There are some suppers that earn a regular place at the table simply because they are easy, thrifty, and dependable, and this 4-Ingredient Oven Chicken is one of them. Drumsticks are a fine old-fashioned family meal, and when you bake them with a few pantry staples, they come out tender, savory, and deeply comforting with hardly any fuss at all. This is the sort of recipe that suits a busy weeknight just as well as a Sunday evening, and it reminds me of the practical Midwestern way of cooking: make something hearty, make it stretch, and make it taste like home.
This chicken goes wonderfully with mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, rice, or a simple pan of roasted vegetables. For a true supper-table spread, add green beans, corn, or a crisp cabbage slaw to balance the richness. A biscuit or slice of bread on the side is mighty nice too, especially for sopping up the flavorful juices from the baking dish.
4-Ingredient Oven Chicken
Servings: 4 to 6
Ingredients
8 raw chicken drumsticks
1 packet dry onion soup mix
1 cup ketchup
1 cup cola
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch glass baking dish and arrange the raw chicken drumsticks in a single layer.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the dry onion soup mix, ketchup, and cola until well blended.
3. Pour the sauce evenly over the drumsticks, turning them once if needed so they are well coated.
4. Bake uncovered for 45 to 55 minutes, basting once or twice during cooking, until the chicken is tender and cooked through and the sauce has thickened and turned glossy.
5. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving, then spoon some of the pan sauce over the top.
Variations & Tips
Make it sweeter and stickier: If your family likes that old-fashioned sweet-and-savory flavor, use a barbecue sauce in place of part of the ketchup. The chicken will bake up darker, richer, and a little more finger-licking sticky.
Use thighs if needed: This same simple sauce works nicely with bone-in chicken thighs. Just keep an eye on the baking time, as larger pieces may need a little longer to become fully tender.
Add a little color: A sprinkle of chopped parsley at the end freshens the dish and gives the platter a prettier look, especially if you are serving company or bringing supper straight to the table.
Watch the sauce near the end: Because of the sugar in the cola and ketchup, the sauce can darken quickly in the last stretch of baking. If it seems to be getting too brown before the chicken is done, loosely tent the dish with foil.
Make cleanup easy: A glass baking dish is perfect for this recipe, but be sure not to crowd the drumsticks. Giving them a little room helps the heat circulate so the sauce thickens better and the chicken cooks more evenly.