Oven Baked Easy Chicken Leg Recipe

This oven baked easy chicken leg recipe creates juicy chicken drumsticks with crispy golden skin using simple pantry spices and high oven heat. Perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, and family meals, these baked chicken legs are beginner-friendly, affordable, and packed with savory flavor.

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Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 45

Total Time: 55

Servings: servings

Calories: 320kcal

Author: Abby Pinkmann

Cost: $11

Equipment

Large mixing bowl
Wire Rack helps crisp the chicken skin
baking sheet
paper towels for drying chicken
meat thermometer to check internal temperature
Oven

Ingredients

2 lbs chicken drumsticks
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp baking powder

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Pat the chicken drumsticks completely dry using paper towels.
Place the chicken legs in a large mixing bowl.
Add olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, oregano, and baking powder.
Toss until every chicken leg becomes evenly coated with seasoning.
Place the chicken legs on a wire rack set over a baking sheet, leaving space between each piece.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, flipping the drumsticks halfway through cooking.
Check that the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F using a meat thermometer.
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Pat the chicken completely dry before seasoning to achieve the crispiest skin. Use a wire rack over the baking sheet so hot air circulates evenly around the drumsticks. Avoid overcrowding the pan because trapped moisture softens the skin. Let the chicken rest before serving so the juices stay inside the meat.

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