Bacon Wrapped Baked Chicken Drumsticks

❤️ Why I Love This Recipe

• Easy to Prepare. These chicken drumsticks are ready to go in your oven in just 10 minutes.
• Crowd-Pleasing Dish. Wrapping the chicken drumsticks in rich, savory bacon makes them a dish no one will be able to resist.
• Versatile. Use my chicken seasoning or any seasoning you like to dress up these drumsticks.

🥘 Ingredients

I love using my easy-to-make chicken seasoning for these drumsticks. It’s full of herbs like basil, rosemary, and thyme to make it perfectly suited for poultry.

• 8 Chicken Drumsticks – This is about 4 pounds of drumsticks. You can also use your favorite cut of chicken to make this dish.
• 2 teaspoons Chicken Seasoning – Don’t have time to make your seasoning? Pick up your favorite store-bought chicken seasoning or use a BBQ chicken or Cajun seasoning blend (See Variations).
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil – Olive oil helps the seasoning stick to the drumsticks. I recommend using extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) or another healthy oil like avocado oil.
• 8 slices Bacon – Use your favorite type of bacon. I recommend using a thinner cut of bacon as it will wrap and stay in place easier, and so that the bacon crisps all the way through when cooking.

📖 Variations

My versatile bacon-wrapped baked chicken drumsticks pair with almost any seasoning or sauce! They’re perfect just as is, but here are a few of my recommendations for customization:

• Cajun – Substitute the chicken seasoning for a flavorful Cajun seasoning like Tony Chachere’s, Zatarain's, or Slap Ya Mama.
• BBQ – Use BBQ chicken seasoning on these drumsticks, then brush with your favorite BBQ sauce before broiling for an amazing flavor. I highly suggest giving my Hawaiian BBQ sauce a try too.
• Teriyaki – Don’t knock it ‘til you try it! Brush on your favorite homemade teriyaki or store-bought traditional or Hawaiian teriyaki sauce for a sweet and salty combo that’s out of this world.
• Buffalo – If you’re a fan of spicy fare, brush buffalo sauce onto the bacon-wrapped chicken drumsticks before sticking it under the broiler.
• Old Bay – For a Southeastern spin on these drumsticks, season with Old Bay seasoning. It’s a classic seasoning blend that adds so much flavor – and it’s not just for seafood.

🔪 How To Make Bacon-Wrapped Baked Chicken Drumsticks

You don’t need any special equipment to make these incredible chicken drumsticks. All you need is a baking sheet and parchment paper or aluminum foil to prevent sticking.

Prepare. Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (205°C/Gas Mark 6). Then, line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil (See Note).

Season chicken drumsticks. Next, drizzle 1 tablespoon of cooking oil over 8 chicken drumsticks, rubbing it in on all sides. Then, sprinkle 2 teaspoons of chicken seasoning over the drumsticks, turning to get all sides of each drumstick seasoned.

Wrap in bacon. Once the drumsticks are seasoned, place a slice of bacon at the bone of each of drumstick and roll it up so that the bacon wraps around the entire drumstick. If needed, you can overlay two slices of bacon to get the entire chicken leg fully wrapped in bacon (See Note).

Bake the drumsticks. After each drumstick is wrapped in bacon, place the drumsticks on your prepared baking sheet and bake at 400°F (205°C/Gas Mark 6) on your oven’s middle rack for 35 minutes. Once the drumsticks have baked for about 35 minutes, set your broiler to high and broil for 3 to 4 minutes to crisp the bacon.

Finish. When your drumsticks have been crisped, check the internal temperature by inserting a thermometer probe into the thickest part of the drumstick. They’ll be ready once they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Serve. Once the drumsticks are fully cooked, remove them from the oven and serve immediately.

💭 Tips & Notes

• Use a roasting rack for more even cooking. If desired, you can place a roasting rack on your parchment paper or aluminum foil-lined baking sheet for more evenly cooked chicken legs. Make sure to spray your roasting rack with non-stick cooking spray or brush with oil before using.
• Have larger chicken drumsticks? If your chicken legs are larger, you can use 2 slices of bacon per drumstick to make sure they’re completely covered in the bacon.
• Be sure to watch the chicken closely while it broils. The broiler can burn food super easily and no one wants a burnt chicken leg. Especially if you decide to brush the chicken with a sauce, keep a careful eye on the drumsticks when broiling.
• Don’t skip coating the drumsticks with oil. Coating the drumsticks with extra virgin olive oil helps the seasoning to stick to the chicken and gets them nice and browned while they bake.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

Store leftovers in an airtight container or wrapped in foil for up to 3 to 5 days. Make sure the chicken is fully cooled before storing it away.

You can freeze them for up to 3 months. Wrap the cooled drumsticks in plastic cling film or foil, then place them into an airtight, freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer storage bag.

Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating

To reheat, I recommend using the oven to make the bacon crispy and prevent the meat from drying out or getting rubbery. Reheat at 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4) for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the chicken is warmed to your satisfaction.

If needed or desired, you can broil for a few minutes to crisp the bacon again.

🍗 More Tasty Chicken Dinner Ideas

• Baked Avocado Chicken
• Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks
• Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
• Rotisserie Chicken Salad
• Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

📖 Recipe Card