PEACH BBQ SAUCE CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS
on May 05, 2025, Updated Jun 08, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Chicken drumsticks are coated in a homemade BBQ spice blend and baked off with a peach BBQ sauce. It’s an updated twist on the classic chicken drumstick that you just have to try!
These Peach BBQ Sauce Chicken Drumsticks are real game-changer due to the homemade BBQ rub and peach sauce.
There are plenty of store-bought barbecue sauces available but I find that making your own is nearly just as easy and 10x more flavorful than anything you could grab at the grocery store.
Do yourself a favor and make a big batch of the BBQ rub. I used the same blend for my Easy Fall Off the Bone Oven-Baked Ribs – another great entertaining recipe.
The BBQ Sauce is sweet, tangy, and bright thanks to the combo of fresh peach, unsweetened ketchup, apple cider vinegar, the spice blend, and a few other ingredients.
Make sure you have plenty of napkins on hand because this is a finger-licking good main meal, appetizer, or snack. Enjoy!
Get the Protein-Empowered digital cookbook!
Key Ingredients for Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
It may look like a lot of ingredients, but some of them serve a double purpose in the spice blend and sauce. Here are the key items to pick up.
- Spices: You’ll use an array of spices to make the BBQ rub. The mix includes paprika, coconut sugar, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, onion powder, and cumin. Extra seasoning can be used on other cuts of meat, including pork and fish.
- Chicken: Chicken drumsticks are fun to eat and cook quickly in the oven.
Pin this recipe for later!
Pin It- Yellow Mustard: Slathering the chicken with mustard helps the BBQ rub stick better.
- Fresh Peach: Yes, a whole *real* peach is used for the BBQ sauce! You won’t find this in a lot of store-bought sauces, that’s for sure!
- Ketchup: Look for unsweetened ketchup, such as @primalkitchenfoods ketchup. This keeps you in control of the overall sugar content.
How to Make Peach BBQ Drumsticks
Make the BBQ spice rub by adding the paprika, coconut sugar, garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, and cumin to a small bowl and stir to combine. Set aside.
Next, get started on the Peach BBQ Sauce.
Add the peach, ketchup, coconut sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, 3 tablespoons of BBQ spice rub, and chili powder (if using) to a blender or food processor and process until smooth.
Then, go ahead and preheat the oven to 425°F.
Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet.
If you don’t have a rack that fits on your baking sheet, you can skip this step. Just place the drumsticks directly on the parchment paper.
Pat the chicken drumstick skin dry with a paper towel and place it in a bowl. Drizzle each drumstick with mustard and rub it in with your hands.
Add the remaining BBQ spice rub and gently toss to combine, pressing the spice rub into the chicken skin.
Place the seasoned drumsticks on the wire rack, spray with avocado oil, and place in the oven. Bake for 40 minutes.
Remove the chicken from the oven and turn the heat to broil on high. Baste the chicken with BBQ sauce and return it to the oven. Broil for 2 to 3 minutes until nice and crispy.
Remove from the oven, serve with additional BBQ sauce, and enjoy!
Other BBQ Favorites:
- Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Sandwich with Cabbage Slaw
- Easy Fall Off the Bone Oven-Baked Ribs
- Barbecue Braised Chicken Tacos with Avocado Corn Salsa
- Oven Baked Juicy BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Honey Garlic Drumsticks
PEACH BBQ SAUCE CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS
Ingredients
For the BBQ Rub:
- ¼ cup smoked paprika
- 3 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
For the Chicken:
- 2 ½ – 3 pounds chicken drumsticks
- 3 tablespoons yellow mustard
- Avocado oil spray
For the Peach BBQ Sauce:
- 1 large fresh ripe peach, peeled and sliced
- 8 ounces ketchup
- 3 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 3 tablespoons BBQ spice rub (from the recipe above)
- ½ teaspoon chili powder (omit for no spice)
Instructions
Make the BBQ Spice Rub:
- Add the BBQ Rub ingredients (paprika, coconut sugar, garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, and cumin) to a small bowl and stir to combine. Set aside.
Make the Peach BBQ Sauce:
- Add the BBQ Sauce ingredients (peach, ketchup, coconut sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, 3 tablespoons of BBQ spice rub, and chili powder) to a blender or food processor and process until smooth.
Make the Chicken Drumsticks:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet. Note, if you don’t have a rack that fits on your baking sheet, you can skip this step as it just helps with crisping the skin.
- Pat the chicken drumstick skin dry with a paper towel and place it in a bowl. Drizzle with mustard and rub it in with your hands. Add the remaining BBQ spice rub and gently toss to combine, pressing the spice rub into the chicken skin.
- Place the seasoned chicken on the wire rack, spray with avocado oil, and place in the oven. Bake for 40 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and turn the heat to broil on high. Baste the chicken with BBQ sauce and return it to the oven. Broil for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, serve with additional BBQ sauce, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
