My easy-to-make baked chicken legs recipe will change how your family views chicken. These chicken drumsticks are juicy and tender on the inside and deliciously savory with every bite. Made with simple ingredients and oven baked to perfection, resulting in crispy incredibly flavorful chicken legs. I know this is going to be one of your favorite chicken recipes!
With only 10 minutes of prep you’ll turn ordinary chicken drumsticks into an extraordinary meal! My easy baked chicken legs recipe will let you spend time with your family instead of in the kitchen prepping ingredients.
And they couldn’t be easier to make! All you have to do is coat the chicken legs with the olive oil spice mixture and bake them for about 40 minutes. The secret is getting them extra crispy is high heat.
If you love crispy baked chicken, check out my recipe for chicken leg quarters. And if you’re in the mood for more chicken, my baked BBQ chicken drumsticks and chicken parmesan recipe is sure to please!
Ingredients
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Baked Chicken Drumsticks. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
Can I Use Chicken Thighs To Make This Recipe?
Yes, you can. I suggest using bone-in chicken thighs. I prefer skin-on chicken for this type of dish. The skin serves as a layer of protection to prevent the meat from drying out and creates a crispy exterior. That’s a win-win!
You can also use whole chicken legs with the thigh attached (chicken quarters).
If you love baked chicken try my Oven Roasted Blackened Chicken.
How to Bake Chicken Legs
Follow along with my simple instructions to see how to bake chicken legs in your own kitchen.
Add the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and black pepper to a small mixing bowl.
Using a fork, blend the spices together.
Add the olive oil to the spices and blend them together.
- Allow the chicken legs to come to room temperature
- Using a pastry brush (or your hands) coat the chicken legs with the seasoning oil mixture. Make sure to coat the entire drumstick.
- Place the chicken legs in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet, making sure to leave room between the drumsticks.
*To get really crispy skin you need to thoroughly dry the chicken before applying the oil and seasonings. Use paper towels to pat dry the chicken legs. Removing the excess moisture from the skin will allow you to get that perfectly crispy skin.
Chef Dennis Tip
When it comes to cooking chicken, we always hear to cook to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F. That’s common knowledge these days and stands true for white meat chicken.
But when it comes to dark meat, chicken legs, thighs, or a leg quarter, the magic number is 185°Fahrenheit. Letting the dark meat cook to that temperature lets the collagens within the meat break down, creating the juicy “fall-off-the-bone” tenderness that everyone loves.
- Bake the chicken legs for 30 minutes at 400 degrees on the middle rack of your oven.
- Brush the legs with the oil that has gathered on the tray and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, until crispy (cooking time may vary).
*If you use an instant-read thermometer the internal temperature must be at least 165 degrees, (but we’re shooting for 185 degrees for optimal tenderness). At this temperature and time, they should be well above that internal temp.
When it comes to chicken recipes, simple ingredients tend to yield the best results, making these crispy chicken legs a dish the whole family will love!
Can I use different seasonings on the chicken legs?
Absolutely! Use your favorite premade seasoning blends or create your own blend using the spices with the flavor profiles you enjoy eating.
Some of my favorite spice blends for seasoning these crispy baked chicken drumsticks are Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, old bay, barbecue seasoning and jerk seasoning.
Recipe FAQs
No, you shouldn’t cover the chicken legs. The skin needs to brown and get crispy. Covering the chicken during the entire cooking process will steam the chicken instead of roasting it.
You sure can. Overcooking the chicken will dry it out and make it tough. Check on the chicken legs after 30 minutes since all ovens are different.
Using a meat thermometer check the internal temperature of the chicken legs. The chicken needs to reach a minimum temperature of 165 degrees.
Yes, you can.
Coat the chicken drumsticks with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Mix the seasonings together. Toss the chicken legs with the seasoning.
Spray the seasoned chicken legs with olive oil spray.
Place the drumsticks into the air fryer basket, making sure not to crowd them.
Cook at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.
Flip the drumsticks and cook for another 10 minutes.
Remove and serve immediately.
More Chicken Recipes You’ll Love!
Baked Chicken Legs Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 skin-on chicken drumsticks approx. 2 pounds total weight
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sea salt cut back to 1 teaspoon if you're not a fan of salt.
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked or sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon dry mustard optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Add the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and black pepper to a small mixing bowl.
- Using a fork, blend the spices together.
- Add the olive oil to the spices and blend them together.
- Allow the chicken legs to come to room temperature.
- Using a pastry brush (or your hands) coat the chicken legs with the seasoning oil mixture. Make sure to coat the entire drumstick
- Place the chicken legs in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet, making sure to leave room between the drumsticks.
- Bake the chicken legs for 30 minutes at 400 degrees on the middle rack of your oven.
- Brush the legs with the oil that has gathered on the tray and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, until crispy (cooking time may vary).
- *If you use an instant-read thermometer the internal temperature must be at least 165 degrees. At this temperature and time, they should be well above that internal temp
Notes
- Coat the chicken drumsticks with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- Mix the seasonings together. Toss the chicken legs with the seasoning. Spray the seasoned chicken legs with olive oil spray.
- Place the drumsticks into the air fryer basket, making sure not to crowd them.
- Cook at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Flip the drumsticks and cook for another 10 minutes. Remove and serve immediately.
Dixie Saltzgaver says
Just got done with dinner. This recipe is a super winner!!! Perfect. Crispy and juicy. It’s a keeper.
Chef Dennis Littley says
That’s what I like to hear!
Kay Etling says
Baking huge legs now. Having fun.
Patti says
So yummy! This recipe is a keeper!
Chef Dennis Littley says
That’s what I like to hear!!
Jen says
I’ve made these chicken drumsticks on numerous occasions, and my family love them!
Chef Dennis Littley says
Thanks for letting me know you’ve been enjoying my chicken leg recipe!
Kate says
This recipe is delicious!!
Chef Dennis Littley says
That is what I like to hear!
G. Hart says
Yum! Shared recipe with all my friends!
Chef Dennis Littley says
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the chicken legs!
Darlene says
Great recipe!
Solveig says
This was really good! I ended up doing all of the recommended seasonings (measured with the heart lol) added around 2 Tbsp of brown sugar, 1 tbsp of Kinders garlic and herb seasoning and around 3 tsp of some poultry seasoning. Tasted like bbq chicken without the mess of the sauce. Honestly the best chicken drumsticks I’ve made to date. Thanks for the great recipe!
Chef Dennis Littley says
You are very welcome! I keep hearing about Kinders seasonings, I’m going to have to order some to try. Thanks for the great comment and review!
sha says
Wow. Great chicken leg recipe. Although I find it easier to put each into the spice oil mixture-twirl to coat all over (hold on to top of leg). Then put onto baking sheet. I line mine with the nonstick foil. That way skin doesn’t come off. Next time I’m going to use a rack set in a lipped baking sheet (spray with cooking spray). That way bottom won’t be soggy.
JW says
Can these be prepped ahead and refrigerated?
Chef Dennis Littley says
Yes, they can. You can prep them up to 24 hours ahead of time.
Julia M says
What about reducing oven temperature to 350 degrees?
Chef Dennis Littley says
You can do that,they will just take longer to cook and won’t be as crispy
Linda Robinson says
Made this plan to make them again. Didn’t have onion powder so I used onion butter seasoning instead and added a tablespoon of chili powder. was really good.
Chef Dennis Littley says
Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed my chicken legs recipe, and I’m happy to hear you were able to adjust the seasonings to with what you had on hand.
Denise says
I want to make these with the skin removed Any ideas or tips to help
Chef Dennis Littley says
You can use skinless legs. The rub will actually penetrate the meat more that way. They’re not going to get crispy without the skin, and the meat won’t be protected without the skin so you may want to cover the pan with foil for about half of the baking time to keep them moist.