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Baked Chicken Legs are about to be on your short list for weeknight dinners! With a sweet and smoky rub, tender and juicy meat, and delightfully crispy skin, these chicken legs are on frequent repeat in my house.

the BEST baked chicken legs recipe perfect for the oven

Why You’ll Love This Crispy Baked Chicken Legs Recipe

  • Tender and Juicy Chicken, Every Time. While most of us rely on chicken breasts for easy meals (ahem, Baked Chicken Breast), don’t sleep on chicken legs! Unlike chicken breasts, baked chicken legs (and Baked Chicken Quarters) are very forgiving and hard to get wrong. No dry, rubbery chicken here!
  • Easy to Make. We’re talking 10 minutes of prep time! I love a low effort main dish because it leaves me time to make a side dish or two. (Sweet Potato Wedges are especially good with these crispy baked chicken legs.)
  • So Versatile. Master the basics of this recipe and the oven is your oyster. Add your favorite herbs and spices to put your own spin on it, or marinate the chicken legs with my Chicken Marinade beforehand for flavor throughout.
  • The Most Budget-Friendly Chicken. Chicken legs are the least expensive cut of chicken, so if you’re trying to stretch your grocery budget, this recipe is a delicious way to do it. With the crispy skin and juicy meat, you won’t feel like you’re pinching pennies with this dinner! (If you’re in search of more ways to save money on your groceries, make these Air Fryer Chicken Legs next.)
crispy baked chicken legs on a serving platter

5 Star Review

“Very tasty! The skin is crispy and nice and juicy on the inside. I love that it is very quick to put together.”

— Courtney —

How to Make Baked Chicken Legs

The Ingredients

  • Bone-In, Skin-On Chicken Legs/Drumsticks. Whole chicken legs contain the thigh and drumstick; they are fattier than chicken breasts, which means they’re also much more flavorful. We usually roast the drumstick only, as they are easier to find.
  • Light Brown Sugar. To help the skin caramelize.
  • Seasonings. Smoked paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder, and the always essential kosher salt and black pepper. Add cayenne if you want a kick in your baked chicken legs.
  • Chopped Fresh Cilantro or Green Onion. Optional, for a pop of color and fresh flavor.

The Directions

chicken legs in a bowl ready for seasoning
  1. Prepare. Pat the chicken legs dry, then place them in a large bowl and drizzle with oil.
seasoning for baked chicken legs
  1. Make the Seasoning. Mix all the ingredients together.
coated chicken legs for baking in the oven
  1. Season the Chicken. Add the seasoning to the bowl and toss to coat. Start preheating the oven to 425 degrees F.
seasoned chicken legs on a baking sheet ready to be baked at 425°F
  1. Cook. Place the chicken in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake chicken legs for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the baked chicken legs reach 165 degrees F. Rest for a few minutes, then serve and ENJOY.
chicken legs baked perfectly in the oven every time

Recipe Variations

  • Sweet and Savory Baked Chicken Legs. Use my Chicken Thigh Marinade to add extra flavor to this recipe.
  • Orange Chicken Legs. If you love my Healthy Orange Chicken, try oven-baked chicken legs with this Orange Chicken Marinade.
  • Honey Garlic Baked Chicken Legs. The honey garlic marinade from these honey garlic Chicken Wings recipe is also fantastic with chicken legs.
  • Cajun Air Fryer Chicken Legs. Instead of the spice blend in this recipe, rub the chicken legs with salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning.
perfectly cripsy chicken legs

What to Serve with Baked Chicken Legs

Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Dry the Chicken Well. Before making these oven-baked chicken chicken legs, make sure to pat them dry with paper towels. This will help the chicken brown evenly and prevent excess moisture from steaming the meat. It’s key to that irresistible crispy skin!
  • Use a Meat Thermometer. To ensure that your chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat, it’s important to use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 degrees F. Unlike chicken breasts, though, you can continue to cook the chicken beyond the 165 degree mark—in fact, it will get even more tender and juicy with a little extra time in the oven, as the collagen begins to break down at 185 degrees F.
  • Don’t Forget to Line the Baking Sheet. Your future self will thank you! For easy clean-up, line your baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil before placing the chicken legs on top.
  • Let the Chicken Rest Before Serving. Once the chicken is done baking, let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and results in a more tender and flavorful chicken.
recipe for easy baked chicken legs - finger-licking good!

Baked Chicken Legs

5 From 11 reviews . Help us out! Review HERE.Help out & review HERE

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 50 minutes

Servings: 4 servings
These baked chicken legs are tender and juicy, with a sweet and smoky seasoning and irresistibly crispy skin. Just 10 minutes of prep time!

Ingredients
  


Instructions
 

  • Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels, and place them in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with the oil.
  • In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic, salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Sprinkle over the chicken, then toss to evenly coat. Let stand at room temperature while you preheat the oven, or refrigerate for up to 1 day.
  • Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 425°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or a double layer of parchment paper.
  • Arrange the drumsticks in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake chicken legs for 30-35 minutes, or until the internal temperature is at least 165°F when a meat thermometer is inserted in the thickest part of the meat without touching bone; unlike Baked Chicken Breast, you don’t need to worry about pulling legs a few degrees early for resting time; up to 200°F will be fine. Let rest a few minutes, then serve hot sprinkled with cilantro or green onion.

Video

Notes

  • If you have white meat fans, you cut a large bone-in, skin on chicken breast (also called split chicken breast) in half crosswise (really wiggle the knife to break the rib bones) and roast it along with the legs; they will cook in about the same amount of time.
  • Adapted from my Air Fryer Chicken Legs
  • TO STORE: Refrigerate leftover baked chicken legs in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days. 
  • TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm the chicken legs on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave. 
  • TO FREEZE: Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating according to the instructions above.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 4)Calories: 404kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 24gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 135mgPotassium: 350mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 686IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 2mg

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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  1. Made a bunch of drumsticks(and coleslaw) for the work week ahead. Had to sample one, of course. Very tasty! The skin is crispy and nice and juicy on the inside. I love that it is very quick to put together. My daughter also loves it. Does not end up greasy.5 stars

  2. Super yummy! I made this last night with white rice and some of my home canned green beans, and hubby said it was the perfect meal. I love something that I can fix and forget until the timer goes off especially on those busy nights.5 stars

  3. Followed directions exactly and it turned out so good. My husband doesn’t care for paprika that much but I love it on everything lol, and he said this chicken was delicious and went for seconds!5 stars

  4. Made these baked chicken legs last night and they came out perfect – juicy on the inside, crispy and super flavorful on the outside. They were a hit w/ my family and will be on my menus!!5 stars

  5. OMG, these baked chicken are a lifesaver! I mean, who doesn’t love fried chicken, right? Grew up on that stuff. But yeah, not exactly the best for you these days. This recipe though? Amazing. Oven baked, but it still gets that crispy, golden brown skin and all that flavor I crave. Plus, the chicken stays super juicy inside. Seriously, so good! Thank you!5 stars

  6. I made this recipe for dinner tonight. Loved it!! It was easy to prepare and it turned out just like the picture. It was crispy and moist. No need to use the broiler. I would not change the recipe at all. I will definitely be doing it again. Cleaning up was simple too. It was nice not to have to clean up a greasy stove top caused by splattering grease from a skillet.5 stars

  7. I tried this recipe last night and absolutely loved it! The skin was super crispy and the inside was so juicy!! Plus it was quick and easy to put together. Perfect for a busy mom like me. Definitely a lifesaver. Thank you so much, Erin!5 stars

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