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Get It Now- Why You’ll Love This Crispy Baked Chicken Legs Recipe
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Bake Chicken Legs
- How Long To Bake Chicken Legs In The Oven?
- Tips For The Best Baked Chicken Legs
- Storage Instructions
- What To Serve With Baked Chicken Legs
- More Easy Chicken Drumstick Recipes
- Recommended Tools
- Baked Chicken Legs (Crispy & Easy!) Recipe card
- Recipe Reviews
This baked chicken legs recipe couldn’t be easier! Sometimes simple is best, and when it comes to oven baked chicken drumsticks, that couldn’t be more true. They are incredibly crispy, flavorful, and delicious, but they also only take 10 minutes to prep. I’m excited to show you how to cook chicken legs in the oven using my favorite method, all my tips and tricks, what to serve with them, and more. This post has everything you need to know!
This is one of my favorite chicken leg recipes, but if you want to cook other cuts of chicken, try baked chicken breast, crispy oven baked chicken wings, simple roasted chicken thighs, larger baked chicken leg quarters (thighs and legs together), or browse more chicken recipes here.
Why You’ll Love This Crispy Baked Chicken Legs Recipe
- Super crispy skin on the outside, juicy on the inside
- Flavorful and simple spices for seasoning
- Just a few minutes active prep time
- No need to wait for a marinade (there isn’t one!)
- Healthy protein-packed chicken dinner
- Crowd pleaser for kids and adults alike
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for baked chicken drumsticks, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
This crispy oven baked chicken legs recipe is simply seasoned. You’ll need…
- Chicken Drumsticks – Bone-in and skin-on chicken, of course. Try to choose ones that are uniform in size, so that they cook at the same rate.
- Butter Or Oil – Not only does this help make them more crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, but it also helps the seasonings stick. Butter has a lower smoke point so I don’t usually use it for roasting, but I love the flavor that it gives this recipe and haven’t found any issues with it. If you’re concerned about it, feel free to use ghee, olive oil, or avocado oil instead. Spraying with cooking spray would also work, but I prefer to avoid the chemicals.
- Smoked Paprika – Adds a delicious smoky flavor, as well as color. Feel free to swap in regular paprika if that’s what you have on hand.
- Garlic Powder – We’re using garlic powder instead of fresh garlic, as the latter would burn. If you want to use fresh garlic, it’s best to put it in a compound butter underneath the skin instead, like I do with air fryer chicken drumsticks.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
SEASONING VARIATIONS: Change up the basic chicken drumsticks recipe with other seasoning blends!
Try replacing the seasonings with Italian seasoning, lemon pepper seasoning, or Cajun seasoning, or add them in addition to the above. If your seasonings contain salt, reduce or omit the salt added separately. You can also make complimentary additions to the above seasonings, such as oregano, onion powder, cayenne pepper, or even chopped fresh herbs.
How To Bake Chicken Legs
This section shows how to make baked chicken legs in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Prep the oven and pan. Preheat the oven. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil (for easy clean up!) and place an oven safe rack over the sheet pan. (I like this set – it’s non-stick, so easy to clean.) I prefer foil rather than parchment paper for lining underneath the rack, because it catches the juices more easily.
- Dry the chicken. Pat the drumsticks with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Brush with butter. Brush the chicken legs on all sides with melted butter, or drizzle with olive oil or avocado oil if you prefer.
- Season the drumsticks. Sprinkle smoked paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper on all sides.
- Bake. Cooking chicken legs at high heat will get them crispy, just how we want them.
- Rest. Let the baked chicken drumsticks rest for 5 minutes before serving.
How Long To Bake Chicken Legs In The Oven?
For average sized drumsticks, chicken leg bake time is 35-45 minutes at 425 degrees, flipping halfway through. The exact time will vary a bit, due to varying oven temperatures as well as drumstick size.
Tips For The Best Baked Chicken Legs
I have several simple, but important, tips to ensure your crispy baked chicken legs turn out perfectly each and every time:
- Dry the drumsticks. Patting dry with paper towels before seasoning helps get the skin crispy later.
- Use a baking rack like this one. This allows the hot air to circulate around the chicken, for the best baked chicken drumsticks that are nice and crispy!
- Season on the rack to save on dishes. I add the butter and seasonings right on the rack for a time-saving shortcut, but you can season in the chicken in a large bowl if you prefer. Simply pour the melted butter over the chicken in the bowl, add the seasonings, and toss to coat.
- Roast at high heat. The best baked chicken legs oven temp is fairly high (425 degrees F), which helps crisp up the skin. Plus, I find that higher temperatures are less prone to drying out the meat.
- Flip halfway through. For best results, flip the chicken legs halfway through baking, which will help them crisp up more and cook more evenly.
- Cook to 170 degrees F. Whether you are cooking chicken legs in the oven or using just about any other method, they should reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F to be safe. However, I recommend 170 degrees F for dark meat recipes like chicken drumsticks, because this breaks down the collagen and makes them more juicy and tender. Here is the meat thermometer I use and recommend.
- Broil if needed. If the baked chicken legs are not as crispy as you like by the time they reach the right internal temperature, place them under the broiler for a couple of minutes to crisp up the skin more. (Watch closely so that they don’t burn!)
- Don’t forget to rest. Letting the chicken rest for 5 minutes after baking helps seal in the juices and ensure that they stay moist on the inside.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep leftovers of this easy chicken drumstick recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: You can freeze raw chicken drumsticks for up to 9-12 months, or baked chicken legs for up to 3-4 months. Lay them on a parchment lined sheet pan in a single layer and place in the freezer. Once solid, you can move them to a freezer bag for more compact storage.
TIP: If you like, you can brush with butter and season the chicken legs before freezing.
That way there is virtually no prep before baking later.
- Reheat: Warm up leftover chicken legs in the oven or an air fryer at 350 degree F oven for best results. The microwave works in a pinch, but the skin won’t be crispy. To reheat frozen drumsticks, let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight (or for a few hours) and reheat in a 350 degree F oven for best results. If the skin is not crisp after reheating, you can place under the broiler for a minute or two, until crispy.
What To Serve With Baked Chicken Legs
There isn’t much that doesn’t go with baked chicken drumsticks. If you want to turn it into a full meal, try these:
- Vegetables – Try a healthy side dish or low carb side dish… there are so many to choose from! Fried cabbage, creamed spinach, sauteed broccoli with garlic, or sauteed zucchini are great stovetop options if you want to make your veggies while you have your chicken legs roasting in the oven. If you have double ovens, make roasted green beans with garlic, a cauliflower casserole recipe, or a roasted eggplant recipe at the same time as the chicken.
- Potatoes – Oven roasted chicken legs with potatoes make the ultimate comfort food meal! Pair them with classic roasted potatoes or mashed potatoes. For a bit more nutrition, bake sweet potatoes or air fry sweet potatoes.
- Pasta – Because I’m gluten-free, I usually make baked spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles, but regular pasta works great as well if it fits your lifestyle.
- Salads – Make it a light meal by serving your baked chicken drumstick recipes with Caprese salad or cucumber tomato avocado salad in the warm months, and kale salad or winter salad in the cool months.
- Sauces – This chicken drumstick recipe is flavorful enough on its own, but feel free to serve it with BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, or other sauces you like with chicken.
More Easy Chicken Drumstick Recipes
Looking for more chicken leg recipes? Here are some popular reader favorites:
Recommended Tools
- Instant Read Thermometer – The best way to tell when the baked chicken legs are done is to use an instant-read thermometer. Cook them to an internal temperature of 170 degrees F.
- Baking Sheet with Cooling Rack – I love this baking sheet + cooling rack combo. The cooling rack elevates the chicken, for nice and crisky skin. (It’s also fantastic for other foods you want crispy, like bacon in the oven, lemon pepper wings, coconut shrimp, and asparagus wrapped in bacon.)
- Basting and Pastry Brush – One trick to the best chicken drumstick recipe? A brush of butter to coat the chicken.
Baked Chicken Legs (Crispy & Easy!)
This baked chicken legs recipe makes chicken drumsticks super crispy and juicy, with just a few simple ingredients and easy 10-minute prep.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (218 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place an oven safe rack on top. (I use this set, which includes the baking sheet and rack that fits perfectly.)
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Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels, which will help them get crispy. Arrange the chicken legs on the rack.
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Brush the chicken drumsticks with melted butter. Season with smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
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Bake the chicken legs in the oven for 25 minutes. Flip and bake for another 10-20 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 170 degrees F (77 degrees C).
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Optional step: If the chicken drumsticks are not as crispy as you like, place under the broiler for a couple of minutes to crisp up the skin more.
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Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Did You Like It?
Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 drumstick
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂
330 Comments
Susan Siemers
0Loved this! I made sure that I left ALL the skin on, and baking at 475 convection got me some crispy skin. I poured off the pan drippings and used them as a dipping sauce for the meat. I’m going to increase the salt a bit, might even salt them after patting dry and let them sit on the counter for 30 minutes for the salt to penetrate the meat a bit more, then spread the melted butter and the spices. Very good!
Angela
0I have a problem with the butter not sticking to the chicken. It clips up and falls off the chicken. What is the reason for this?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Angela, I didn’t experience this, but from what you are describing, this might happen if the chicken is super cold. Try letting it sit at room temp for 15-20 minutes (not too long, the max safe time at room temperature is 2 hours) before brushing on the butter. Hope this helps!
Mike
0Used my Smart Oven with convection on and added two spices to the mix (onion powder, sweet Hungarian paprika). Very pleased with the results; crispy outside, juicy and flavourful inside. Thanks for a great recipe!
Margret Barger
0Great recipe!!! Best one I’ve found for easy crispy drumsticks and no carbs!!!
Lori Thompson
0These were so easy and delicious.
Deedle
0The recipe looks great and I’m making this chicken for supper today. But there are far too many annoying adds popping up on the screen which made it hard to see the recipe. I almost gave up. I don’t know if you are able to control the ads or not, but if so please a few less. Thanks
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Deedle, Our ratings are reserved for the recipe, not the website. The ads help support the free content, as this is my full-time job. I do have an ad-free option available with a Wholesome Yum Plus membership, which makes the website completely ad-free and also provides other perks. I hope you like the chicken and come back to leave a rating once you make it! 🙂
Chenee Lewis
0These drumsticks look so delicious! Love the mix of spices and how easy they are to make!
Moop Brown
0Drumsticks are probably my favorite part of the chicken to eat and I love how juicy and flavorful these are.
Amanda Dixon
0This is such a great way to cook chicken! It turned out nice and crispy, and the preparation couldn’t be easier.
Liz
0I followed your recipe exactly and the chicken turned out great! I agree – this is will be the only recipe I need! Thanks for the share!
Silvia
0I love how simple this recipe is, it takes no time to prep and the oven does most of the work. Perfect for busy nights. I added a little bit of chipotle and they turned out delish.
GUNJAN C Dudani
0so juicy and perfectly cooked. We loved this and came out really well.
Sharon
0These baked chicken legs come out so juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Really easy to clean up too.
Debbie
0These baked chicken legs are fantastic! Quick and easy , they are going on my dinner rotation for sure. Thanks for a great recipe,
Gwynn Galvin
0My family loved this recipe. It is now on our weekly menu rotation!
Cathleen
0I am always looking for new chicken recipes, and this one looks like a winner! Plus crispy chicken is my favourite. Thank you so much for the recipe 😉
Jenni
0Delicious chicken! So easy to make! Will definitely make these again!
Natalie
0That looks delicious. Can’t wait to give this a try.
Andrea
0These drumsticks are so full of flavor! I love this recipe!
Amy L Huntley
0I love that the outside is crispy and and the inside is tender and juicy. Best recipe ever.
Laura
0I love this crispy chicken recipe!!
Veronika Sykorova
0Nothing beats a good drumstick! I loved the smoked paprika on these, made them taste like they were from the grill! Yum!
Kristyn
0Tasty & so juicy!! These are great any night of the week and go great with any side! They are a family favorite!
Jere Cassidy
0I just bought a big bag of chicken legs which we normally do not eat so I needed a good recipe. I didn’t realize I needed to bake them at high heat but that makes sense. The spice rub is excellent.
Taylor
0This recipe was amazing! So simple, yet so delicious. The skin was so crispy and flavorful, while the meat was perfectly juicy and tender. Definitely making again!
Toni
0I loved how it turned out! Crispy and delicious!!
Paige Franklin
0These really do come out crispy! Finally! Thank you so much.
Cathy
0Making it now for the 2nd time. So easy and so tasty!
Jane
0I am not in love with chicken so I made this with pork that I got from this meat delivery service and prepared it the same way. It was delicious!!! Thanks for this recipe.
Kay Anderson
0I am at my computer in my home office with the door closed while my oven is self cleaning. Fortunately, it is an unseasonably warm November day in northern Wyoming so all windows in the house can be open to dissipate the fumes. I prepared this Crispy Baked Chicken Legs recipe exactly as directed. The chicken tasted fine, but butter is NOT appropriate at 425 degrees. My kitchen filled with smoking butter the entire cooking time, and splattered the oven interior with butter. I noticed similar recipes used olive or avocado oil. I won’t ever use this recipe again!
Gr8gmblr
0Just like the chef says…very good and tasty. My kids devoured it.
Beverly
0The best chicken legs! My go to recipe now!
Corey
0Did not care for this recipe. Chicken was dry with no flavor. Would not make this again. Easy recipe but could not taste any spices at all.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Corey, Sorry to hear that! Dry chicken means that it was cooked too long, so I would take it out sooner next time. As for the spices, were your drumsticks on the larger side? It’s possible you may need more of the spices for large ones. Hope this helps for next time!
Janey
0Made it for the first time today, followed the instructions, added a bit more seasoning and it turned out great! The chicken was juicy and slightly crispy. It probably would’ve been more crispy if I left the chicken in for a few minutes longer. This is the way I’ll be making chicken legs from now on. Thanks Maya!
Mari
0I came across this recipe about a couple of years ago & it came out so good that it’s become a regular favourite with my family. The recipe never fails to produce the same crispy, the tasty outcome always making sure not to forget the most important tips (patting it dry & baking on a rack). Thanks so much – this recipe is a keeper.
Angelica
0I LOVED this recipe! I melted my butter with 2 cloves of minced garlic in a pan and sautéed with parsley, salt, pepper, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. I then coated the chicken legs with that and used Uncle Chris’ seasoning and they are AMAZE BALLS! Thank you!!!
Derrick
0The recipe says 6 drumsticks will weigh about 1.5 lbs, but the 6 we got weighed 4.1 lbs, and they don’t look gigantic. Since your photos show 4 drumsticks on the rack, is it possible the 1.5 lbs is for 4 drumsticks, not 6? Helpful to know for adjusting cooking time. Will submit rating later, as requested.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Derrick, You may have to add a little extra baking time. However, all ovens cook a little differently so just make sure that the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees.
Ariel
0Do you think this recipe would work the same with whole chicken wings ?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Ariel, whole chicken wings should work as a substitute, you may need to adjust cooking time as they usually cook quicker than drumsticks.
Magdalena
0Oh my gosh these were so good hot crispy and tasty so full of flavor and moist! So easy and man so good I ate them all.
Can’t wait to make them again. 😉
Kathy
0Way too easy! And oh, so yummy!
Stacey
0We had this for dinner tonight, and it was absolutely delicious! I’ve made chicken like this in the past, but putting it on a baking rack was a total game changer. The chicken was fall off the bone moist. My four year old told me it was the best chicken he’s ever had in his entire life, and I had to agree! Our family loved it!
Michelle
0I just made these on a whim tonight because my toddler is on a food strike (just found out he’s teething too). My entire family gobbled it up! I will definitely be adding this to our meal rotation. The prep was so simple, and these are all ingredients I have at home regularly. I was amazed at how crispy the skin came out while the chicken was tender and juicy. This recipe is stellar!
Helene Bahnman
0Thanks for posting a super simple yet tasty recipe. My first time baking chicken drumsticks with the skin on. The skin was crispy but the meat was tender and juicy. I will be making these again.
Courtney
0Super tasty!!! My boyfriend LOVES this recipe! 🙂 a big win for me! Thanks for sharing!
Cher Peadon
0I tweaked. I did use the butter, olive oil and paprika, but used Adobo and Mediterranean spice salt. Absolutely delish!
Courtney
0I also added Mediterranean season as well! SO good!
Deb
0Can this be done in instapot or air fryer or instapot/air fryer
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Deb, Yes! Be sure to follow the methods your air fryer model suggests, but the recipe will work great in an instant pot with the air fryer function.
Pat Norval
0Absolutely 5* plus. This recipe is so easy . . . and so delicious! After 18 years of not cooking (and now I have to cook again) I’m looking for easy and delicious. I’ve found it in this recipe. Thank you so much! Patty
Ildiko
0Loved it!
Tru
0Excellent recipe! The drumsticks are nice and crispy, which my family loves. I use olive oil instead of butter.
RJ
0Amazingly easy and flavorful. My drumsticks were super crispy and juicy. Yum!! I use ghee or high heat oil since I’m cutting out dairy (boo). Family asks for these all the time now!!
Nora
0Awesome and tasty made the chicken legs and biscuits my family didn’t know that the biscuit recipe was low carb they were surprised and asked that I make them this way from now on I’m knew to keto and it gets overwhelming at times but I’m getting there Thank you for such great information on how to and it’s a bonus with the yummy recipes!