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Easy to make, these baked chicken legs are perfect for an easy family dinner. Seasoned and marinated, they come out super juicy and are great to serve with all of your favorite sides.
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These oven baked chicken legs are a great addition to your weekly meal rotation. They make a great change from chicken breast and are so effortless to make.
Seasoned in a lemon and herb marinade, they are perfect in their simplicity! Full of flavor, this juicy chicken has delicious crispy skin on the outside.
Be sure to check out my Baked Chicken Breasts and Baked Chicken Fajitas too!
Why you will love this recipe!
- Effortless: Just toss the chicken legs in the marinade and bake. It’s a great recipe when you don’t have time to spend in the kitchen.
- Family friendly: This is a great recipe that the whole family will love. Serve with your favorite sides to keep everyone happy!
- Great for meal prep: These chicken legs are great for weeknight dinners, but they’re perfect for meal prep too to enjoy cold on your favorite salads or reheated.
Ingredients
- Chicken: This oven baked chicken drumsticks recipe is perfect for legs or drumsticks. I prefer skin on, but you can make them with skinless too. Make sure you pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Spices: salt and black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning (alternatively, you could use oregano, thyme, basil, rosemary, and sage).
How to cook chicken legs in oven – Instructions
- Place the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Place the chicken drumsticks in the bowl (or a freezer bag) and coat them in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for about 30 minutes or longer.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. You can also use a wire rack sprayed with a cooking spray.
- Arrange the drumsticks in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake chicken legs for 40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.
Can you make this with other cuts of chicken?
This recipe is great for chicken legs or drumsticks, but the marinade can easily be used for chicken thighs, wings, and breasts too. You will just need to adjust the cooking time slightly, breasts will take around 15 to 18 minutes and thighs around 20 to 23.
Make ahead and storage
The oven roasted chicken legs can be marinaded for up to 2 hours. The acid in the lemon juice tenderizes the protein in the chicken. But if left longer than that, the chicken can start to become mushy, tough, and dry.
The cooked chicken can be stored, covered in an airtight container in the fridge, for up to 4 days. You can enjoy it cold with salads or in sandwiches, or shred it and add it straight into soups and stews. To reheat, place the chicken legs into an oven-proof dish with a couple of tablespoons of water or stock. Bake at 350F for around 20 minutes until warmed through.
What do you serve with them?
These crispy baked chicken legs are great to serve with your favorite veggie side dishes, salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, or other potato sides. Try them with:
You can also service these crispy baked chicken legs with your favorite sauce or dressing.
TIPS FROM NELI’S KITCHEN
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Marinade the chicken for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
- Roast the chicken legs in a single layer so that they cook evenly.
- The chicken is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165F using a meat thermometer.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
If you loved this oven baked drumsticks recipe, be sure to check out some of my other chicken recipes:
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Baked Chicken Legs
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Ingredients
- 3 – 4 lbs chicken legs / drumsticks, pat dry with paper towels
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice from 1 large lemon
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Place the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Place the chicken drumsticks in the bowl and coat them in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for about 30 minutes or longer.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange the drumsticks in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.
Video
Notes
- Marinade the chicken for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
- Bake the chicken legs in a single layer so that they cook evenly.
- The chicken is fully cooked when it reaches and internal temperature of 165F.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer: Nutritional values are estimates and may vary with ingredients, brands, and portion sizes. For accuracy, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this recipe is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical or nutritional advice. I am not a doctor or a dietitian. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized guidance regarding your diet or health. For more details, please read my full disclosure page.
I have made this recipe several times now, so juicy. I just love this recipe! I cannot think of a better way to cook chicken legs quickly in the oven. I do not have a large enough bowl so just use a gallon Ziploc bag. Thank you!