1. Preheat Your Oven and Prepare the Baking Sheet: Start by preheating your oven to 400 F (200 C). Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup. If you have a wire rack that fits inside the baking sheet, place it on top of the foil. This helps air circulate around the drumsticks, promoting crispier skin.

2. Pat the Chicken Dry: Remove the chicken drumsticks from their packaging and pat them thoroughly dry with paper towels. This step is crucial for achieving crispy skin and helping the seasonings adhere better. Don’t skip it!

3. Season the Drumsticks: In a large bowl, drizzle the olive oil over the dried drumsticks. Sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Use your hands to toss and rub the seasonings evenly over all surfaces of the chicken.

4. Arrange on the Baking Sheet: Place the seasoned drumsticks in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet (or on the wire rack, if using). Make sure there’s a little space between each drumstick so they can cook evenly and get nicely browned.

5. Initial Baking: Bake the drumsticks in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. This initial bake helps the chicken cook through and renders some of the fat before the sauce is applied.

6. Apply BBQ Sauce and Continue Baking: After 20 minutes, carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven. Using a pastry brush or spoon, generously coat each drumstick with about half of your BBQ sauce. Return the drumsticks to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes.

7. Second Sauce Application and Final Bake: Remove the baking sheet again. Apply the remaining BBQ sauce, ensuring all drumsticks are well coated. Bake for a final 5-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the drumsticks reaches 165 F (74 C) using a meat thermometer, and the sauce is caramelized and slightly sticky.

8. Rest Before Serving: Once cooked, remove the drumsticks from the oven and let them rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in more tender and flavorful chicken.