Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup.

Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels. This helps the seasonings stick better and promotes crispier skin.

In a large bowl, toss the drumsticks with olive oil until evenly coated.

Mix the garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, then sprinkle over the drumsticks. Use your hands to massage the spices into the meat.

Arrange the seasoned drumsticks on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each piece for even cooking.

Bake for 25 minutes. The chicken will start to develop a nice golden color.

While the chicken bakes, prepare your barbecue sauce. If using store-bought, consider enhancing it with honey for sweetness or cayenne for heat.

After the initial 25 minutes, remove the drumsticks from the oven. Brush generously with barbecue sauce on all sides.

Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Apply another layer of barbecue sauce and bake for a final 5 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the sauce has caramelized.

For extra sticky drumsticks, brush with a final coating of barbecue sauce right after removing from the oven.

Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute.