Baked Chicken Legs
These baked chicken legs are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and an easy kid-friendly dinner idea for a busy night. Make them in the oven or air fryer for a quick-prep meal.
I've been making baked chicken legs for my daughter since she was an itty bitty thing. It has been her favorite family dinner for as long as I can remember.
In honor of the original "Peanut's" upcoming milestone 18th birthday, I thought I'd share her very favorite birthday dinner.
If you're cooking for kids, this is an essential dinner recipe to have in your repertoire. It is so easy to make and the chicken bakes up with a gorgeous crispy skin and juicy, tender meat.
Pair it with your kiddo's favorite sides and you'll have a delicious meal to fall back on when you need a win at the dinner table.
Why This is the Best Recipe
- Crispy, Golden-Brown Skin: Baking the chicken in the oven at a high heat gives you a deliciously crunchy chicken skin without deep frying.
- Juicy and Flavorful Meat: The bone-in drumsticks stay moist while absorbing the simple seasoning blend using items you have on hand.
- Kid-Friendly: My daughter loves this recipe so much, it has been her birthday meal for as long as we can remember!
Ingredients
This recipe uses an easy list of budget-friendly ingredients you probably already have on hand:
- Chicken Drumsticks: Bone-in, skin-on is essential here.
- Olive Oil: Chicken drumsticks with the bone are a fattier cut of meat so you may be tempted to skip the olive oil. Please use it, this is the magic ingredient for extra-crispy skin.
- Seasoned Salt: You can use any brand you love or make my easy homemade seasoned salt.
- Garlic Salt
- Cayenne Pepper: A pinch of cayenne adds a depth to the spice rub but does not make these chicken legs "spicy." If you want spicy chicken, go ahead and add more.
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Season the Chicken
Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean up.
Arrange the chicken legs in neat rows with air between each piece so everything can brown and crisp up properly.
Drizzle the olive oil over the top and turn each leg to coat. I use a pastry brush to make sure every inch is coated.
Stir together the seasonings to make a chicken rub. Sprinkle it evenly over the chicken and rub it in over both sides.
Baking Instructions (Oven)
Preheat the oven to 450°F.
Bake the chicken legs for a total of 40 minutes.
Turn the chicken half way through baking so that the skin browns evenly on both sides.
Air Fryer Cooking Instructions
If you prefer to cook the chicken in an air fryer, preheat your appliance to 400°F.
Place the drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don’t overlap. This helps prevent the skin from getting soggy. The air flow is essential for getting them crispy.
Air fry for 10 minutes, then flip the chicken and continue cooking for another 10-12 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Make Ahead Tips
Meal Prep: Season the chicken up to 24 hours before baking and store the legs in the fridge in a covered dish.
Storage: Leftover cooked chicken legs can be refrigerated for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
Reheating: Warm the chicken pieces in the oven at 375°F for 10-15 minutes to restore the crispy skin texture.
Serving Suggestions
When I serve chicken legs for my daughter's birthday dinner she always asks me to make chicken flavored Rice-a-Roni and add cut watermelon as a side dish.
If you prefer from-scratch sides, my Instant Pot rice pilaf is very similar to Rice-a-Roni or you could try my ranch roasted potatoes.
Add a simple garden salad and a sweet corn side dish like my crock pot creamed corn or this veggie-heavy chunky corn salsa.
More Chicken Recipes
Looking for more great chicken recipes for dinner? Here are a few of our essential ways of cooking this budget-friendly meat:
📖 Recipe
Baked Chicken Legs
Ingredients
- 12 bone-in, skin-on chicken drumsticks about 4 pounds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
Oven Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 450°F.
- Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Arrange the chicken legs in neat rows. Drizzle the olive oil over the top and brush it over the surface of both sides of each drumstick.
- Add the spices to a small bowl and stir them together until evenly combined. Sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken and rub it in on all sides. Rearrange the chicken pieces into neat rows.
- Bake the chicken for 20 minutes and then flip each piece over so both sides brown well. Bake for an additional 20 minutes or until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
Air Fryer Instructions:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Add the chicken legs to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the olive oil over the top and turn to coat. Sprinkle the seasoning evenly over the chicken and turn to coat on all sides.
- Working in batches so that you don't overcrowd your air fryer basket, cook the chicken for 25 minutes, turning half way through. The chicken has to be cooked in a single layer or the skin will steam and not crisp up as it should.
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