Oven Baked Chicken Legs
These oven baked chicken legs have tender, juicy meat and golden, crispy skin perfectly seasoned for a delicious and easy dinner any night of the week!
Servings: 5 people
Calories: 373kcal
Equipment
- 1 Baking Sheet with Wire Rack
Ingredients
- 12 chicken drumsticks, skin-on
- 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1½ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Put the 12 chicken legs on a large plate or dish. Using a basting brush, lather 3 Tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil evenly over all the drumsticks. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine 3 teaspoons of dried oregano, 1½ teaspoon of poultry seasoning, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, and ½ teaspoon cumin.
- Using a spoon, sprinkle the spice rub evenly onto each chicken leg.
- Using your hands or the basting brush, coat each chicken leg with the spice rub until completely covered on all sides.
- Put each piece on the wire rack on top of a baking sheet. Put the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and using tongs, turn the chicken legs.
- Increase the heat to 450°F and cook the chicken legs for 15 more minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Patting the chicken dry with a paper towel before adding oil and seasonings will help the skin crisp up even more!
- The key to getting ultra-crispy chicken thighs is to use a wire rack above your baking sheet. The rack helps air flow all around the chicken so that every side is crispy, and you're not left with a crispy top and a soggy bottom.
- Avoid overcrowding the pan. Keep an inch or so of space in between each chicken leg.
- Use up every last bit of the oil and seasoning by brushing any leftovers on the plate back onto the chicken that's been placed on the wire rack before baking!
- Once you take these chicken legs out of the oven, let them rest on the rack for at least 5-10 minutes. This helps the juices distribute throughout the chicken before you bite into them for an ultra tender and juicy bite!
- Add extra flavor by using a garlic or rosemary flavor-infused oil!
Nutrition
Calories: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 167mg | Sodium: 656mg | Potassium: 447mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 320IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 2mg