Oven Baked Chicken Legs ( Juicy! )

Name: Oven Baked Chicken Legs ( Juicy! )
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 8 skin-on chicken drumsticks; 1/3 cup olive oil; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 2 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard; 1 teaspoon rosemary; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 tabespoon chopped parsley

Jump to Recipe

The simplest way to quickly put dinner on the table is with Baked Chicken Legs! These baked chicken legs have perfectly crispy skin and are incredibly juicy! They are simple, delicious, and the ideal "emergency" meal for times when you don't want to worry about "what's for dinner?"

Overhead view of baked chicken legs in a dish.

My recipe for baked chicken legs is easy enough for anybody to follow, and it produces perfectly seasoned, juicy chicken with crispy skin! They are easy, high in protein, and popular with both adults and children. To help everything crisp up in the oven, I season mine with a basic combination of pantry spices (smoked paprika, garlic and onion powder, an Italian seasoning, rosemary, ground mustard, salt, and pepper) and oil. It's also quite adaptable; you can serve it on game day, double or quadruple the recipe for a large gathering, or even add a little heat.

Main Ingredients

You most likely already have all the spice ingredients in your pantry because this recipe is so simple! You'll need the following ingredients:

baked chicken leg ingredients spread out on a white counter.

Chicken - Keep the bones in and the skin on! For the greatest moist texture and flavor, I like to use skin-on, bone-in chicken. The crispy, delicious skin keeps the inside juicy.
Seasoning - A basic combination of kosher salt, rosemary, ground mustard, Italian spice, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, and garlic powder can be used.
Olive oil - A small amount is combined with the spices to make a paste that helps the seasonings adhere to the skin and give it the golden, crisp skin that we adore.

How To Make Baked Chicken Legs

Turn the oven on to 425 degrees. Apply nonstick cooking spray on a baking sheet. Put aside.
To help the chicken legs become crispy, pat them dry with paper towels. Transfer to a bowl or a plastic bag that can be sealed. Toss to coat after adding oil.

Seasoned chicken legs in a large sauce pan.

To make a paste, mix the oil, salt, and spices in a small basin. After adding the prepared seasoning to the drumsticks, toss to coat them evenly with oil and spices. To ensure that the chicken is thoroughly seasoned, shut and shake.

Drumsticks should be placed on the baking sheet. Place the chicken in the oven and let it bake for forty minutes.
until the interior temperature reaches 165 degrees, flipping halfway through. To make the skin of the chicken drumsticks more crispy, place them under the broiler for a few minutes.
Before serving, give the chicken five minutes to rest.

Expert Tips

To get rid of any moisture, pat the chicken dry using a paper towel. This, in my opinion, makes the chicken more crispy by helping the oil adhere to it. If I omit this step, I can truly see the difference.
After frying, let the drumsticks five minutes to rest. This facilitates the meat absorbing all of the juice and taste.
The skin is indeed made crisp by the high temperature. They will be ready in approximately 40 to 45 minutes if you bake them uncovered on the baking sheet without turning them.
If necessary, broil at the end. Put your roasted chicken legs under the broiler for a few minutes if they're not quite crispy enough. Keep a tight eye on them to prevent burning!
Flip Halfway Through Baking: After the chicken legs have cooked for 45 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and turn the meat over so that the sauce-covered bottom is now on top. This will ensure that all of the meat-top and bottom-is sticky, saucy, and delicious!

How Long To Bake Chicken Legs

The size of the drumsticks will determine this precise time. When cooked at 425 degrees, they usually take no more than 45 minutes. The chicken skin won't get crispy if our oven isn't hot enough, and nobody likes rubbery chicken skin! Your chicken legs are ready to eat when the meat reaches 165 degrees, which should happen in approximately 45 minutes. However, cooking chicken legs a little bit longer produces meat that is soft and falls off the bone. Naturally, you should always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your chicken.

Serving suggestions

To be honest, you may serve these tasty chicken legs with any vegetable you like. I adore serving this dish for chicken legs with:

Storing & Reheating

Any leftover chicken legs can be kept in the fridge for up to three to four days in an airtight bag or container. Additionally, they freeze nicely for up to four months.
Place them in an air fryer basket and cook for five minutes at 350ºF to reheat. The bones will be extremely hot to the touch, so let them cool for a few minutes before touching them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long to Bake Chicken Legs?

I bake chicken legs for about 45 minutes at 425-degrees Fahrenheit, or until the internal temperature is at least 165 degrees. I also broil them for one to two minutes when I want crispier skin. Before serving, give the chicken five minutes to rest for the juiciest results.

How do you know when chicken legs are done?

Using a meat thermometer is the best way to determine when the chicken is done cooking. Before serving, make sure the internal temperature has reached a safe 165ºF by inserting the probe into the thicker portion of the leg. Another option is to simply cut into one and make sure it's cooked through. The fluids should run clear and the meat should be cooked all the way to the bone. However, I genuinely suggest getting a thermometer because it greatly simplifies life.

What is the best temperature to cook chicken legs?

Our preferred baking temperature for chicken drumsticks is 425 degrees. This keeps the inside of the chicken nice and juicy while allowing the skin to crisp up. Higher temperatures cause the skin to become slightly crispier, which is what I want.

If you tried this Juicy Baked Chicken Legs or any other recipe on my website, please feel free to leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. And remember to tag me on Instagram!