These simple, juicy Baked Chicken Legs are made with a mouthwatering combo of spices. Tossed with cornstarch, each bite of chicken will be crispy and delicious. Pair these yummy chicken legs with your favorite sides, like mashed potatoes, for a tasty meal.
This oven-baked chicken legs recipe is simple, easy, and ready to eat in less than an hour! I’ve included a yummy spice mix for this dish, though you can easily adjust the seasoning to your preference. This recipe is made with a handful of ingredients (most are likely in your pantry), so it’s budget-friendly.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Crispy – Adding cornstarch to the spice mixture helps create a deliciously crispy exterior for these baked chicken legs.
- Easy – You need minimal ingredients and kitchen tools for this recipe.
- Flavorful – These crispy baked chicken legs are made with yummy spices like paprika, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Breading-free – Using cornstarch helps create a breading-free coating, so this recipe is gluten-free.
- Versatile – Easily adjust the seasoning to your preferences.
- Great for weeknight dinners – This recipe pairs well with many side dishes, so it’s a great option for dinners during the week.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
How to Bake Chicken Legs
Quick Overview
- Preheat the oven.
- Toss chicken and spices.
- Bake.
Step by Step Instructions
Don’t skip the cornstarch; it helps create a crispy crust on the chicken.
Allow plenty of space between the chicken legs so they cook properly.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl or zip top bag, toss all of the ingredients together until well combined.
Step 2: Place a metal wire rack on a large baking sheet.
Step 3: Arrange the chicken legs on the rack so there is space between them. Spray generously with oil.
Step 4: Bake for about 40-45 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 185 degrees. Spray generously with oil 2-3 times while they bake.
Recipe Serving Suggestions
Garnish these baked chicken legs with parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, or hot sauce (for a kick of heat).
I love serving these easy baked chicken legs with dipping sauces or gravy for extra flavor. Here are a few ideas:
Expert Tips
- Roast at a high temperature. Baking the chicken at a higher temp helps create more tender legs and a crispier crust.
- Bake the drumsticks until they are 185-190 degrees internally. Technically, chicken only needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees, but they will be more tender and fall off the bone at this temperature.
- Use a wire rack. The best chicken leg recipes use a wire rack, as it helps circulate the hot air around the legs better. This creates a crispier crust.
- Do not overcrowd the baking sheet. Baked chicken legs cook more evenly when there’s space between them. You may need to cook the legs in batches if you have a smaller baking sheet/wire rack or have doubled/tripled the recipe.
Additions & Variations
- Try different spices: Adjust the seasoning for these baked chicken legs to your preferences, like using smoked paprika for a more complex taste. You can also base the seasoning on the side dishes. For example, if you’re creating Asian-inspired dishes, use spices like Chinese five spice to season the chicken.
- Add breadcrumbs: You can add breadcrumbs to the cornstarch/spices mixture for extra crunch. If you use a seasoned breadcrumb mixture, include less salt so the chicken isn’t overly salty.
- Marinade the chicken: For a bolder taste, marinade the chicken uncovered in the fridge for one hour before tossing it in the spice mix. Ensure you remove excess marinade and pat the chicken dry prior to adding the spices. This will help the chicken get crispy in the oven.
- Include potatoes: Roast potato chunks with the chicken for a more filling meal. Double the seasoning mix and sprinkle it over the potatoes (along with some olive oil or cooking spray) to create a roasted chicken potato recipe.
- Use chicken thighs: You can still make this recipe using chicken thighs if that’s what you have on hand. You’ll need more seasoning/cornstarch since thighs are larger than drumsticks. The bake time will also be longer for chicken thighs.
Recipe FAQs
The best baked chicken legs temperature is 425, as it creates the crispiest skin and more tender chicken meat. However, you can still create crispy baked chicken drumsticks at 400 degrees.
Keep the drumsticks uncovered in the oven so they can get nice and crispy on the outside. This helps the air circulate around the baked chicken legs.
Do not overcook the chicken, as this will dry it out in the oven. Ensure you follow the recipe notes, and take the chicken out of the oven when the internal temp is 185 degrees.
The cooktime for your chicken legs will vary a bit depending on the size of the drumsticks. However, it should take around 40-45 minutes. Check the internal temperature at the 40-minute mark and continue cooking them until they reach 165F (or 185F for juicier chicken drummies).
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Best Crispy Baked Chicken Legs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 (2 pounds) chicken legs (drumsticks)
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon Morton kosher salt*
- 1 Tablespoon EACH granulated garlic, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, ground mustard, & white sugar
- fresh cracked black pepper
- spray oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl or zip top bag, toss all of the ingredients together until well combined.8 (2 pounds) chicken legs (drumsticks), 1 Tablespoon cornstarch, 1 Tablespoon Morton kosher salt*, 1 Tablespoon EACH granulated garlic, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, ground mustard, & white sugar, fresh cracked black pepper
- Place a metal wire rack on a large baking sheet.
- Arrange the chicken legs on the rack so there is space between them. Spray generously with oil.spray oil
- Bake for about 40-45 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 185 degrees. Spray generously with oil 2-3 times while they bake.
Notes
- Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
- Roast at a high temperature. Baking the chicken at a higher temp helps create more tender legs and a crispier crust.
- Bake the drumsticks until they are 185-190 degrees internally. Technically, chicken only needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees, but they will be more tender and fall off the bone at this temperature.
- Use a wire rack. The best chicken leg recipes use a wire rack, as it helps circulate the hot air around the legs better. This creates a crispier crust.
- Do not overcrowd the baking sheet. Baked chicken legs cook more evenly when there’s space between them. You may need to cook the legs in batches if you have a smaller baking sheet/wire rack or have doubled/tripled the recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Super flavorful & great for a week night meal.
These crispy chicken legs tasted amazing and the flavors are spot on. My kids loved it.
Thank you!
These look super crunchy. Cannot wait for my friend, who is a mad fan of all things crunchy, to try it.
I absolutely love drumsticks! This recipe is so flavorful and easy to prepare. I plan on making these again for the holidays because it’ll feed a crowd and I know my family will enjoy these as much as I did.