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Crispy Baked Chicken Legs Recipe

Crispy Baked Chicken Legs Recipe
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★★★★★

4.7 from 14 reviews

This Crispy Baked Chicken Legs recipe offers perfectly seasoned, oven-baked drumsticks with irresistibly crispy skin and juicy meat. Easy to prepare and packed with flavorful spices, this dish makes a satisfying weeknight dinner or casual meal that everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 8 skin-on chicken drumsticks (approx. 2 pounds total weight)

Seasoning and Oil

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon sea salt (reduce to 1 teaspoon for lower sodium)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon smoked or sweet paprika
  • 1 tablespoon dry mustard (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
  2. Prepare Seasoning Mixture: In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, sea salt, black pepper, and dry mustard if using. Mix well to create an even spice blend.
  3. Make the Oil Paste: Stir the olive oil into the spice blend until it forms a uniform paste that will coat the chicken evenly.
  4. Bring Chicken to Room Temperature: Let the chicken drumsticks sit out of the fridge for about 15 minutes to help them cook evenly.
  5. Pat Dry the Chicken: Use paper towels to thoroughly pat the chicken dry. This step is crucial to achieve crispy skin during baking.
  6. Coat Chicken: Use a pastry brush or your hands to generously coat each drumstick with the olive oil and spice paste, ensuring all sides are covered.
  7. Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the coated chicken legs on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer with space between each piece to promote even cooking.
  8. Bake Initially: Bake the chicken legs on the middle rack for 30 minutes to start cooking and crisping the skin.
  9. Brush with Juices and Continue Baking: Carefully brush the chicken legs with the oil and juices from the baking tray, then return to the oven for another 5–10 minutes until the skin is deeply crispy and the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F (74°C).
  10. Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest a few minutes before serving to lock in juices and improve flavor.

Notes

  • For extra crispiness, pat the chicken skin as dry as possible before applying the seasoning mix.
  • You can use either smoked or sweet paprika depending on your taste preference; smoked adds a subtle smoky flavor.
  • Dry mustard is optional but adds a nice tangy depth to the seasoning blend.
  • Make sure to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat.
  • Leftover chicken legs can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven to maintain crispiness.

Nutrition

Keywords: crispy baked chicken legs, oven baked drumsticks, easy chicken recipe, crispy chicken skin, flavorful chicken drumsticks

Find it online: https://islawhite.com/crispy-baked-chicken-legs-recipe/