Step 1

If chicken drumsticks are frozen, place in the fridge to defrost 2-3 days before baking. Preheat oven to 375º F. Let chicken sit at room temp 20-30 minutes.

Step 2

Pat chicken dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Do not rinse before; see cooking tips section above for details.

Step 3

Place chicken drumsticks on a large foil or parchment lined baking pan. Lightly sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.

Step 4

Mix together barbecue sauce and honey in a small bowl. Use a brush to generously coat both sides of chicken drumsticks with barbecue sauce. Note: use about ⅔ of the sauce.

Step 5

Bake for 25 minutes. Rotate drumsticks and generously coat tops with rest of barbecue sauce. Note: If sauce spilled onto foil and is browned, transfer drumsticks to a clean baking sheet with foil to prevent burning of sauce.

Step 6

Bake 20 minutes more, or until chicken reaches a safe internal temp of at least 165º F. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Optional: Brush tops with additional barbecue sauce (that hasn't touched raw chicken) using a clean brush before serving.