This Baked Chicken Legs recipe makes crispy chicken drumsticks with tender, juicy meat in 30 minutes. 5-minute prep and hands-free baking make it perfect for any cooking skill level, even on busy weeknights. Includes instructions on how long to bake chicken legs at various oven temperatures.
6Chicken Leg Drumstickspatted dry with a paper towel
1Lemon (cut into wedges)for garnish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together OLIVE OIL, PAPRIKA, GARLIC POWDER, SALT, and PEPPER. Pour over CHICKEN LEGS and toss until they are well-coated.
Place chicken legs on a coated baking sheet with space between each.
Bake 20-25 minutes. Insert an instant-read thermometer next to the bone to confirm a 165° F minimum internal temperature. Transfer chicken legs to a serving platter and allow a 5-minute rest before serving.
Serve warm, garnished with LEMON WEDGES.
Allow chicken drumsticks to cool and store in an airtight container up to 5 days.
Video
Notes
Chicken Drumstick Recipe FAQ
Can I use frozen chicken legs for this chicken drumstick recipe?Baking frozen chicken legs are not recommended for this recipe unless they are completely thawed before baking.Should I rinse chicken legs before baking?I do not recommend rinsing uncooked chicken. They reason for this is that it actually creates more work. Raw chicken contaminates kitchen surfaces and your hands, which must be disinfected to avoid risk of food born illness from. So, skip the extra chores and just get that chicken seasoned and into the oven.Do I need to cover my chicken legs when baking?No. It's not necessary to cover the pan for this chicken leg recipe. In fact, leaving the legs uncovered results in crispier skin.How long to bake chicken legsThe golden rule is ... 165°F minimum internal temp of chicken drumsticks will be your ultimate guide, but you can use these times/temps as a starting point:
425°F or 400°F for 20-25 minutes
350°F or 375°F for 25-30 minutes
300°F or 325°F for 30-40 minutes
What if my chicken drumsticks didn’t reach 165°F on the meat thermometer after following the suggested time?Sometimes, this happens and it's easy to remedy by simply baking the chicken drumsticks in (additional) 5 minutes intervals to reach the 165°F minimum temperature.