Baked Chicken Legs

Tender, juicy baked chicken legs are a versatile dish that pair well with any sides! With just a few minutes of prep and a few ingredients, you can create an easy weeknight dinner with plenty of flavor.

For this recipe, we just use the drumsticks as they are easy to find and cook. If you are looking for the entire chicken quarter (chicken thighs plus chicken drumstick), check out my recipe for Roasted Chicken Legs Quarters!

Don’t miss a few of my other amazing easy dinner recipes like Pan Seared Ribeye Steak, Creamy Tuscan Salmon, and Chicken and Broccoli.

Mouth-watering Baked Chicken Legs 😋

Everyone needs a recipe for quality baked chicken legs. This one does not disappoint! It includes everything you’re looking for in the perfect weeknight meal. It’s easy, versatile and oh, so delicious!

• Easy recipe and clean up: This recipe requires just 10 minutes of hands-on prep before popping the chicken legs in the oven. The entire recipe cooks in one dish, making clean up easy.
• Versatile main dish: Baked chicken is always great choice for dinner. It cooks in the oven which means hands-off cooking. You can serve it with a variety of sides and it works well for meal prep.
• Rich, savory flavor: The chicken legs cook in an oniony broth which creates a warm, comforting flavor.

Ingredients You Need

You only need a few simple ingredients to make these baked chicken drumsticks.

NOTE: The full list of ingredients with measurements is provided in the recipe card below.

• Chicken Drumsticks: For this recipe, we just use chicken drumsticks. Keep the skin on the chicken, as the skin helps retain moisture.
• Onion: Yellow onion works best, but you can try it with another type of onion, if desired.
• Seasonings: This recipe uses paprika, Adobo seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and salt to season the chicken drumsticks – hopefully all ingredients you probably already have in your spice drawer!
• Better Than Bouillon: The chicken or roasted garlic bouillon flavor (in a jar) works great for this recipe.
• Oil: You can use your favorite cooking oil here. I like to use a neutral-flavored oil like canola oil or grapeseed oil.

How to Bake Chicken Legs

1. Prepare the chicken for baking: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
2. Season the chicken: In a large bowl, add the chicken legs, paprika, salt, Adobo, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of oil and toss everything together until the thicken is well coated all over.

3. Sear the chicken: Heat the remaining oil in a large oven-safe skillet. A large cast-iron skillet is best here. Once hot, add the chicken legs and sear for 1 to 2 minutes per side until golden brown. Don’t cook them through here – you just want them seared to get nice color. Remove the chicken legs from the pan and set aside. Leave the chicken drippings in the pan.
4. Cook the onions: In the same skillet, add the onions. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes, until slightly softened. Stir in the bouillon, then pour in the water to deglaze the pan. Scrape up any brown bits at the bottom. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes.

5. Bake the chicken: Add the seared chicken drumsticks back to the pan on top of the onion mixture. Cover the skillet tightly with foil, then transfer to the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, then baste the chicken with the flavorful juices in the pan. Switch the oven to broil and broil for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the chicken is deeply golden and caramelized.

Recipe Tips and Variations

• Pat the chicken dry with paper towels: (before adding seasoning): This helps to crisp them up in the oven.
• Using another cut of chicken: You can use any cut of chicken for this recipe. Bone-in skin-on chicken thighs or chicken breasts also work great. However, different cuts of chicken require different cooking times. Chicken breasts do not require as much time as it’s a leaner cut of meat. Use a meat thermometer to check cook time so that you don’t over or undercook the chicken.
• Use a baking dish with plenty of space: For the best results, make sure to use a large oven-safe skillet or baking dish with plenty of space. There should be room between the drumsticks.
• Don’t skip broiling for extra crispiness: Chicken drumsticks taste amazing when they are perfectly tender on the insides and crispy on the outside. Broiling them for 5 to 8 minutes at the end of baking helps create that irresistible crispy caramelized skin.
• Use a meat-thermometer to check doneness: Chicken is done when it reads at least 165°F on an instant-read thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken to check for doneness. Since drumsticks contain dark meat, I like to cook mine to 170°F as dark meat loves high heat and can cook longer. This ensure the juiciest chicken.
• Add a garnish: To elevate the presentation or flavor of the dish, you can garnish with freshly chopped parsley or cilantro, red pepper flakes or lemon zest.

Serving Suggestions

Baked chicken drumsticks are a versatile dish that pairs well with many sides. Enjoy them for dinner with a few of my favorite sides like Caesar Salad, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Cajun Butter Corn, or rice.

Storage Instructions

Store leftover baked chicken legs in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Freezing: Store the cooked chicken in a freezer safe bag or container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.

Reheating: The best way to reheat chicken legs is in the oven. Reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through. You can place them under the broiler for the last few minutes to crisp up the skin.

Other Popular Chicken Recipes

These chicken recipes are my tried and true recipes. They consistently receive 5 star reviews. Enjoy a different chicken recipe every day of the week. The whole family will love them!

• Chicken and Alfredo Bake
• Sweet and Sour Chicken
• Italian Dressing Chicken
• Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Create an easy yet delicious dinner with these baked chicken drumsticks and your favorite easy sides.