Oven Baked Chicken Legs (Printable)

Crispy, juicy chicken legs seasoned with aromatic spices and roasted until golden perfection.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 8 chicken legs (drumsticks), skin-on

→ Marinade & Seasoning

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon paprika
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
06 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
07 - 1 teaspoon salt
08 - ½ teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish (optional)

09 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
10 - Lemon wedges, for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and set a wire rack on top if available.
02 - Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels and place them in a large bowl.
03 - Drizzle olive oil over the chicken. Add paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper. Toss well to coat the chicken evenly with the seasoning.
04 - Arrange the chicken legs in a single layer on the prepared baking rack or sheet, leaving space between each piece.
05 - Bake for 40–45 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
06 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The crispy skin gives way to incredibly juicy meat every single time
  • Five minutes of prep work transforms into a meal that feels special
  • The seasoning blend hits all the right notes without being overwhelming
02 -
  • Skip the wire rack and your chicken will still taste great, but the skin stays crisper with air circulating underneath
  • That extra 2 to 3 minutes under the broiler at the end transforms good chicken into restaurant quality crispy skin
  • Letting the chicken rest might feel impossible when it smells this good, but it keeps the juices from running all over your cutting board
03 -
  • Invest in a good instant read thermometer to take the guesswork out of doneness
  • Let your chicken sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before cooking for more even cooking

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