Chicken · oven
Chicken Drumsticks
Chicken Drumsticks
cooking times
30 min – 40 min At the most common temperature, 400°F, chicken drumsticks takes about 30 min – 40 min. Pick your temperature below for the full chart. Done is always 165°F internal.
Pick your temperature
When is it actually done?
165°F internal The USDA FSIS safe minimum internal temperature for this cut is 165°F, followed by a rest of about 5 minutes. The clock estimates; the thermometer decides. Every time on this page is a planning range, not a doneness test.
Pull temperature vs safe temperature: Like thighs, drumsticks eat better at 175–185°F than at the bare-minimum 165°F.
Worth knowing before you start
- Turn once at the halfway mark so the skin renders on both sides.
- The meat pulling back from the knuckle end is a visual cue that you are close — confirm with the thermometer.