When you need supper to come together without a fuss, this 5-Ingredient Oven Chicken is the kind of dependable dish that earns a regular place in the meal rotation. It uses humble chicken drumsticks and a handful of refrigerator staples to make a savory, comforting pan of baked chicken with plenty of flavor and hardly any work. This is the sort of practical oven supper that feels right at home in a Midwestern kitchen, where simple ingredients and a hot oven have long been the answer to feeding hungry folks well.
Serve these drumsticks with mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, rice, or a scoop of stuffing to catch the juices from the baking dish. A green bean side dish, sweet corn, a crisp cucumber salad, or a pan of roasted carrots all go nicely alongside, and a piece of warm bread or a biscuit makes the meal feel especially complete.
5-Ingredient Oven Chicken
Servings: 4 to 6
Ingredients
8 raw chicken drumsticks
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup diced onion
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch glass casserole dish if desired for easier cleanup.
2. Arrange the raw chicken drumsticks in the casserole dish in a single layer. Scatter the diced onion around and over the chicken.
3. In a medium bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth and evenly blended.
4. Spoon the sauce over the drumsticks and use the back of the spoon to coat them as evenly as possible.
5. Bake uncovered for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the chicken is deeply golden, the juices run clear, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
6. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving, then spoon some of the pan juices and onions over the top.
Variations & Tips
Add a little seasoning: If your pantry allows for it, a sprinkle of black pepper, garlic powder, or paprika over the drumsticks before the sauce goes on will give the chicken even more depth. Even with a short ingredient list, a touch of seasoning can make the whole dish taste a little fuller.
Use thighs or mixed chicken pieces: This same method works nicely with bone-in chicken thighs or a mix of drumsticks and thighs. Just be sure the pieces are arranged in a single layer and cooked until they reach a safe internal temperature.
Broil for extra color: If you like a little more browning on top, place the dish under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes at the end. Watch it closely so the sauce does not burn, and pull it out as soon as the tops turn richly browned.
Make cleanup easy: A glass casserole dish works beautifully here because you can mix and bake in one pan. Let the pan soak in warm soapy water after supper, and any baked-on sauce should come off much easier.