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White serving plate with baked chicken legs on it. Surrounded by fresh parsley, and salt and pepper shakers.

Easy Baked Chicken Legs

Samantha Erb
Baked chicken legs get a nice crispy skin and juicy meat! This classic dish is easy, comes out super flavorful every time, and is made with a handful of pantry ingredients.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Cooling Time 5 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Dinner Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 245 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 8-12 skin-on chicken drumsticks
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper and place a wire rack on it.
  • In a small mixing bowl, combine the oil, Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, onion, powder, salt, and pepper.
  • Place the chicken drumsticks in a large Ziploc bag or bowl. Pour the oil and seasoning mix over the chicken a toss the chicken to coat it with the seasoning mix.
  • Place each chicken leg on the wire rack making sure there is a little space between each drumstick.
  • Bake the chicken legs for 40 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking using tongs. They are done when a meat thermometer reaches 165 degrees F.
  • (Optional) For crispier skin, broil the chicken for 2-3 minutes after baking.
  • Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel to remove any moisture to help the oil stick and get the skin crispier.
  • Leave space between each chicken leg on the wire rack.
  • Store any leftover chicken legs in an airtight bag or container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months!
  • Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes. They can also be reheated in the air fryer for 5-7 minutes at 375 degrees F.

Nutrition

Calories: 245kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 18gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.05gCholesterol: 93mgSodium: 300mgPotassium: 247mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 217IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg

This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.

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