Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks

Name: Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Ingredients: 10-12 chicken legs (✅); 1 ounce dry ranch dressing (✅Hidden Valley Ranch is gluten-free); 2 tablespoons Olive Oil; 1/2 cup buffalo sauce (✅)

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Our buffalo chicken drumsticks are seasoned, baked, coated in your favorite buffalo sauce, then broiled to perfection. With just 4 ingredients these are a simple dinner that kids love. Gluten-free.

These buffalo chicken legs can be served as an appetizer or as a main entrée. Perfect for any occasion such as family gatherings, Super Bowl parties or potlucks. Seasoned with a dry ranch packet and buffalo sauce, family and friends are never disappointed!

buffalo chicken leg baked on a wire rack

Cooking gluten-free recipes can now be stress-free! Whether your kitchen is newly gluten-free or you are a seasoned pro, we are here to help navigate your way through a recipe. You may also enjoy our air fryer drumsticks recipe!

Have questions related to gluten-free ingredients or cooking? Leave a comment below the printable recipe card!

Start off this recipe by gathering the equipment and gluten-free ingredients. Double-check the labels on the chicken legs, dry ranch seasoning and buffalo sauce to ensure they are free of gluten-containing ingredients before preheating your oven.

Table of Contents

Ingredients

10-12 chicken legs
1 ounce dry ranch dressing
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup buffalo sauce

raw chicken legs coated with ranch seasoning

raw chicken legs placed on a wire rack over a baking pan

How To Make Buffalo Chicken Legs

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place the chicken legs into a large mixing bowl and pour dry ranch dressing and olive oil on top.

Pro Tip: For the ranch packet, we recommend Hidden Valley Ranch dry seasoning packets as a gluten-free option that is super flavorful.

Using clean hands, mix well until each chicken leg is coated.

Place seasoned chicken legs onto a wire rack lined baking sheet. Bake for 40 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165°F.

Pro Tip: When temping the chicken, you will want to insert the meat thermometer into the thickness portion of the chicken to ensure the chicken is completely cooked and safe to consume.

ranch chicken leg being dipped in gluten free buffalo sauce

Preheat the broiler on the oven then place buffalo sauce into another mixing bowl. For food safety, do not use the same mixing bowl as the raw chicken legs.

Using tongs, carefully coat the oven-baked drumsticks with buffalo sauce. After trying many brands, Sweet Baby Ray’s buffalo sauce is one gluten-free brand that is preferred in our home.

Place the chicken legs back onto the wire baking rack. Broil for 2-3 minutes or until the chicken starts to brown and the buffalo sauce is bubbly.

Tips and Tricks

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 450°F before you start preparing the chicken.
When mixing the dry ranch dressing and olive oil, consider adding a pinch of salt and pepper for flavor enhancement.

Baking:

Use a wire rack-lined baking sheet to allow for even cooking and crispy chicken.
Ensure the chicken legs reach an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.

Broiling:

Keep a close eye on the chicken when broiling to prevent burning. Broil until the chicken starts to brown and the buffalo sauce is bubbly.
Adjust the amount of buffalo sauce based on your preferred level of spiciness.

Serving:

Serve buffalo ranch chicken legs with celery sticks and a side of blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping.
Consider garnishing the dish with chopped fresh herbs like parsley or chives for presentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a wire rack necessary when baking?

The wire rack speeds up the cooking process as well as crisps the skin on the chicken. If this recipe is made without the wire rack, rotate the chicken legs every 10 minutes if crispy chicken is desired.

Any tips for easy cleanup?

Line the sheet pan with tin foil or parchment paper before adding the wire rack. After the chicken is baked and buffalo sauce is broiled, remove the foil or paper and discard then wash the sheet pan.

How should I serve the buffalo ranch chicken legs?

Serve the chicken legs hot. You can pair them with celery sticks and a side of blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping to enhance the flavor. Additionally, consider garnishing the dish with chopped fresh herbs like parsley or chives for presentation.

How To Serve

Serve hot as is by plating as an appetizer or as a main entrée. Pair with raw veggies, dipping sauces or another dish such as Cheesy Mashed Potato Bites, Velveeta Cheese Sauce Dip, or Greek Yogurt Spinach Dip for a complete meal.

How to use leftover drumsticks

Leftover chicken drumsticks can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days to enjoy reheated as a snack or meal.

Shred the chicken off the bone to serve in a corn taco shell with coleslaw
Add the meat to the top of a salad
Mix the buffalo chicken with gluten-free noodles for a twist on buffalo chicken pasta

More Easy Chicken Recipes

The possibilities are endless when it comes to cooking with chicken. Consider adding any or all of these recipes to the dinner rotation!

CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

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