Description
This Crispy Baked Chicken Legs Recipe delivers perfectly seasoned, golden-brown drumsticks with a delightfully crunchy skin and juicy interior. Using a simple mix of poultry seasoning, baking powder, and olive oil, followed by oven baking on a rack allows excess fat to drip away, ensuring crispiness without frying. Ideal for a flavorful, fuss-free dinner that everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds chicken drumsticks, cleaned with excess fat removed
Seasoning Mix
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon poultry seasoning or seasoning of choice
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more if desired
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, plus more if desired
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
- Dry the chicken: Place a cooling rack over a large baking sheet and layer with paper towels. Arrange the chicken drumsticks on top of the wire rack and tent with additional paper towels. Transfer to the refrigerator for at least two hours, preferably overnight. If short on time, pat the chicken legs as dry as possible with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Preheat and prepare the rack: Preheat the oven to 400 ℉ (204 ℃). Discard the paper towels from the cooling rack and spray the rack lightly with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Season the chicken: In a large mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, poultry seasoning, salt, black pepper, and baking powder. Add the chicken drumsticks to the bowl and use your hands to gently but thoroughly coat each piece evenly with the seasoning mixture.
- Arrange and bake: Transfer the seasoned chicken legs to the prepared wire rack, spacing them evenly to allow air circulation for even baking. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a digital meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the drumstick registers 165 ℉ (74 ℃).
- Rest and serve: Remove the chicken legs from the oven and let them rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute before serving crispy, juicy chicken drumsticks.
Notes
- Leftover chicken legs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- For extra crispiness, avoid overcrowding the baking rack and ensure the chicken skin is as dry as possible before seasoning.
- Baking powder helps create that crispy skin without frying, so don’t skip it.
- Use a meat thermometer to guarantee safe internal temperature while avoiding overcooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 drumstick (approx. 85g)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 0.2g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
