Perfectly seasoned, juicy baked Jerk chicken drumsticks are always a people pleaser!
And with just 4 simple ingredients, this meal is one that comes together fast, can be prepped ahead, and let the oven do the rest.
Can You Bake Jerk Chicken?
Baking is a terrific cooking method for jerk marinated chicken since the roasting method always yields juicy chicken thighs and drumsticks. Plus, as the chicken cooks, the seasoning drips little by little into the juices that form in the pan, giving the finished dish an even better taste.
How Is Jerk Chicken Traditionally Cooked
Jerk chicken is traditionally smoked or cooked on the bbq, but the name Jerk chicken refers to the seasoning, not the cooking method. One of the most recognizable aspects of jerk chicken is the crisp, charred skin from the honey and seasoning combination that tends to brown (or char) under an open flame.
The great news is that cooking jerk chicken in the oven will also give you that toasty skin you’re looking for. Ultimately, depending on the cut of chicken you use it can be cooked in your preferred cooking method.
Jerk Chicken Ingredients
It doesn’t take much to make these crazy good jerk chicken drumsticks, just four simple ingredients:
- Olive oil: goes into the sauce and helps crisp up the skin.
- Honey: caramelizes as the chicken bakes.
- Jerk seasoning: a combination of spices and herbs popular in Jamaican cooking. Use your favorite store-bought seasoning or click to grab my recipe.
- Chicken drumsticks: use bone-in, skin-on.
You’ll find the ingredient measurements and detailed directions in the printable recipe card below.
How to Bake Jerk Chicken
With minimal prep and a preheated oven, you’ll soon have an epic-tasting meal on the table. Below is how you’ll turn ordinary drumsticks into sweet and smoky jerk chicken!
- Prep
Preheat the oven to 400F and make sure to line a large baking sheet with parchment or foil. Whisk the oil, and honey and jerk seasoning in a small bowl. - Baste
Place the drumsticks on the baking sheet and brush the sauce over each. - Bake
Place the pan in the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, flipping halfway through. Once the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 175F, remove the pan from the oven. - Serving tip
For best results, allow the chicken to rest 5-10 minutes before serving.
This section is a quick rehearsal of the recipe card instructions; now, you’ll know what to expect once you get there!
How Long to Bake Chicken Legs
While cooking by internal temperature is the best method, the charts below have various baking temperatures and times for bone-in, skin-on chicken legs.
| Oven Temp | Average Time | Internal Temp |
|---|---|---|
| 350F (175C) | 1 hour | 175F (80C) |
| 375F (190C) | 40 to 45 mins | 175F (80C) |
| 400F (200C) | 35 to 40 mins | 175F (80C) |
| 425F (218C) | 35 mins | 175F (80C) |
Keeping Baked Jerk Chicken Juicy
Drumsticks and chicken thighs are traditionally very juicy cuts of chicken and it’s nearly impossible to overcook them and dry them out when baked in the oven since they’ll roast in their juices.
That said, you can always cover the baking sheet or baking dish with foil during the last 10 minutes of roasting once your chicken drumsticks have that toasty browned color everyone loves.
Keeping the chicken covered can also keep the heat and steam trapped, which in turn, keeps the juices in the chicken and in the baking sheet.
What to Serve with Jerk Chicken Drumsticks
The best part about this recipe is that it pairs great with so many terrific side dishes! You’ll love it with:
Brussels Sprouts Salad | Coconut Cauliflower Rice | Simple Side Salad
Baked Jerk Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 3 tablespoons Jerk seasoning
- 8 drumsticks, skin on
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400F and line a baking sheet or baking tray with parchment paper or foil. Don’t skimp on the lining because the honey caramelizes during baking. trust me, you’ll thank me at cleanup time.
- In a small bowl, combine the oil, honey, and jerk seasoning.
- Place the chicken pieces in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet or tray. With a spoon, spoon half of the sauce over the chicken pieces. Sometimes I place the drumsticks in a big bowl and toss them in half of the seasoning paste to coat them well, I keep a little less than half to baste them halfway through. Both methods work well.
- Bake drumsticks for 35 to 40 minutes, making sure to flip the chicken with tongs halfway through cooking and baste or spoon the remaining jerk sauce over the top.
- Around minute 30, check that the honey coating isn’t too dark. If it is, make a tent over the tray with foil to prevent burning.
- Remove from the oven when the meat’s internal temperature is at 175F, about 40 to 45min.
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