Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks will quickly become a family favourite. Love crispy skin chicken? This is for you.
Crushed tortilla chips and Mexican seasoning are the secret ingredients. This chicken drum recipe is sure to be a winner in your house.
I love breaded chicken baked in the oven. Getting all the crispy goodness with oven-fried chicken instead of deep-frying is a winner for sure.
So much easier, not to mention healthier too.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this crispy chicken recipe can be found at the bottom of this post.
This is a super easy chicken drumstick recipe. In my opinion, drumsticks are the best part.
These juicy tender chicken legs are coated, then baked! Did you know you can get extra-crispy results without using Panko breadcrumbs and buttermilk?
Once you try these you will be hooked. Biting through that crispy tortilla crusted, Mexican seasoned skin to the juicy meat underneath is a party in your mouth. Make lots, the family will be fighting for the last one. Our favourite oven-fried chicken hands down.
You Will Need:
All it takes is Mexican seasoning and tortilla chips to make the most delicious crispy chicken you have EVER tasted.
- chicken drumsticks
- avocado oil
- tortilla chips
- Mexican seasoning
The seasoning can be your own homemade blend, or store-bought (that’s what I used). Most often I make my own blends, EXCEPT when I can get my hands on some REALLY GOOD blends.
The blend I used in this drumstick recipe is called Mexican Kitchen Cartel, and it is made by The Spice Company. There are LOTS of great blends to choose from (and cool names to go along with them too).
Crumb Coating Chicken
The secret to making crispy baked chicken without frying is the crumb coating and leaving the skin on. YES, you can get a crispy crust with this recipe. If you love southern-fried, THIS is better!
Removing the skin still produces tasty results. If you are looking for that crunchy sound and crisp texture, it is all about the skin.
There are several options for the crumb coating. For this recipe, I used crushed tortilla chips. Panko breadcrumbs or crackers are great, and so are cornflakes.
Have you ever had cornflake chicken? I remember my mom making that when I was a kid. These oven-fried chicken drumsticks are even better!
How To Bake Chicken Drumsticks
Some baked chicken recipes use the “flour-egg-crumb method” to coat the chicken. My method is way easier, which means less mess and fewer dishes.
- Wash the drumsticks and pat dry.
- Place crushed tortilla chips in a large bowl.
- Generously rub Mexican seasoning on each piece of chicken.
- One at a time, take a drumstick and brush it with oil and generously coat it with the crushed tortilla chips.
- Place on a baking sheet and cook until golden brown.
While this chicken bakes, the aroma will have you licking your lips in anticipation of the deliciousness that is only a few minutes away.
Recipe Tips
- Be sure to a foil-lined *(affiliate) baking sheet coated with cooking spray. This will make cleanup a breeze.
- For this recipe, I used regular tortilla chips. Feel free to try blue chips or lime flavoured chips. Doritos would work as well (you could skip the seasoning all together).
- If you don’t have Mexican seasoning, *(affiliate) taco seasoning would work fine.
I baked these for 25 minutes at 400º F. The safe internal temperature of poultry is 165º F. I like to use an *(affiliate)instant-read thermometer to be sure.
Yes, you certainly can. In fact, I love to have some leftovers for another meal. Chicken is best reheated from frozen. Do not cover while heating to ensure crispy results. I would heat it around 400º F until it reaches a safe internal temperature.
This crispy chicken recipe is so full of flavour, all it takes is some simple sides for the perfect weeknight dinner.
- A simple cucumber salad is nice and refreshing. If it is the right time of year a snap pea salad would pair well too.
- Looking for a few condiments? Pickled onions and zucchini pickles would be great.
- You can never go wrong with crispy fries or baked beans to round out the meal.
- Of course, onion rings are always a hit too.
- Love pasta salad? This Greek couscous salad is always a hit.
Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks are a favourite around here. Takeout doesn’t have a chance in our house. Easy to make, delicious to eat, and I guarantee your family won’t complain if you have leftovers either.
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Loving the idea of oven-fried recipes? Here are a few more to try.
Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks with Mexican Inspiration
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil
- 4 ounces tortilla chips (crushed)
- 3 tablespoons Mexican seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400º F and line baking sheet with foil, and spray with cooking spray.
- Wash chicken drumsticks and pat dry. Place on a plate.
- Crush tortilla chips using a food processor. You can also place them in a plastic bag and crush them with your hand. Place the crushed chips in a large bowl. Set aside.
- Put your oil and Mexican seasoning in bowls and set aside.
- Generously rub each drumstick with the Mexican seasoning, making sure to cover it all over. Place on a plate.
- Working with one piece of chicken at a time, lightly brush some oil on the drumstick. Place it in the tortilla chips and nicely coat. Place the coated chicken on the baking sheet.Continue this with each piece of chicken.
- Place the baking sheet into the pre heated oven, and bake until golden brown, and crispy (about 25 minutes), turning ½ way through.
- When cooked, remove from oven.
- ENJOY!!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
We call them drumsticks and I have never KFC. Is that unpatriotic of me? We do like our fried foods but only occasionally. Your chicken sounds delicious!! We will definitely give it a try since we eat quite a bit of chicken and we love spicy. But, blue tortilla chips? I don’t know about that one. 🙂 I can see making blue and giving it to my Hubby. I’d have to have a camera for that. I’m definitely trying your original version.
Homemade & Yummy
I think the blue tortillas would be a fun experiment. I think I will give it a try and see what happens.
Elizabeth
What a clever recipe! I bet my family would love this – I have to make it for them soon!
Homemade & Yummy
I bet they would love them too. Hope you give them a try.
Dana
I love that these are baked! There’s definitely a time and place for deep frying, but if you can bake something and have it be equally crispy and delicious, that’s totally the way to go. I also love that you used tortillas! Fun!
Homemade & Yummy
These are so delicious….we want them again…like already!!
Molly Kumar
I loooove crispy chicken and I’m always looking at different recipes to try. Saving this to try soon.
Homemade & Yummy
I hope you love it as much as we do.
Narelle
This recipe is so simple but so delicious!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes you are right. Hope you give it a try.
Denise
I personally do not like KFC because it’s not country enough. But yours looks absolutely delicious! What a genius idea to use tortilla chips!
Homemade & Yummy
This is better than takeout hands down.
Albert Bevia
Such a great recipe to grab the ordinary drumstick and turn it into a fun and tasty dish….this is pretty amazing…and I love that they are baked and not fried!
Homemade & Yummy
They are amazing….we love them. Hope you give the recipe a try soon.
Sarah
My mom was a huge fan of “shake and bake” chicken, so this is how we always had it! I love that you added mexican seasoning to the coating! I bet it’s delicious!
Homemade & Yummy
YES Shake and Bake….mom did that too.
Abeer
I really like that you used avocado oil. I recently bought a bottle and can’t wait to try it it and your recipe too!
Homemade & Yummy
That is my “go to oil” it works really well.
Karly
Great idea!
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks…hope you give it a try.
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
That Mexican seasoning sounds like something the kids would really love — that and the tortilla chip crust. What a fun way to make dinner special. Easy enough for a weeknight, too. Great recipe.
Homemade & Yummy
The chips work so well….and crispy for sure. We love it.
Tiffany
I like how you spiced up those drumsticks! They look delicious and I like that they are baked and not fried. Gotta try these!
Homemade & Yummy
These are so easy and delicious…hope you give them a try soon.
Veena Azmanov
I love the idea of using tortilla. I usually use cornflakes.. Love Mexican Seasoning – I bet these were gone in an instant. We love crispy chicken in our home and it’s a must for summer picnics to the beach.
Homemade & Yummy
Yup the tortilla chips work so well….and OMG crispy!!
Ilana
It sounds as a great combination of flavors! Simple to prepare, yet delicious. My kind of recipe!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes, easy and delicious is the way to go. This recipe delivers for sure.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme
Yum!! I have never thought to coat chicken with tortilla chips! So creative!
Homemade & Yummy
I know….what a cool idea right? Works so well.