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!
Audio Player
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.
Alleson Brown says
Great Recipes. Cannot wait to try them.
Caroline says
The spice mix was delicious. I used the dry mustard. There was a whole lot of spice mix. I just couldn’t use it all in that recipe. I saved the extra. I will make this again. Thank you.
Meredith says
10/10 recommend. My 9 year old love it and so did my husband. I followed the recipe exactly.
Joan says
Was something different for chicken. Was delicious.
Mary Ann says
Fixed this tonight. Yummy and easy. Will do again soon. Thank you Chef D.
Erin says
I’ve never been a drumstick or wing fan, but I’ve now made this recipe twice and it’s delicious!!
Veronica says
Great recipe. Quick and easy. A family favorite!
Jim McDonald London Ontario Canada says
lots of flavor chicken is tender and juicy and was easy to make.Iwill be doing this recipe over and over again. Jim
Bob says
My wife was never a fan of chicken legs but she loved this recipe! We’re definitely adding this to our favorites. Make sure you use the dried mustard! DELICIOUS! Thanks!
Chef Dennis Littley says
Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed the chicken legs, we love them at our house! I have a post for chicken leg quarters that is similar.
Diane says
I made this today, instead of shake & bake. Was so much better. I learned something new today. Thanks!!
Joan says
Made this recipe with 6 skinless chicken drumsticks. Great spice combination and they turned out so good! Juicy and tender. Thanks, Chef Dennis!
Lee witt says
At my age I. I no longer cook, but decided to try this recipe. Easily and delicious. I will make again.
Karen says
Made these chicken legs tonight and they were delicious. Followed the recipe exactly as written and it was a nice change from ‘boring’ chicken. Very tender and juicy.
Melinda M. says
Easy and delicious. My boys loved it! When they saw me take out the legs to baste with the sauce, I think they started drooling!
Amy C. says
I made this recipe last night. I kept all the seasonings the same but I cooked them on the smoker. They turned out amazing. Crispy and delicious! Thank you for this recipe!
Ali says
This recipe is a winner! My family absolutely loved it! The only change I made was I cut back on the dry mustard (by half) and it was perfect for us. We have added to our permanent food roster (at home and for camping) – thanks for sharing! So delicious!