Saturday, September 23, 2023

Bake Chicken Legs In Oven

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Easy Crock Pot Chicken Legs

Oven Baked BBQ Chicken The Right Way| Juicy and Delicious

Season: Mix the spices in a small bowl and then rub it all over the chicken legs.

Sauce: Place the chicken in the slow cooker and pour some of the sauce over the top. Turn the chicken pieces so they are evenly coated.

Slow Cook: Cook them on low for 5 to 6 hours. Or, you can cook them on high for 3 to 4 hours.

Is There A Defined Degree Of Doneness For Baked Chicken Legs

Raw meat is not safe for human consumption.They tend to carry worms and viruses that are that not immediately evident tothe human eyes. That is why you have to make sure to bake your chicken legs tothe minimum required degree of doneness.

For chicken, the required degree ofdoneness is 165 degrees F. Use a meat thermometer to check as that is morefoolproof. Its very easy to assume that chicken is done only to bring it outand see that it is all fresh on the inside.

If you are checking the doneness of bone-inchicken, make sure to take the thermometer close to the bone and meat aroundthe bone will take longer to cook.

Air Fryer Chicken Legs

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Air Fryer Chicken Legs are a quick and easy dinner recipe! These Chicken Drumsticks are tossed in olive oil and then a blend of seasonings before they are cooked. This gives them a delicious flavor and crispy skin!

Today its all about crispy chicken legs in your Air Fryer with a super simple spice rub. This is a weeknight-friendly way to switch up your chicken dinner, especially if youve been stuck in a boneless, skinless chicken breast rut. Chicken drumsticks are juicy, full of flavor and so easy to cook in an air fryer. Serve them with some Creamy Corn Macaroni and Cheese Casserole for a dinner your whole family will love!

These Air Fryer Chicken Legs have go-to weeknight dinner written all over them! In 30 minutes you can prep and cook the chicken legs and dinner is ready to go.

We love Baked Chicken Legs and Barbecue Baked Chicken Drumsticks that are cooked in the oven, but these Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks are one of our new favorites. The skin gets so nice and crispy and the flavor from the seasoning is so delicious!

This is definitely a chicken recipe you want to keep around because it pretty much goes with anything. I love them with potato salad and pasta salad during the summer and roasted vegetables during the winter.

Dont have an air fryer? Try my Crock Pot Chicken Legs!

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Is It Better To Bake Chicken Legs At 350 Or 400

The truth is that both temperatures work. Bone-in chicken drumsticks, thighs and wings can be baked at 350ºF and 400ºF. If cooking the chicken at 350ºF, you may have to add 5-10 additional minutes to the baking time. For this particular recipe, I prefer roasting the chicken at 400ºF because I want the skin to get extra crispy.

How To Make Chicken Drumsticks

Oven Baked Chicken Legs

It’s super easy to make chicken drumsticks in the oven. This is a quick overview with step-by-step images to help you visualize the process. Scroll down to the recipe card for printable, detailed instructions. Here is the basic approach:

  • Preheat the oven. We have found that cooking chicken drumsticks at a high temperature of 400°F gives the best results for tender, juicy meat with crisp skin.
  • Prep. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. You could also just spray the pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Season. Pile the drumsticks on your baking sheet and rub them with a little olive oil. Combine the spices in a small bowl, then sprinkle over the chicken and toss them a bit to coat. Space out the chicken drumsticks so they bake evenly.
  • Bake. The chicken drumsticks will bake for 40-45 minutes until they reach 165°F when you test them with a digital meat thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. Or look for the juices to run clear when you slice into one of them. Remove them from the oven and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
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    How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Legs

    • Preheat Set the air fryer to 400 degrees F and preheat it for 10 minutes
    • Season Place the chicken in a bowl and coat it with the olive oil. In a small bowl, combine the spices. Sprinkle the spices over the top of the chicken and toss until the chicken is evenly coated.
    • Cook Place the chicken in the air fryer and cook it for 10 minutes. Turn the chicken drumsticks over and cook them for another 10 minutes. Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

    How Do You Defrost Frozen Chicken Legs

    The United States Department of Agriculture recommends that you always defrost frozen chicken in the refrigerator, the microwave, or a bag that is sealed and then placed in cold water. The chicken has to be cooked as soon as possible after it has been defrosted. Bacteria have a greater chance of growing on raw meat if the temperature is between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit .

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    How To Make Easy Oven Baked Chicken Legs

    These tasty chicken legs are easy to make in the oven. Everything including prep and baking time is done in about 50 minutes.

  • In a large bowl, mix together the cooking oil, Italian seasoning, onion powder and garlic powder. Add in the chicken legs. Toss them in the spices until the chicken is fully coated.
  • Bake the chicken for 40-50 mins at 425°F on a baking sheet lined with foil.
  • Why You Will Love This Recipe

    Best Ever Baked Chicken Drumsticks Step by Step

    One of our most popular recipes is our easy Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks with honey soy. It was only natural for us to share with you another great chicken recipe to add to your repertoire!

    • Easy: Quick prep, simple pantry ingredients and one sheet-pan to clean up!
    • Crispy Baked Chicken: Roasting the chicken in the oven gives this recipe its crispy skin. You dont need frying or pan searing!
    • Effortless: Let the oven do almost all the work! Oven roasting is a simple way to prepare a meal that wont keep you in the kitchen for long or tire you out!
    • Budget Friendly: Bone-in chicken drumsticks, whether you choose skin-on or skinless, are inexpensive and a family friendly option that can certainly feed a crowd.

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    How Long To Cook Baked Chicken Drumsticks

    Baked chicken drumsticks take between 35 to 45 minutes when baked at 375 degrees. This cooking time is typically the same when baking at any temperature between 350 and 425 degrees. Keep in mind that cooking times will vary by oven. Chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

    How To Make Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Legs

    Be sure to check the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions.

    Youre just three steps away from crispy, juicy chicken legs!

  • Pat the chicken as dry as possible with paper towels. The drier the skin, the crispier it will get. Coat chicken in flour/baking powder/seasonings.
  • Arrange chicken in a single layer on a wire baking rack set over a rimmed baking sheet to ensure even cooking. If you dont have a wire rack, you can place the chicken legs right on the foil thats been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. The wire rack helps air to circulate around the pieces of chicken so they can cook more evenly.
  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and bake the chicken drumsticks for about 40-45 minutes, turning them over after about 30 minutes. Youll know they are done when the meat is no longer pink at the bone and the juices are clear. A meat thermometer inserted near the bone should register 165 degrees.
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    How To Cook Whole Chicken Legs

    This whole baked chicken leg recipe is dry rubbed with a homemade spice mix and oven roasted at 425F for ~45 minutes.

    Don’t like dry rubs? Cool, this whole chicken leg recipe can be baked with just salt and pepper and nothing else. Baked chicken drums and thighs are seriously that good that they don’t need anything else.

    This recipe works with bone in whole chicken legs, drumsticks, or thighs.

    Roasted chicken legs are easy to make and easy to eat and will become a regular household favorite. Just bake the chicken legs in the oven on a sheet pan uncovered and dinner is done.

    The wire rack is optional for cooking chicken legs / thighs / drums. It’s nice to have air circulating around the bottom of the chicken but if you don’t want to clean it , then skip the rack.

    Also, throw down a piece of aluminum foil on the sheet pan if you really don’t want to clean!

    Turn the broiler on for the last ~2-4 minutes if your chicken skin is not crisp and brown.

    Point is, watch and get to know your oven . Look half way through, if the spice mixture is smoking too much turn the oven down to 400F or 375F. If it’s not cooking at all, turn it up to 450F.

    Other Seasoning Ideas For Baked Chicken Drumsticks

    Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

    I used a very classic mix of smoked paprika, garlic, onion, and oregano for my baked chicken drumsticks, but you can literally use any seasoning blend you like for this. There is so much flexibility! Here are a few ideas for seasoning your oven-baked chicken drumsticks:

    • BBQ .
    • Teriyaki

    Want some sauce for dipping? Try these delicious sauces with your baked chicken:

    • Ranch dressing

    The equipment section above contains affiliate links to products we use and love. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    How To Make Baked Chicken Drumsticks Marinade

  • To a food processor, add parsley, green onions, oregano, garlic and red pepper flakes. Pulse in short bursts about 10 times or so until roughly chopped.
  • Pour in olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice and process until herbs are somewhat finely minced and liquids come together, about 5 to 10 seconds .
  • Scoop out 1/4 cup of the herb mixture into a bowl and season that with a few pinches of salt. Cover reserved herb sauce and refrigerate.
  • Season remaining mixture with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper .
  • Place chicken legs in a gallon size resealable bag. Pour 3/4 cup herb mixture over chicken legs. Seal bag while pressing out excess air then rub marinade over chicken legs to evenly cover.
  • Transfer to fridge and let marinate 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
  • Baked Chicken Legs With Vegetables

    Baked Chicken legs along with vegetables in a delicious ranch marinade, is the kind of dinner we love on any day. Butter, ranch seasoning, paprika for a little extra kick, salt, and pepper, are all you need for this recipe. No more boring vegetables here, because the veggies are cooked along with Chicken and suck up all the flavor.

    And it creates this amazing pan sauce, which is packed with flavor and perfect to drizzle over. Check out these Air fryer Chicken Drumsticks with a spicy dry rub for a healthier alternative.

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    How To Make Baked Chicken Legs

    I purposely made this recipe as easy as possible with the simplest of ingredients. After the 10 minutes of prep work, this turns into the easiest recipe ever. Just let the oven do the work! While the chicken legs bake, you can make whatever sides you like so by the time you pull them out, dinner can be served right away.

    Tips And Tricks For Making The Best Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

    Best Ever Baked Chicken Drumsticks – Easy Baked Chicken Recipe
    • For really crispy skin, its a good idea to pat your chicken drumsticks dry with a paper towel before you coat them in the oil and spices. This removes any excess moisture and ensures your chicken cooks up with a crispy skin.
    • Be sure to preheat your air fryer. Just l like your oven, you want to make sure your air fryer is hot and at temperature, which is 400 degrees F for the chicken legs.
    • Dont overfill the air fryer otherwise your chicken legs wont cook evenly since the air wont be able to circulate fully. Check your air fryer manual for information about how much you should fill your particular model.
    • Dont stack your chicken legs in the air fryer. Place them in a single layer so the skin is exposed. This will ensure your chicken drumsticks cook evenly and get that delicious crispy skin!
    • Chicken is done when the internal temperate reaches 165 degrees F. I prefer to cook my chicken drumsticks to 180-190 degrees F so the meat is falling off of the bone. Also, cooking it to a higher temperature gets rid of the bloody spots around the bone.

    This easy chicken drumstick recipe is just another reason to love your air fryer! I hope you give this recipe a try!

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    Crispy Baked Chicken Legs

    Baked in a hot oven, chicken legs emerge with wonderfully crispy skin and juicy meat.

    It’s an easy hands-off recipe that practically bakes itself, and leftovers are good too, especially when eaten cold, picnic-style.

    Chicken is not the most exciting meat one might eat, that’s for sure. But it’s tasty and affordable and my kids like it, which is always a good reason to make something .

    These wonderful oven-baked chicken legs have crispy, delicious skin and juicy, succulent meat. Who says chicken can’t be a delicacy? It all depends on how you cook it. Another good reason to make this recipe? Leftovers are great. I love eating them cold!

    What To Serve With Chicken Legs

    There isnt much that doesnt go with baked chicken drumsticks. If you want to turn it into a full meal, I recommend serving it with a vegetable side dish. Here are a few recipes to get you started:

    • Southern Fried Cabbage Serve up your oven roasted chicken legs with this cabbage recipe as a nod to a classic Southern combo!
    • Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad This salad has everything you want: crunch, sweet, salty, creamy! And everyones favorite ingredient.
    • Mushroom Cauliflower Risotto This risotto can certainly stand alone as a meal, but pair it with baked chicken drumsticks for a balanced and well-rounded meal.
    • Cheesy Cauliflower Tots Making this baked chicken drumsticks recipe for the family? Everyone will be happy about this side dish.
    • Almond Flour Biscuits Remember that Southern cabbage side above? Add these for a REAL Southern meal. Just 4 ingredients!
    • Oven Roasted Garlic Green Beans Even my kids couldnt stop eating these with their chicken.
    • Easy Sauteed Broccoli A great option if you want to make your side dish while you have your chicken legs roasting in the oven.

    This chicken drumstick recipe is flavorful enough on its own, but feel free to serve it with BBQ sauce or other sauces you like with chicken.

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    Should I Marinate Chicken Drumsticks

    There are confusing answers to this question. Others would recommend marinating them to tenderize the meat. However, some would say that the acid in the marinade toughens the proteins in the meat on the second-hour mark of marinating.

    So, what I do is simply toss the ingredients with the mixture and skip the marinating process altogether. Besides, poultry, in general, is easy to season, and .

    For this recipe, I combine the oil with lemon juice which I find refreshing. However, if you are marinating with an acid like lemon juice, you must add oil to somewhat lessen the toughening effect of the acid on the protein.

    Best Practices For Storing Your Leftovers

    Baked Chicken Legs

    To keep your chicken legs fresh for up to a week, keep them stored in an airtight container in the fridge. This will keep them from drying out and absorbing any smells lingering in your fridge.

    Reheating Tip: The best way to reheat your chicken legs is either back in the oven or in an air fryer until warmed through.

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    Baked Chicken Legs Are Frugal And Easy

    This is definitely a recipe to try if you are trying to keep your grocery budget low and save time. You can also use other cuts of chicken such as chicken thighs or oven baked chicken breasts.

    We love to use what we have in the freezer or can get on sale at the grocery store. Just keep in mind the cooking time will vary based on what type of meat you use.

    Plus, I have found that by using what is on sale at the grocery store or already in the freezer helps the grocery budget greatly!

    We are big fans of using what we have or can grab on sale at the grocery store. By cooking like this, it really helps me to save money on groceries.

    It is a huge help to our budget. I cut our grocery bill by 50% off by following these 8 Tips for for Saving Money on Groceries by Menu Planning!

    Getting Ready To Toss In The Oven

    With your chicken legs draped in seasoningand sitting on one side, prepare your oven. If you want to cook themimmediately, thats fine. Otherwise, put them away in an airtight container andplace in the fridge.

    When you are ready to cook, heat up youroven to 400 degrees F. Douche your baking sheet in cooking oil or spray andarrange the chicken drumsticks on it. Give them space.

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