Easy Baked Chicken Legs (Drumsticks)

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Crispy golden baked chicken legs are fall-apart juicy and tender. Quick prep and hands-off baking make these deliciously seasoned chicken drumsticks a family dinner win!

Why you'll love baked chicken drumsticks

Convenience - Baked chicken legs require 5 minutes of active prep and 30 minutes of hands-off baking, giving you time to prepare a salad or side dish. It's perfect for busy people of all cooking levels.

Family-loved - Kids go crazy for crispy chicken drumsticks, which makes everyone happy. Countless people have thanked me for rescuing their last-minute family dinner with these chicken legs.

Budget-friendly - Chicken legs are the most affordable part of a chicken. Since this recipe only requires simple pantry ingredients, your grocery dollars go even further.

So much flavor - The dark meat portion of chicken is naturally so juicy and tender. The delectable results are built-in, making baked chicken legs a fail-proof recipe for beginner cooks.

Minimal planning - The only plan you need is to have chicken legs on hand. After that, it takes 5 minutes to combine seasonings, coat the drumsticks, and push them into a preheated oven.

Nutritious - Oven-baked chicken legs are a naturally low-carb, high-protein entree.

Key Ingredients

You'll find the ingredient amounts in the full recipe below.

• Chicken legs - These are also called chicken drumsticks.
• Olive oil - You only need a tiny amount because the chicken skin renders fat while they bake and provides the same benefit of oil.
• Paprika - Use sweet paprika for the family-friendly version, or use smoked paprika for a bolder flavor. Sweet paprika is the more common of the two.
• Granulated garlic - This magical pantry ingredient makes for convenient prep, yet packs so much savory garlic flavor.
• Sea salt and black pepper - Essential seasonings for chicken legs.

How to bake chicken legs in the oven

Step 1: (optional) Let cold chicken legs rest (temper) for about 20 minutes at room temperature. This reduces total baking time and brings chicken to the desired temperature more efficiently.

Step 2: Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove excess moisture from the surface of chicken drumsticks with a dry paper towel. This helps the skin become crispier as it bakes.

Step 3: Add oil and spices to a mixing bowl, whisk to combine, and thoroughly coat chicken legs. This chicken seasoning adds so much flavor!

Make-ahead tip: Refrigerate the seasoned drumsticks in an airtight container for up to 24 hours before baking. I recommend letting them rest (temper) at room temperature for about 20 minutes to remove the chill before baking.

Step 4: Place chicken legs on a prepared baking sheet a few inches apart. Bake on the center oven rack of the preheated oven, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes, or until they reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit with a meat thermometer.

Step 5: Rest the baked chicken legs for about 5 minutes at room temperature while carryover cooking occurs. You can loosely cover them until you're ready to serve.

What is the proper temperature for cooked chicken?

Chicken legs must reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before serving.

Pro tip: Never assume the internal temperature of cooked chicken. Insert a meat thermometer next to the bone for the most accurate reading. The best visual cue is when you cut into the leg meat closest to the bone – the juices should run clear, and the meat should easily separate from the bone.

How long to bake chicken legs

To reach the safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, here's a basic guide for how long to bake chicken legs at different temperatures.

• Bake chicken legs at 425° or 400° for 20-25 minutes
• Bake chicken legs at 350° or 375° for 25-30 minutes
• Bake chicken legs at 300° or 325° for 30-40 minutes

Cooking tips for success

The size of chicken legs will affect the cooking time, so I recommend selecting legs that are similar in size.

An accurate oven temperature can make or break intended results. So, I recommend using an oven thermometer to always check the temperature reading before placing food into the oven.

You might like to bake chicken legs longer for crispier skin and a deeper golden color. Keep the internal temperature under 190 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent drying them out.

How to make chicken legs crispy

If you like extra crispy chicken legs, you have two options with this recipe:

Option #1: Bake chicken legs at a higher temperature, around 400 to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. A lower temp like 350 degrees Fahrenheit won't result in crispy skin, but it will still be juicy and delicious.

Option #2: At the end of the baking cycle, switch your oven from bake to broil and place chicken legs 8 inches away from the broiler until the skin is crispy to your liking, flipping as needed.

FAQ

Storage instructions

Allow chicken to cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You can freeze these drumsticks for up to 90 days (or longer if vacuum sealed). If frozen, transfer to the refrigerator for an overnight thaw before reheating.

What to serve with chicken legs

Roasted mushrooms always pair nicely with chicken legs. Enjoy a comforting potato dish with baked chicken, such as a classic red potato salad with dill, Instant Pot mashed potatoes, smashed potatoes, or loaded baked potato salad.

You'll always win with a pasta side like Instant Pot mac and cheese or macaroni salad. My summer favorite is this mouthwatering pesto tortellini salad. This shaved Brussels sprout salad is a fall favorite!

More chicken recipes for your family dinner

• Juicy Baked Chicken Thighs
• Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
• Chicken Fried Rice
• Baked Chicken Wings
• Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
• Chicken Penne Alla Vodka
• Crockpot Chicken Vegetable Soup

Did you make this Baked Chicken Legs recipe? I'd love to hear your feedback in the comments below!

📖 Recipe