Juicy and Flavorful Baked Chicken Legs: A Deliciously Simple Recipe

Looking for a foolproof recipe that will guarantee juicy, crispy chicken legs? Look no further than these Oven Baked Chicken Legs! Boasting a deliciously moist interior and a mouthwateringly crispy exterior, they are sure to be a hit with the whole family. Best of all? This recipe requires minimal effort and no breading!

To make this recipe, start by seasoning your chicken legs with a blend of dry seasonings. We recommend using a mix of kosher salt, oregano, paprika, black pepper, and garlic powder, but feel free to adjust the seasoning to suit your taste buds. Once seasoned, bake your chicken legs in the oven at 425-degrees for roughly 40 minutes, flipping them halfway through cooking. Before you know it, you'll have a delicious, well-balanced meal on your hands!

One of the best things about this recipe is that you can pair your baked chicken legs with a variety of sides for a truly satisfying meal. We recommend serving them alongside roasted sweet potatoes, delicata squash, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts to really make the flavors pop!

🛒 Ingredients needed:

- Chicken drumsticks: Keep the skin on and the bones in! We suggest using around 2 pounds of drumsticks per family of four.

- Dry seasonings: Kosher salt, oregano, paprika, black pepper, and garlic powder.

- Olive oil: A little goes a long way in creating a paste to help the seasonings stick to the skin.

📋 How to make oven baked chicken legs:

1. Preheat your oven to 425-degrees.

2. Season your chicken legs with your preferred dry seasonings.

3. Arrange your chicken legs on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.

4. Bake your chicken legs for 20 minutes, then flip them and continue baking for an additional 20-25 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165-degrees.

5. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

🌟 Recipe tips:

• - Take your chicken drumsticks out of the fridge 10-15 minutes before cooking to allow them to come up to room temperature.
• - Pat your chicken drumsticks dry with a paper towel before applying the seasoning paste to ensure maximum crispiness.
• - Make sure to leave enough space between your chicken drumsticks on the baking sheet to ensure even cooking.
• 🍽 Serving suggestions:

Pair your oven baked chicken legs with a variety of delicious sides for a truly satisfying meal. Try them with roasted sweet potatoes, delicata squash, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or check out our list of the "50 Best Sides for Chicken" for more ideas!

👨‍🍳 Personalize Your Recipe

If you're not in the mood for the seasoning blend suggested in the recipe card, you can experiment with any of these seasoning blends instead:

Looking to spice up your chicken drumsticks? Why not try some exciting flavors to make your chicken legs taste like your favorite chicken wings. You can either toss your cooked chicken legs in one of these tasty flavors or serve them as a side dish:

ℹ️ Common Questions

How long should I cook chicken legs in the oven? The cooking time will depend on the size of your drumsticks. Generally, they don't take more than 45 minutes when cooked at 425 degrees.

How can I tell if my chicken legs are done? The easiest way to test if your chicken is fully cooked is by using a meat thermometer and checking the internal temperature of the thickest part of the drumstick. The temperature should reach at least 165ºF before you serve it. If the meat is cooked but the skin isn't crispy enough, continue cooking the chicken legs up to 190ºF. This will give you that perfect crispy skin without losing the juicy texture inside.

🕕 How to Store and Reheat

Make sure to let your chicken legs cool down completely before storing them in an airtight, shallow container. You can store them in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or freeze them for up to 4 months.

When reheating, preheat your oven to 400 degrees and bake the chicken for 15 minutes. This will make the skin crisp again and warm the meat through.

🍷 Recommended Wine Pairings for Drumsticks

If you tried this recipe and loved it, please take a moment to give it a star review! Also, don't forget to snap a photo of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram. Use the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tag me @platingsandpairings.

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🍗 More Chicken Guides You May Find Helpful

- 1 tablespoon of olive oil

- 8 pieces of chicken drumsticks (approximately 2 and a half pounds)

- 2 teaspoons of kosher salt

- 2 teaspoons of oregano

- 2 teaspoons of paprika

- 2 teaspoons of black pepper

- 2 teaspoons of garlic powder

Preheating the oven to 425 degrees is the first step in whipping up a flavorful batch of chicken drumsticks. Start by combining a mix of salt, spices, and oil in a small bowl to create a rich and zesty paste. Then, coat each drumstick generously with the paste to infuse the meat with layers of delicious flavor.

To ensure the perfect bake, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray it with cooking spray. Arrange the coated drumsticks on the baking sheet and cook for 40-45 minutes. Make sure to flip the drumsticks over halfway through cooking to evenly distribute the heat and cook to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Before cooking, get the drumsticks out of the fridge and allow them to temper for 10-15 minutes. This step ensures that the meat cooks quickly and evenly, resulting in mouthwatering tenderness. Be sure to pat the legs completely dry with a paper towel before applying the seasoning paste. This will help the seasoning stick to the chicken while also preventing steaming, preserving the skin's crispy texture.

After cooking, let the drumsticks rest for 5 minutes to soak up every last drop of juicy and flavorful goodness. For a chance to be featured, remember to mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings in your post.

Macros per serving: Calories - 285kcal | Carbohydrates - 3g | Protein - 27g | Fat - 18g | Saturated Fat - 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat - 3g | Monounsaturated Fat - 8g | Trans Fat - 0.1g | Cholesterol - 139mg | Sodium - 1322mg | Potassium - 405mg | Fiber - 1g | Sugar - 0.2g | Vitamin A - 585IU | Vitamin C - 0.1mg | Calcium - 40mg | Iron - 2mg.

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