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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Marinated Chicken Drumsticks

    Published: Oct 26, 2022 · Modified: Jul 2, 2024 by Nataliia

    Jump to Recipe

    These marinated chicken drumsticks are baked in the oven until the skin is crispy and the meat is pull-apart tender. You will need only a few ingredients to make this rich and tangy chicken marinade for the best chicken drumsticks ever.

    A white plate with 5 charred looking chicken legs.

    Chicken drumsticks are juicy, meaty, and are so versatile. They take longer to cook because of the bone but at the same time, they are hard to overcook, compare to the tenders or breasts.

    If you do not have much time, try to make these Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Drumsticks instead. They are ready in under 30 minutes.

    Our whole family often enjoys them with a side of Buckwheat Groats or Roasted Green Beans and Carrots.

    Leftovers are great the next day for wraps or salads when shredded and bones removed.

    Jump to:
    • About Greek yogurt chicken marinade
    • Ingredients
    • How to marinate chicken drumsticks
    • ⏲️Baking instructions
    • Recipe tips
    • How to store
    • 📖Frequently asked questions
    • Side dishes to serve with
    • Other popular chicken recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    About Greek yogurt chicken marinade

    Chicken marinades are usually oil-based or dairy-based, with added citrus juice, salt, herbs, and spices.

    Today, I am sharing the dairy-based marinade to make these delicious chicken drumsticks. You can also use it to make chicken wings or thighs.

    Yogurt marinade tenderizes the meat without the risk of being rubbery, compare to citrus or vinegar. Marinading in vinegar is great, but if you add too much of it, it may make the meat tough instead of juicy.

    Yogurt has a different type of acidity, it tenderizes mercifully and helps the spices to penetrate deeper into the tissues of the meat. As a result, the chicken always comes out so flavorful and tender.

    A hand holding the cooked chicken leg on a white plate.

    Ingredients

    Please, see the recipe card for ingredient quantities.

    • Chicken Drumsticks - bone-in, skin-on chicken drumsticks or thighs. Skin-on meat is great when using marinates. It comes out super flavorful and crispy.
    • Greek Yogurt - use plain full-fat (preferred) or low-fat Greek yogurt or sour cream. Both have similar thickness and acidity and will do a great job marinating the meat.
    • Lemon Juice - only a little bit of lemon juice for extra flavor, as yogurt will do the main job to tenderize.
    • Salt - I usually use between ¼ teaspoons (for boneless and skinless meat) and -½ teaspoons (for bone-in and skin-on meat) per pound of chicken. There are approximately 4 chicken drumsticks per pound.
    • Herbs and Spices - you will need paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and dried oregano. You can experiment with different combinations of dried spices.
    • Olive oil - is used to grease parchment paper. You can skip it, but it is great for crisping the skin making it look browned and almost charred.
    Recipe labeled ingredients on a white background.

    How to marinate chicken drumsticks

    • Remove the chicken legs from the packaging and pat dry them with a paper towel to get rid of access moisture. This trick will make the skin super crispy.
    • You will need a large bowl or a container to fit the marinade and the meat with some room for mixing and stirring. Add there yogurt, lemon juice, salt, dried herbs, and spices. Whisk everything with the fork to combine.
    A glass bowl with creamy white sauce
    • Now, add the chicken and coat the meat with the marinade. Massage the chicken gently to distribute the marinade evenly.
    A large glass bowl with chicken legs covered in a creamy sauce.
    • Use plastic wrap to cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, but better few hours.
    A glass bowl with raw chicken legs in madinade covered with some plastic clear wrap.

    ⏲️Baking instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking pan with some parchment paper. Take out the meat from the fridge and arrange them on the prepared baking tray.
    • Let the marinated chicken legs come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before baking.
    Uncooked chicken legs in yogurt marinade arranged on a parchment paper.
    • Bake for 45-60 minutes flipping the chicken halfway through to have it browned evenly on both sides. Remove the chicken from the oven once the internal temperature reaches at least 165° degrees F.
    Three cooked chicken drumsticks on a white plate topped with small pieces of green parsley..

    Recipe tips

    • for best results marinate the meat for at least 30 minutes.
    • flip the drumsticks halfway through for browned color on both sides.
    • for best results, take out the legs from the fridge 15-20 minutes before baking to bring them to room temperature. Cold meat will dry out in the oven fast, and as a result, the chicken will be rubbery.
    • baking time will depend on the size of the drumsticks.
    • use an instant thermometer to ensure the meat is fully cooked.

    How to store

    Place chicken legs in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. They reheat well in the microwave, air fryer, or oven.

    📖Frequently asked questions

    Can I marinate frozen chicken legs?

    Yes, make sure to marinade and thaw the frozen meat in the fridge, never on the counter. You can add the marinade straight to frozen chicken, it will absorb it better while thawing.

    How long should you marinate chicken legs?

    For the best results let the chicken marinade at least for 30 minutes, but better for 1-2 hours. Do not marinate it for longer than 24 hours, as harmful bacteria may grow.

    Can you air fry marinated chicken drumsticks?

    Yes, this marinated chicken recipe is great for baking, air frying, or grilling.

    Side dishes to serve with

    • Sheet pan potatoes and broccoli
    • Air fryer carrots and potatoes
    • Purple sweet potatoes puree

    Other popular chicken recipes

    • Air fryer frozen chicken wings
    • Roasted chicken leg quarters
    • Baked thin chicken breasts
    • Pan-fried chicken wings
    • Cast iron skillet chicken breasts
    • Chicken muffins
    • Chicken thigh broth
    • Baked chicken wings

    📖 Recipe

    Three cooked chicken drumsticks on a white plate topped with small pieces of green parsley..

    Marinated Chicken Drumsticks

    Nataliia
    These marinated chicken drumsticks are baked in the oven until the skin is crispy and the meat is pull-apart tender. You will need only a few ingredients to make this rich and tangy chicken marinade for the best chicken drumsticks ever.
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    marinating 1 hour hr
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course dinner, lunch
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 376 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 large bowl
    • 1 Baking pan
    • 1 Measuring Cup
    • 1 set of measuring spoons

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 pounds chicken drumsticks (about 8)
    • 1 Tablespoon olive oil to grease the parchment paper
    • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
    • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • In a large mixing bowl, add yogurt, lemon juice, salt, herbs, and spices. Pat dry the drumsticks and add them to the prepared marinade. Massage to distribute the marinade. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate the meat for at leas 30-60 minutes.
      1 cup plain Greek yogurt, 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 2 pounds chicken drumsticks (about 8)
    • Line parchment paper over the baking pan. Spread a thin layer of olive oil on top. Preheat oven to 400°F. Meanwhile, arrange marinated chicken legs on a prepared pan. Let them sit for 15 minutes to bring them to room temperature.
    • Bake for 45-60 minutes flipping the legs halfway through until the juices run clear and internal temperature reaches 165°F.

    Notes

    • you can use this marinade for legs, thighs or wings.
    • you can use sour cream instead of yogurt.
    • great for baking, air frying or grilling.
    • marinade the chicken in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, but no longer than 24 hours.
    • serving size is 2 legs per 1 person.
    • the nutrition data is for information purposes only.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2legsCalories: 376kcalCarbohydrates: 1.1gProtein: 47.2gFat: 21.2gSaturated Fat: 5.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.8gSodium: 653mgSugar: 1g
    Keyword baked chicken legs, marinated chicken drumsticks
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Sava's kitchen female author wearing an apron standing in the kitchen.

    Hi, I'm Nataliia, a mom from Ukraine living in the U.S. I share cozy, family-friendly recipes that taste like home, no matter where you are. I hope these recipes end up in your family’s recipe box someday.

    More about Nataliia →

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