Best Crispy Baked Chicken Legs

5 from 42 votes

Best Crispy Baked Chicken Legs

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.

Prep Time5

Cook Time40

Total Time45

Course: Main

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Brianna May

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