Simple dinners are the best ones to make! If you’re looking for more chicken recipes, try these Air Fryer Honey Garlic Marinated Chicken Thighs, they are super tasty! Or Frozen Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer, made with pickle juice and a homemade Panko breading.
Easy Baked Chicken Legs
These oven-baked chicken drumsticks are seasoned with smoky paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and just a touch of brown sugar for a flavorful savory-sweet coating. When you follow this recipe, you’ll get crispy skin and juicy meat, every single time.
Serve these crispy baked chicken legs with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, rice, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, or a fresh green salad. They also make a tasty addition to a casual holiday meal or potluck spread, especially alongside comforting sides like green beans, cornbread, and creamy potato salad.
Baked Chicken Leg Ingredients
- Spices: My combination of smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper is perfect on chicken.
- Sugar: Use dark or light brown sugar for a rich, caramelized flavor.
- Chicken Legs: Of course you’ll need some chicken legs – with skin on.
- Oil: Use your favorite oil for roasting.
How to Make Baked Chicken Legs Recipe
Here are the basic instructions to make baked chicken legs. Check out the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post with full ingredients and instructions to make it.
Cooking Tips and Tricks
- Pat the chicken legs very dry. Moisture is the enemy of crispy skin, so use paper towels to dry each drumstick well before tossing it with oil and seasoning.
- Rub the spices everywhere. Coat the chicken legs evenly, and gently lift any loose skin to work a little smoky paprika seasoning underneath. This adds flavor to every bite and helps create that deliciously seasoned crust.
- Use a meat thermometer for perfectly tender drumsticks. Insert it into the thickest part of the meat without touching the bone. Chicken is safe once it reaches 165°F, but drumsticks are especially tender and flavorful when cooked to about 175–185°F.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy Cajun Chicken Legs: Replace the Italian seasoning with Cajun seasoning and add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a bold, lightly spicy flavor. Serve with ranch dressing or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
- BBQ Baked Chicken Drumsticks: Prepare and bake the chicken legs as directed, then brush them with your favorite barbecue sauce during the last 10 minutes of baking. This creates a sticky, sweet, and smoky finish.jerseygirlcooks+1
- Lemon Herb Chicken Legs: Swap the smoked paprika and brown sugar for lemon zest, extra Italian seasoning, and a little dried thyme or rosemary. Finish the baked drumsticks with fresh lemon juice for a bright, fresh flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do chicken legs take to bake at 425°F? Chicken legs usually take about 40–45 minutes to bake at 425°F. For even browning and crispy skin, turn the drumsticks once about halfway through the cooking time.
What temperature should baked chicken legs be cooked to? Use an instant-read meat thermometer in the thickest part of the drumstick, avoiding the bone. Poultry is safe at 165°F, but chicken legs are usually more tender when cooked to 175–185°F.
How to Store & Reheat
How to store it? Let the chicken legs cool slightly, then transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. For faster, safer cooling, use a shallow container rather than stacking a large amount of hot chicken together.
How to reheat it? For the best crispy skin, reheat chicken legs in a 350°F oven or air fryer until hot all the way through, usually about 10–15 minutes depending on their size. Add a splash of water or chicken broth to the baking dish and cover loosely with foil if you are more concerned with keeping the meat extra moist than the skin crisp.
You can also microwave them in short intervals, turning halfway through, but the skin will not stay as crisp. Reheat leftover chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F before serving.
How to freeze it? Cool the cooked chicken legs, then wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap or foil, or place them in a freezer-safe airtight container or zip-top bag. Label with the date and freeze for up to 2–6 months for best quality. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating, or reheat from frozen if needed, allowing extra time for the chicken to heat through.
Try these other recipes!
- Ground Beef and Broccoli
- Hamburger Soup
- Carne Guisada
- Tuna White Bean Casserole
- Almond Flour Chicken Tenders
If you’ve tried this baked chicken drumstick recipe, don’t forget to give me a star rating and leave me a comment below in the comment section. I love to hear from people who have made my recipes.
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Baked Chicken Legs
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 8 large chicken legs
- 1 1/2 tablespoons oil
Instructions
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Pre-heat oven to 425°F. Line a 13×9-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a small mixing bowl, mix together all of the seasonings, set aside.
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Pat the drumsticks very dry with paper towels. This is important for getting crispy skin.
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Place 8 drumsticks in a large bowl. Drizzle on the oil and rub in to fully coat.
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Next, sprinkle on the seasoning. Rub it all over the chicken, even underneath any loose skin.
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Place drumsticks on the prepared baking sheet.
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Bake for about 40 – 45 minutes, turning the drumsticks once around halfway through.
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They’re done when the thickest part reaches at least 175 -185°F with an electric thermometer at the thickest point but not touching the bone. Make sure to cook it past the normal 165°F recommendation for chicken, dark meat needs to cook longer.
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Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes
- Use a meat thermometer for perfectly tender drumsticks. Insert it into the thickest part of the meat without touching the bone. Chicken is safe once it reaches 165°F, but drumsticks are especially tender and flavorful when cooked to about 175–185°F.
- Spicy Cajun Chicken Legs: Replace the Italian seasoning with Cajun seasoning and add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a bold, lightly spicy flavor. Serve with ranch dressing or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.
Nutrition Information
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