If you are looking for an easy and quick fix idea for weekday dinner, then look no further than this baked chicken drumstick with lemon and garlic butter! The marinade of this recipe is so mind-blowingly good that you will keep coming back to these baked chicken again and again!
If you are worrying about what to cook for dinner tonight, then this page is gonna solve that for you! My terrific baked chicken drumstick with lemon and garlic butter is the winner-winner chicken-dinner that is waiting for you to enjoy and call it a day!
Baked recipes are saviors on those hectic weekdays when you come back home exhausted after a hard day at work and then again have to worry about what to eat! Such mess-free recipes come in handy then and save us from a lot of mess!
This recipe of baked chicken drumstick with lemon and garlic butter does not require any chopping or pre-preparation. Just marinate the chicken, shut it in the oven and let it cook on its own while you relax on the couch (with maybe a glass of wine?)
What is Baked chicken drumstick with lemon and garlic butter?
I know the name of this recipe is a mouthful! But without calling out the key ingredients, I wouldn’t do justice to this baked chicken drumstick with lemon and garlic butter!
This is a very simple recipe of baked chicken drumsticks where the chicken is marinated with a flavorful mixture of lemon juice and butter infused with garlic. The combination of these two key ingredients along with other spices creates an incredible magic to the chicken!
Lemon juice, being acidic in nature, softens the meat of chicken drumsticks and also helps other aromatics & spices penetrate the dark meat.
And butter infused with minced garlic is a miracle in itself! Garlic, which is already my most favorite aromatic, makes the already delicious butter even more tasty! You will only know this and I am sure agree with me once you try this on your own!
Ingredients for Baked chicken drumstick with lemon and garlic butter
Chicken drumsticks: This is a five-star recipe for all chicken lovers as I believe chicken drumsticks are the most sought-after piece for any ardent fan of chicken! You can use skin-on or skinless drumsticks based on your personal preference.
Unsalted butter: A generous amount of softened unsalted butter is needed to make the garlic butter separately and then brush this incredible condiment on top of each drumstick before baking.
Pro tip: I recommend using unsalted butter as otherwise it may become difficult to adjust the total seasoning of the dish.
Garlic: Another item which you will need in a generous amount. Use fresh garlic cloves and mince them completely so that they mix with the softened butter thoroughly & evenly without leaving any lump.
Lemon juice: Lemon juice is the base of the marinate. This will allow all the spices to penetrate the chicken meat and transform the chicken drumsticks into something unbelievably delish!
Olive oil: Add a good amount of olive oil into the marinade to bind all the spices together and to ensure the spices stick to the chicken drumsticks.
Italian seasoning: I have used a good amount of Italian seasoning but this can be modified based on your preference – you can use a mix of other dried herbs too. I do love Italian seasoning as it has proven to be an all-rounder spice mix and hence I always keep a bottle handy. Also it saves me from a lot of thinking while making a quick weekday dinner!
Sweet paprika: Paprika adds a depth of flavor to the baked chicken drumstick with lemon and garlic butter thanks to its smoky flavor. You can use chilli powder too if you don’t have paprika handy at the moment.
Seasoning: Finally round up the marinade with the right amount of seasoning – salt and freshly crushed black pepper.
How to make Baked chicken drumstick with lemon and garlic butter?
Step 1: First we will marinate the chicken drumsticks. Wash and pat dry the chicken drumsticks and set aside while you prepare the marinade.
Step 2: In a large bowl, add olive oil, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning and sweet paprika. Give a good mix using a wire whisk to create a homogeneous mixture.
Step 3: Drop all the drumsticks in the prepared marinating mixture and mix well so that each drumstick is coated evenly on all sides. Leave them for 2 hours to allow the flavors to develop and penetrate into the chicken meat.
Step 4: Meanwhile prepare garlic butter by whisking softened butter with minced garlic in a small bowl making sure garlic is distributed uniformly.
Step 5: Preheat the oven at 200 C / 400 F and place the wire rack at the center of the oven.
Step 6: Arrange all the marinated drumsticks on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil in a single layer.
Step 7: Brush the top of each drumstick with prepared garlic butter.
Step 8: Bake them for 20 mins in the preheated oven. Take them out, flip each drumstick and brush the other side with remaining garlic butter.
Step 9: Return the drumsticks to the oven and bake for another 20 minutes or until they are completely cooked and tender. You can check the doneness by cutting one of the drumsticks at the thickest part of the meat; if it cuts smoothly and no pink is left, your chicken is cooked through.
Step 10: Garnish your baked chicken drumstick with lemon and garlic butter with fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro!
Other delicious chicken drumsticks recipe from Flavor Quotient
- Barbecue Chicken Drumsticks in Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- Garlic and Paprika Roast Chicken
- Baked Honey Glazed Chicken Legs
- Chicken drumsticks - 12
- Unsalted butter - 50 gms, softened but not melted
- Garlic - 15 to 18 cloves, minced
- Olive oil - ½ cup
- Lemon juice - ¼ cup
- Salt - 1 tsp or to taste
- Black pepper - ½ tsp
- Italian seasoning - 1 & ½ tsp
- Sweet paprika - 2 tsp
- Wash and pat dry the chicken drumsticks. Set aside until you prepare the marinade.
- In a large bowl, add all the ingredients except butter and minced garlic. Give a good mix using a wire whisk making sure all ingredients are evenly mixed up.
- Drop all the drumsticks in the prepared marinating mixture and mix well so that each drumstick is coated evenly on all sides. Leave them for 2 hours.
- Prepare garlic butter by whisking softened butter with minced garlic in a small bowl making sure garlic is distributed uniformly.
- Preheat the oven at 200 C / 400 F and place the wire rack at center of the oven,
- Arrange all the marinated drumsticks on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil in a single layer.
- Brush the top of each drumstick with prepared garlic butter.
- Bake them for 20 mins in the preheated oven. Take them out, flip them over and brush the other side with remaining garlic butter.
- Return the drumsticks to the oven and bake for another 20 minutes or until they are completely cooked and tender.
- Your baked chicken drumstick with lemon and garlic butter is ready to serve! Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro and enjoy!
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