This recipe for Baked Chicken Legs is a simple and delicious dinner. Rub with a little olive oil, homemade spice rub and bake.
You’ve never known how much you love Baked Chicken Legs until you try this recipe!
I’m not one to buy chicken legs very frequently because its habit for me to reach for the boneless skinless chicken breasts. But man oh man I forget how inexpensive chicken legs are, how easy they are to throw together on a busy weeknight and that all my kids eat them no problem. I think a lot of times, people see the drumsticks at the grocery store and just don’t know what to do with them so they pass them by completely. But I’m here to tell you that the simple approach is best and making a really basic spice rub to sprinkle over top is where the magic happens. A hot temperature crisps the skin, locking in moisture and flavor, leaving you with some seriously tasty baked chicken legs!
I’ve got some step by step photos below to walk you through the process, but I promise it’s super simple!
If this recipe isn’t something you think you’d like, be sure to check out my Amazing Chicken Enchiladas, my Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti or my Ultimate BBQ Chicken Pizza!
How to Bake Chicken Legs
Start by opening up your package of chicken legs and drying them off with a paper towel. I used two pounds of chicken drumsticks which ended up being about 8.
Now for the spice rub: in a small bowl, stir together salt, pepper, onion powder, poultry seasoning, and paprika.
On a baking sheet, rub each chicken leg with olive oil and sprinkle with the homemade spice mix. I did end up lining my baking sheet with foil because I like the easy cleanup but to each his own!
After about 40-45 minutes in a hot oven, you should have some crispy, flavorful, golden brown chicken legs.
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.
A delicious, simple dinner that everyone loves! Be sure to print/save/pin/bookmark this recipe because it’s one of those basic recipes that you’ll keep coming back to. Have a great day, friends!
Side Dishes to go with Chicken Legs:
- Classic Coleslaw Recipe with Homemade Coleslaw Dressing
- Funeral Potatoes
- Iceberg Wedge Salad Recipe
- Best Pan Fried Potatoes
- Caprese Salad with Garlic Balsamic Dressing
Baked Chicken Legs
This recipe for Baked Chicken Legs is a simple and delicious dinner. Rub with a little olive oil, homemade spice rub and bake.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 pounds chicken legs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line baking sheet with foil and lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
In a small bowl, stir together all seasonings and spices.
Open package of chicken legs and pat dry with paper towels. Place onto prepared baking sheet and rub with olive oil. Sprinkle with seasonings on all sides.
Bake 40-45 minutes or until browned and meat thermometer registers 165 degrees or higher. Serve warm.
Linda says
We love, we do with several differ rubs, we also toss in veggie on another sheet. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us.
Jeff Turner says
Do I bake them covered or uncovered?
Lauren says
uncovered!
Barbara says
I should try your method of rubbing the chicken legs with olive oil and sprinkling with seasonings. I use commercial marinades, but I believe they add too many carbs.
DONNA C. LARSEN says
Made this recipe tonight with a few modifications and it turned out soooo yummy!! Thanks for sharing this!!
Petunia Pete says
The title is baked chicken legs, but you only show drumsticks, which is half the leg.
DUANE STEVENSON says
I think you looking for leg quarters
Sarah K says
When I think of leg I think of the drumstick. The other part is a thigh. Regardless what is your point, you can use the same directions for any part of a chicken or any other meat or veggie. Get over yourself
dennis says
Sarah,
I concur. Leg is leg, thigh is thigh.
Ace says
Now we know why your called petunia..💃.😂😂 Duan & Sarah r correct. Petunia 😂
John Hannan says
Great chicken legs. Petunia Pete wants a recipe to include thighs too. Ok.:.same thing, petunia!
Angelo Zenofio says
Im making this tonight! Going to add my special honey bbq molasses glaze 35 mn in
Stephanie Day says
I made this last night, tasted so good and was in the oven so quickly! I turned the chicken legs half way through cooking time. Adding to my week night rotation.
dennis says
Turned mine as well to get crispy all over. I also cooked them on a baking rack in lieu of sitting in the grease.
Just my preference, that’s all.
Enjoy!
Tweetybird says
Thank you it was delicious (keeeper)
Elizabeth says
Making this as I write my review 🙂
The spices already smell so good and they have only been in the oven for 15 mins so far, I’m thinking I’m going to turn the chicken over halfway through cooking time because I can hear them cooking, I guess its from the oil! Can’t wait to try them 🙂
Izzy says
Awesome
Finger licking good
Sabrina Long says
(New cook here)
Could this recipe be used with chicken leg quarters?
Mar keya says
Im just learning to cook & this recipe helped me alot Thanks
Marissa says
Made this last night, didn’t have any onion powder so I used half the amount of roasted garlic power instead and it tasted wonderful! Definitely going to make drumsticks more often now!
Janelle Beato says
I can not find your recipe for Baked Chicken Legs with Veggies
Lauren says
This is the basic recipe, add veggies as you see fit to the pan along with the chicken and bake!
Abby says
Delicious!! I changed up the seasoning a little based on what I had on hand (garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper to taste) and baked according to your instructions. They came out perfect, my husband and I slammed them 🙂
Ericka says
Am I the only person who missed what temperature to bake them at? “Hot oven” is not very helpful…..
Lauren says
If you scroll down to the recipe card, you’ll see oven temperature and increments of everything. Bake at 425.
Tashea Mcgowan says
Yes 425 the bake time
Fran Smith says
My children love chicken legs. These are baking as I type, and they smell absolutely delicious! Thanks for the recipe.
Bernice says
Can I use Goya adobo and add the other seasonings in as well?
Lauren says
I’ve never tried that particular seasoning, especially mixed with the others but you are welcome to experiment and try it out 🙂
Grateful908 says
Careful with the Adobe. It’s very salty…
Stacey W says
This has become a family favorite in our house! Thanks for the inspiration!!
Dianne says
Love these! I’ve made this recipe several times and every time it’s delicious! Super easy!
Toni says
HI there Lauren, I am going to make this for dinner tonight but also I noticed that you also have a Facebook page 🙂 I love it!! I liked, marked follow and see first as my settings that way all I have to do is go to your wall and find another delish recipe instead of googling . Thanks for being there and look forward to making more of your dishes!!
Thanks again,
Toni
DIANNA says
Just a question. Their in the oven now working on their tan but I missed whether to cover them?
A.Marie says
Best chicken leg recipe EVER!! I followed your directions exactly and oh my word! Delish!!!! I baked them un-covered and they got a beautiful, golden brown. Definitely going to bookmark this page for future reference!
N. Mon says
Make sure you stress the baking sheet on metal pan. I put mines crowded together in a glass baking dish and it took 90 mins to get fully cooked through.
Kurt Wallner says
Wow. I am stunned at how simple and delicious this recipe is. Followed the recipe except I was out of poultry seasoning. Seriously the best tasting and juiciest chicken I have made in a long time. Thank you so much for this post. I’ll be making this again and checking out your other posts.
Johann says
I made these last night, adding some ground pepper flakes for spice, and they were wonderful. My wife, who normally doesn’t like chicken legs, ate 4 of them because she loved them so much. Thank you!
Matt says
Does the cooking time change if you use more chicken legs—3.5 lbs vs your 2 lbs?
Tina says
Very good recipe! Turned out amazing!!! Yumm!! Thankss
Gina says
Do you leave the skin on the drumsticks? Usually I remove the skin when I cook drumsticks, so I was curious
Dano S. says
The recipe says chicken legs but all the photos are of chicken drumsticks which require a different cooking time than legs.
Gayle says
I am a novice with all of this I phone help; but this recipe sounds perfect and sure to be delicious. We are in midst of being housebound because of the shutdown and wanted to use my defrosted chicken legs for tonight’s dinner Thank you for your help and may all of you remain well 😊
Amy says
Easy and tasty!