Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks
This is just a great, simple baked chicken drumsticks recipe you can get in the oven quickly. A 3-ingredient seasoning adds terrific flavour and colour. Meanwhile, the secret to a lovely crispy skin is a touch of baking powder. Dont believe me? Read the reviews in my Truly Crispy Baked Chicken Wings which uses the same trick!
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How To Cook Chicken Legs
Remember to remove your chicken legs out of the packaging, pat dry before cooking
Pre heat your oven to 200 oc temperature fan assisted or 215 oc without a fan
Season the chicken just prior to roasting
Choose a large, heavy based roasting tray, ideally with deep sides and handles for easy movement
Massage a little softened butter under the skin of the jointed chicken then season with good quality fine sea salt
Make a trivet by roughly chopping equal amounts of onion, carrot and celery or my preferred choice of celeriac, the root of the celery plus a bay leaf, sprig of thyme and a few black peppercorns, another nice addition can be a lemon cut in half and popped onto the tray
Place the legs skin side up onto the trivet which should line the base of the tray
Place in centre of oven and roast for 40 minutes reaching a core temperature of minimum 75 oc
Remove from oven and pop onto a clean tray and keep warm by covering with a sheet of tin foil then resting for a a few moments, leaving the roasted vegetables in the tray for the gravy
Award winning meat
Do You Cover Chicken With Foil When Baking In Oven
When it comes to cooking, one of the most important things to do is make sure that the food you are preparing is cooked evenly.
This means that every part of the dish is cooked at the same time so that everything is properly seasoned and cooked through.
When it comes to chicken, being covered in foil can help ensure this. Additionally, using a nonstick skillet can help avoid sticking problems and make your cooking process more efficient.
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Do You Cover Drumsticks When Baking
Do you cover drumsticks in the oven? No, you should not cover them. You want the skin to brown, and you want the chicken roasted. The drumsticks should be left on the bottom rack of the oven. I like to roast them for about 45 minutes, but you can do it longer or shorter depending on how you like your chicken.
If youre like me and want to get the most out of the roast, I recommend roasting it for at least an hour and a half. The longer it roasts, the more tender it will be and the better itll taste. Ive also found that its best to let it rest for a few minutes after you take it off the heat, so that the juices dont run down the sides and get all over the place.
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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.
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Will Chicken Legs Bake Within The Same Time At Varying Temperatures
Chicken will cook at different timesdepending on the temperature you are using. If you want it to cook faster, thenincrease the temperature. However, cooking at a moderate temperature is thebest option. Of course, except when you are broiling.
20 to 25 mins 400 to 425 degrees F
25 to 30 mins 350 to 375 degrees F
30 to 40 mins 300 to 325 degrees F
How To Cook Bbq Chicken Legs In The Oven
Answer
If youre looking to cook chicken legs at home, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, use a good quality BBQ sauce to give them that delicious, smoky flavor.
Second, cook them over medium-high heat until theyre cooked through and slightly charred on the outside . Third, let them rest for a few minutes before serving. Finally, enjoy!
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What To Serve With Baked Chicken Legs
The ideas are endless to serve with baked chicken legs. I do prefer to keep the side dishes simple though.
Our family enjoys this easy 4 ingredient Parmesan Pasta. Yum. We also love mashed potatoes and green beans. It is simple but delicious.
Rice is also tasty. We actually keep this in the freezer so it is so easy on busy nights.
Learn how to freeze rice and you can make this meal even easier. I love to grab the rice from the freezer and we all can enjoy a really easy meal.
We do this for lots of meals and it helps put together a quick meal. If you are not freezing rice, it is such a time saver.
Sometimes we also add a simple side salad or learn how to steam broccoli in the microwave for another easy side idea.
This meal is also good with asparagus. This oven roasted asparagus is a family favorite and it is very simple and quick to make.
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How Long Does It Take For Legs To Cook In The Oven
Cooking legs in the oven takes time, but it can be shortened by following a few simple steps. First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Second, place the leg pieces on a baking sheet and bake them for 25 minutes. And finally, after they have cooked through, remove them from the oven and enjoy!
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How Long Should You Cook Chicken Legs At 375
Cooking chicken legs at 375 degrees Fahrenheit should take around 20 minutes. Chicken legs cooked at other temperatures may take longer or shorter depending on the recipe. Cooking chicken legs at 375 degrees is a good way to ensure that they are cooked through and come out tender. This method also ensures that the chicken is not overcooked, which can lead to undesirable results.
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.
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What Goes With Bbq Chicken Legs
You might be wondering, What goes with BBQ chicken legs? Well, lets look at some recipes. Typically, grilled broccoli is a good choice for this type of meal. Grilled mushrooms are also delicious. They are cooked in a thin layer of butter and are incredibly fragrant. Garlicky mushroom slices are a great side dish for barbecue chicken. To make them more delicious, you can de-glaze them with some chicken broth before grilling them.
Baked potatoes are also a great option for dipping the BBQ sauce. This simple side dish is great for soaking up extra sauce. To prepare, place the potatoes on a rack in a 350-degree oven. Bake until fork-tender and sprinkle with salt. Then, top them with butter, chives, or bacon bits, if you want.
Tips When Cooking Chicken Legs In The Oven

- You dont need to preheat the Oven
- Leave some space between chicken legs so that they can be cooked evenly
- Bake chicken legs at high temperatures will make less chicken meat dry than if you bake at low temperatures .
- You should use a meat thermometer to check if the chicken drumsticks are cooked. The internal temperature is 165°F, and you should test with the thickest chicken legs.
- It would be best if you used foil so that you can easily clean the basket after baking
It can be said that the oven is one of the best ways to cook chicken legs. This method will help you quickly have these chicken drumsticks delicious and dont have to spend a lot of time cleaning up.
Now, you know how to cook chicken legs in the Oven. After reading this article, we hope that you will have delicious chicken legs. Good luck
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Why Do Chicken Legs Take So Long To Cook
Cooking chicken legs can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the method used and the size of chicken legs. The slow-cooked methods typically produce more tender, juicy chicken legs than the quick-cooked methods. However, some people find that cooking chicken legs in a hurry produces dry, tough Chicken Legs.
How To Make Baked Chicken Legs In The Oven
This section shows how to cook chicken legs in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full instructions, see the recipe card below.
I have 3 simple, but important, tips to ensure your crispy baked chicken legs turn out perfectly each and every time:
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Easy Crock Pot Chicken Legs
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.
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.
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This Is The Easiest And Best Way To Make Great Baked Chicken Thoroughly Pat The Chicken Pieces Dry With Paper Towels Then Coat Them With Oil And Season Generously With Salt And Pepper We Like To Add A Little Fresh Chopped Rosemary As Well But You Can Substitute Fresh Thyme Or Oregano Bake The Chicken On A Wire Rack On An Aluminum
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How Do I Make Crispy Chicken Drumsticks
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 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.
- 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 .
*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.
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!
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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. Thats a win-win!
You can also use whole chicken legs with the thigh attached .
If you love baked chicken try my Oven Roasted Blackened Chicken.
How To Bake Chicken Legs

Chicken legs are a dark meat cut of chicken consisting of both a thigh and drumstick. As much as I love a juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breast, I find that dark meat carries so much more flavor.
Keeping the skin on helps seal in the juices and it comes out crisp and delicious! Even if you decide not to eat the skin, Id suggest cooking these chicken legs with the skin on.
Serve your oven baked chicken legs with cheesy scalloped potatoes or roasted sweet potatoes, for a hearty and satisfying dinner. If you have leftovers, theyll keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Or, you can freeze them for up to four months.
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The Simplest Crispy Skin Baked Chicken Legs Drumsticks
Oven-baked chicken drumsticks ) are a simple, easy, and delicious weekday dinner! These are baked drumsticks, and then broiled in the oven on a baking sheet to achieve that crispy skin. Flavorful, juicy, and oh so tender drummies are a family favorite! I serve these baked chicken legs alongside my brown sugar-glazed carrots and my family goes nuts!
School is in full swing in our home, fall is in the air, and schedules have turned from the lazy days of summer to the busy days of another school year. Truthfully, I like schedules and knowing what is happening from day to day. But I dont like how busy it can be and how difficult evenings are on getting a decent meal on the table.
Eating a decent meal together as a family at least a couple of times a week is important to me, but gosh darnit can be hard! Everyone seems to be off in their own directions, these days. These chicken drumsticks in the oven is an easy meal idea that is perfect for those busy weeknights. Serve it with mashed cauliflower and a quick salad and you have a delicious and healthy meal. Score! High-five. Go you!
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What Should I Serve With Them
- They also go great with baked beans, garlic butter noodles, or Parmesan orzo!
No one can resist these crispy-skin chicken legs! Once you try them Im sure youll make them again and again. Theyre so easy to make and turn out perfect every time I make them. Theyre so delicious!
Have you tried this recipe? Id love if you would rate it!! A five-star rating will make my day! Dont forget to tag me on Instagram @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats that way Im sure to see your pictures!!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
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