best way to check your chicken for doneness, ensuring the chicken is perfectly cooked without being underdone or dried out.
- I find that wearing food-grade gloves and mixing the drumsticks by hand is the best way to coat them with the sauce evenly.
Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Drumsticks FAQ
Both work well but yield different results. Baking chicken drumsticks at 400°F results in crispy skin and faster cooking time. However, baking chicken drumsticks at 350°F results in more tender chicken but less crispy skin.
Chicken drumsticks are generally baked uncovered. This allows their skin to crisp and brown while the drumsticks cook.
Yes. It's important to flip your chicken drumsticks halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking and browning on all sides.
📖 Recipe
Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Drumsticks
Video
Ingredients
Chicken Drumsticks
- 10 chicken drumsticks
- 3 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- lemon zest of one lemon
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
- ½ tsp parsley
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 3 tablespoon butter regular or dairy free
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Then, wash the chicken, pat it dry, and place it in a large bowl.
- Mix the olive oil, honey, salt, garlic powder, lemon pepper seasoning, and lemon zest in a small bowl.
- Pour the lemon pepper sauce over the drumsticks and mix them until they're evenly coated.
- Place the drumsticks on a large baking sheet, leaving space between the drumsticks. Then, brush them with more sauce and bake them for 15 minutes.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven, flip the drumsticks, and continue baking them for another 15 to 20 minutes until their internal temperature registers 165 degrees with a meat thermometer.
- Mix the melted butter, salt, garlic powder, and parsley in a small bowl.
- Brush the baked drumsticks with the sauce and serve with mashed potatoes or rice and vegetables.
Notes
- Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Wrap individual drumsticks in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag.
- Defrost overnight in the fridge if frozen. Then, microwave individual portions at 1-minute intervals until hot.
- Rinse your chicken in a colander under a gentle stream of water to minimize splashing. Then, wash your counters thoroughly to remove any bacteria.
- It's important to pat the chicken dry so the honey lemon pepper mixture adheres to it properly.
- Use a large baking sheet so the drumsticks have space between them for even cooking.
- A meat thermometer is the best way to check your chicken for doneness, ensuring the chicken is perfectly cooked without being underdone or dried out.
- I find that wearing food-grade gloves and mixing the drumsticks by hand is the best way to coat them with the sauce evenly.
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