Baked Crispy Chicken Legs – A few simple tricks makes this chicken legs crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and ridiculously flavorful. It’s quick, easy, paleo, gluten-free and only requires 10 mins prep.
Inspired by the success with this crispy baked chicken wings that I made here. I decided to give it a spin with chicken legs- same flavorful bite and crispy crunchy coating without the aid of breadcrumbs or flour.
Since chicken drumsticks are larger than wings, I included a generous amount of onion, garlic to compensate for it’s size- to fully permeate the chicken. I switched out the thyme for Italian herbs, you can use any other dried herbs that you have on hand.
The most important thing about these baked chicken drumsticks is ensuring that they are dry. The chicken legs need to be as dry as possible to crisp up the skin. 
Don’t forget to drizzle them with a little bit of canola oil and bake rotating the chicken legs half way through baking . For easy clean up, line the baking pan with foil paper.
Serve them up with this pepper sauce or any hot or dipping sauce of your choice.
Watch How to Make It
Baked Crispy Chicken Legs - A few simple tricks makes this chicken legs crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and ridiculously flavorful. It’s quick, easy, paleo, gluten-free and only requires 10 mins prep.
- 3 - 3 ½ pound chicken legs
- 1 Tablespoon Dried Italian herbs
- 1 ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ tablespoon onion powder
- 1 ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon bouillon powder (you may replace with salt)
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Wash chicken legs and place them on a cookie sheet in a single layer, then let them sit in the fridge for a minimum of 3 hours or preferable overnight. Do not cover them; let the air-dry them out. You can omit this part and proceed with the spices.
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When ready to bake, preheat oven to 425°.
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Place the chicken in a large bowl, with all the spices, and then drizzle with coil.
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Line a baking pan with foil; top with a wire rack. Arrange chicken legs out in a single layer. While the chicken legs are baking oil will slowly drip to the bottom of the baking pan.
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Bake chicken legs until cooked through and skin is crispy, about 45-50 minutes-rotate chicken legs half way through-roughly 20 minutes.
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Remove and serve with your favorite chicken sauce or african pepper sauce
This is the very first time to rate a recipe. I usually look through comments to see what people think. Well I think on a scale from 1-10 this one is a 12‼️
My husband said these are the best legs he has ever had. I agree. Drying them out overnight was the trick. I never did that before. Also I use a drum stick holder to (roast in the oven)them as we eat a lot of drumsticks. Thanks for sharing this fantastic recipe. It is one to make for everything ‼️
I’ve been making these for a couple of months now and I never write reviews. BUT this rub is incredible! My bf asks for it all the time!! It’s his favorite and he brags about this chicken to everyone. To make it extra crispy we sometimes add butter before the rub and it makes it sooo good!!! But that’s if you don’t mind adding extra calories to your day. We’ve sprinkled this on shrimp and veggies and it came out amazing as well! Great job
Just found this. These are awesome! Thanks.
Just made this today and it was delicious! My hubby said they were the best chicken legs he has ever had. Thank you!
Yaaay! Thank you for the compliment. =)
I literally never comment on recipes (or on any other type of post, for that matter) but O…M….G these are out of this world so I just had to say something. I had high doubts that the chicken would actually come out crispy but it did!!! I dried them well with a paper towel and was only able to let them sit in fridge for 1.5hours but they were PERFECT. Making this again tomorrow, as the twelve legs I made yesterday didn’t last long in our family of five!
Glad it was such a hit in your family, Lauren. And thank you for taking the time to let me know. I appreciate it. 🙂
I made this for lunch today and hubby and kid loved it. It is a Little spicy but not overpowering. The skin wasn’t as crispy as I had expected but wasn’t rubbery either. Great recipe.
YUM, Love this recipe! It’s been a weekly staple in our house over the last year. Thank you so much for sharing!
I usually make the spice rub ahead of time for an even faster weeknight dinner.
Making the spice rub ahead indeed saves a lot of time. Glad you love this recipe as much as I do. 🙂 Happy weekend!
My family loves this recipe! They literally don’t want me to make drumsticks any other way again. I thought at first they might be a little too spicy, but received nothing but happy responses from my husband and step son. My husband and I plan on using this awesome rub for some grill food come warmer weather! Thank you for this great recipe, I hope you have a lovely new year!
Mine weren’t crispy. I even tried them out overnight in the refrigerator. I’m going to try putting them on for real for a few minutes each. I’ll try this recipe again because it sounds so good.
Sorry to hear about this. It works all the time for me, the trick is to make sure it’s not wet when baking .
So you don’t put anything in the pan such as oil,etc…you just put the seasoned chicken in the oven and that’s it?
I have tried it both ways and it works. Add oil or not it still comes out tasty.
WOW! I love when I stumble upon a website with great recipes! I was entertaining the other night, for a group I like making chicken legs and was just looking for something different! I am a daring person also as I was trying a new recipe on guests! I just read the comments and your instructions and knew they would be great! Love your videos also. They were fabulous, got asked for the recipe and everyone was raving over them! Thank you so much, looking forward to trying other recipes from you, the chai is next!
Thank you for dropping by, Susan! Can’t wait for you to try my chai latte. Cheers!
Hello! Is it ok to use a different oil I’m out of canola oil 🙁
Yes it is. Whatever rocks your boat.
Made these tonight. Definitely a hit. The man loved them and ate 4 pieces! Only difference I made was using garlic salt (i ran out of just garlic powder), no pepper (i forgot lol) and I added a sprinkle of curry powder.
They came out perfectly crispy, juicy and flavorful. I baked for 50 mins (25 per side).
Made these last night for dinner. What a hit! This is by far one of if not the best chicken leg recipe!
Thank you for the awesome feedback, Pamela! Have a lovely weekend!
I had serious misgivings about this recipe. There are so many recipes and even cooking appliances that say they make the outsides crispy and they don’t. But this recipe definitely did!!! Delicious crunchy crispy spicy skin and insides were juicy and flavorful.
I cooked 5 skin-on bone-in chicken drumsticks, approximately 2 3/4 pounds, so I cut the spices about in half and reduced the cooking time about 5-10 minutes, especially for two of the smaller drumsticks.
I think good paper towel drying is the key to having the spices stick to the skin which is necessary for crisping. I love spicey foods but I may have gone a little bit too heavy. I used Old Bay seasoning and Brew Pub chicken seasoning for the chicken bouillon. Could have been a bit of overkill Lol!
Thank you very much for a fantastic recipe. I will definitely use it again with chicken parts and maybe pork chops and even some veggies.
Hugs, Tanna
You’re always welcome, Tanna! I’m so happy you like this recipe. It’s one of our fave chicken recipe, too.
Made these for my family tonight, and they are amazing!! My partner accidentally bought legs at Costco even though he hates dark meat, so I had the challenge of cooking tons of drumsticks for someone who doesn’t even like them. Well, he LOVED them. The kids all loved them too; even the baby gnawed the bones. #winning
P.S. these really give our famous Gus’s a run for their money with that cayenne, and they’re way healthier!
Oh Sarah, chicken legs are my son’s fave. 😉 Glad to know your family loved it, too. 🙂
Will this work without the rack? I dont have one and dont want to go to the store.
Yes it would.
Ok, they’re in the oven. But I have to say….. I may have SUPER screwed this up. I forgot to dry the chicken with paper towels first. I used a ziplock to coat them in spices and after reading the comments, I think I used WAY too much oil. I DID however put them on a rack in the oven, the one thing I did right. Also I didn’t have and Italian seasoning mix so I tried whole foods poultry seasoning and added oregano, marjoram and basil, then combined the other spices per the recipe. Fingers crossed this isn’t a disaster! Just unplugged the smoke detector LOL!
Made this today. So easy and yummy! My drumsticks were still half frozen so I kept them.in 30 min each side and they were perfection. Love this!
Thanks for letting me know, Kelly! This is one my fave chicken recipe, indeed.
I have made these a couple times now, and all I can say is, wow! Super easy, and so so delicious. Thank you for the recipe, love it!!
Thanks for dropping by, Dawn! I appreciate it.
No biggie, but the instructions have a leftover “wing” from your previous recipe 🙂
Bake chicken legs until cooked through and skin is crispy, about 45-50 minutes-rotate ** wings ** half way through-roughly 20 minutes.
Will be cooking these up tonight, thanks, I like the tip of drying them out in the fridge.
Thanks for pointing it out, Jules. Happy cooking! 🙂
I never leave reviews, and as a Celiac, I cook A LOT…. but this recipe is PURE PERFECTION and I had to say so!
I dried them well with paper towel, tossed in a little canola/olive oil, then used onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, chilli powder, a pinch of cumin, freshly ground black peppercorn, and grey sea salt.
WOW. WOW. WOW.
Didn’t realise what a difference it made making sure the drummies were completely dry first.
When they were done, I was ready with my bottle of Frank’s Red Hot Sauce (I put that $#!t on everything!), but tasted the chicken first and didn’t use a drop of sauce.
They are perfect as they are..
THANK YOU FOR THIS DELICIOUS RECIPE!
Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know, Jen. I’m glad you decided to eat the chicken first on its own. 😉
Me too!
Making them again, right now! 😀
Hold the sauce!!!!!!
Great Recipe! Thanks for the easy way to serve a great chicken dish without a lot of hassle! Delicious!
OMG!! Amazing! Thank you.
Awesome! Glad to know it worked out well for you.
I’m so disappointed and through no fault of the recipe. I am tired of trying to be thrifty and buying chicken legs on sale (this time for $.79/lb) and then being HUGE. So huge I had them in the oven for 1 hour, 20 minutes and the bigger ones still weren’t done. And by that point, I was done with it all, because I made a lot (for 9 people) and it was really smoking up the house when I opened the oven. I would love to try these again with smaller legs. The flavor was really good.
Sorry to hear it happened that way, Melissa. Please let me know how it turns out on your next try.
try baking at a lower temp for longer and less oil.
Interesting that the recipe doesn’t change the bake time for larger quantities. The more potatoes you put in the oven, the longer it takes for a baked potato to be done. The same thermal transference applies to more chicken legs, too.
What do you mean by bouillon powder. Like chicken bouillon powder?
Yes, chicken bouillon powder.
These were delicious!!! Both my husband and I loved the seasoning, and the crispy exterior. Today, I’m making this with chicken thighs! Thank you!
Glad you both like it, Gabriela! ENjoy!
this is my favorite chicken recipe. Thank you
It’s a keeper. Glad you love it, Bolivia!
Perfection! I was a vegetarian for decades, now transitioning to cooking and eating meat again. With this recipe, no one would ever know I hadn’t cooked poultry in ages! So delicious. Thank you!
You’re most welcome, Jill! This recipe is easy to follow through while using simple ingredients. Thanks for stopping by!
Iam making it right now …it smells so good 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Nancy! Happy eating! 🙂
This is so tasty! Thank you very much for sharing!! I love your website.
Thank you for stopping by, Yanyan! Happy cooking!
This is the best recipe . Made it the other day and now making it again today. I am cutting up chicken bread to make chicken tenders this time. Do you have any suggestions on Cook time?
Thank you in advance
Hi, Angela! You can bake chicken tenders for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Hi! I just wanted to come in to let you know your recipe has been in regular and heavy rotation all year! It is a rare and special day when I can satisfy the totally opposite tastes of my husband and my little daughter, plus myself! So this is a definite winner!! Thank you — looking forward to trying more recipes on your site! <3
Thanks for taking the time, Dianne. I appreciate it! Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
I just tried this recipe and my kids that are homeschooled love it!!!!
Hi,
I have a couple comments…firstly, the recipe doesn’t state how much oil to drizzle on the chicken…it would help to know how much to use.
Second, although the flavour was amazing, the spices were a bit clumpy and were kind of charred.
I would appreciate your help with these concerns.
Hi, Shelley! Sorry to hear about that! I’d say you drizzle the chicken with about 1-2 tablespoons of oil and I suggest that you evenly coat the chicken with the spices and make sure that chicken is dry to avoid any clumps. Rotate the tray in the oven half way through for even cooking. Hope this helps.
I just made these and they were incredible! So much flavour and super crispy without deep frying. Instead of drizzling oil over the seasoned chicken I sprayed them all over with cooking spray, which worked really well. Thanks for this delicious, easy recipe!
Glad to hear it turned out great for you, Alexandra! Thanks for taking the time to let me know. 🙂
I tried this recipe today. The weather is so nice I decided to grilled them instead of baking. My wife loved them. They looked and tasted as if they had been fried.
Thanks for stopping by, Sal! This season is indeed perfect for all the grilling. 😉
I’ve used this recipe 3 times already and it is awesome! And yes, the most important thing I’ve discovered is to ensure the chicken is dry. That is how the seasoning really sticks and makes the biggest impact. Thank you so much for this recipe! Everyone in my family enjoys it 🙂
Would subbing black pepper for the white pepper, change the taste greatly? Also, should I add less black pepper?
No not at all. White pepper is more peppery than black. So feel free to switch it out .
Very glad I found this recipe. Although I did not have time to leave the drumsticks in the fridge for 3+ hours, they still came out great.
Finally I made a dinner where my kids were fighting for seconds! It was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside I am pinning this to make it in our regular rotation. Thanks for posting such a yummy, healthy recipe that any novice cook can make!
YAY!!! Kids have the most discerning palates. So happy to hear it was a hit with the kiddos.
Made exactly as directions but used less chicken so i has some seasoning left over.Delicious, very well balanced seasoning, crispy oven chicken, highly recommend this recipe, goes well with many different sides, i made it with vegetable fried rice and went very well with it but would go well with mashed or oven roasted potatoes too or even with fries, Yummy!! Thank you for posting this
Awesome ! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
This was excellent! My boyfriend and I loved the spice and I’ve added the recipe to my collection. Thank you 🙂
Awesome! Happy to hear to this.
I made these tonight for the first time and even my 14-year old picky eater grandson said, “MMMM, that was tasty!” I’ll definitely make them again.
I rinsed the drumsticks and let them drain for a bit then dried them real well with a paper towel as I didn’t have time for the fridge drying. They came out nice and crispy, baked on a rack on top of a foil-lined baking sheet as recommended.
I did decrease the white pepper and cayenne pepper a bit as I thought they would be too spicy for my group and they were just right.
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I’m going to try it on wings sometime!
Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to share such detailed feedback.
The aroma was wonderful while they were cooking. Lots of flavour but a bit too spicy for me. Next time will reduce the heat . My son and his family will love them, just as they are. Thanks for the recipe.
My pleasure! Thanks for the feedback Beverly.
Normally when I cook drumsticks I put them in the oven at 400 for 20min (turning them over after 10) and they are completely done. This recipe states to put them in at a higher heat and for double the time – does this not dry them up? Trying to understand how this works when my chicken cooks in less time normally. Something to do with drying them out in the fridge first? Thanks!
It doesn’t dry them out Anika. It always comes out juicy.
My second time making these. They are sooooo yummy!! I have a satisfied husband and son! <3 Thanks for the recipe.
Awesome! Happy to hear it worked out well for you.
I was a lover of fried foods. So even though baking was never my thing I always tried to make my meats taste fried without the the flour it breading. Chicken legs was one thing I failed at. Your recipe nailed it, this was the taste and crispness I was seeking. Thanks.
YESS! So happy to hear it worked out well Vanessa. Thanks for the feedback!
I have cooked a lot of chicken, but this was great! I expected it to be dry but I was pleasantly disappointed. My oven did smoke up a bit. I just opened a window. I used only 1/4 tsp cayenne because my husband doesn’t like spice. Will definitely make this again
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback!
I’m so happy I found your page, your presentation description is totally out of this world, I’m going to be trying these recipes out, I might even be able to be ready for when God presents me as a wife to future Hubby LoL.
Amen Girl! You sure will ! Thank you so much!!!
Absolutely perfect method!! I made chicken drumsticks using your using suya spices and it was delicious. Thank you, from my family to yours!!!
Great! Thanks for taking the out to share this with us. Stay Bless!!
Um this was the best chicken I have ever made! My kids devoured it in minutes! Thank you so easy! Will be in a regular rotation at our house. Many thanks from Utah 🙂
Aww, thanks Christina! So happy to hear it worked out so well for you. It’s one of my son’s favorite too!!
Can one mix the spices in batches for future cooking?
You sure can. I do it all the time!
Tried out this recipe, this came out fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe.
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback!
Canola oil is pretty toxic and not Paleo ( I’m not Paleo either, but I don’t consume vegetable oils…because, health)
Other than that small caveat, nice flavor and method.
Thanks for sharing !!!
Very good, you mentioned an African sauce for dipping, sounds interesting. Where did I miss it?
It’s right here https://www.africanbites.com/african-pepper-sauce/
I just noticed the section at the bottom of recommendations to share with this meal. What an awesome feature! Brilliant to include on your recipes!
Hi Windy! Glad to hear you like it . Happy Holidays!!!
Hi Imma! These drumsticks were so amazingly delicious and SO easy to prepare! I am thrilled that I found your website today and I can’t wait to try more of your recipes. P.S. Gal, you are drop-dead gorgeous! You take care of what God has blessed you with!!! And I hope you have a deeply blessed and joyous Christmas season in celebration of His son’s birth and the love of your friends and family.
Aww, thank you so much Windy!! You are too kind! Merry and blessed Christmas to you too!!!
I have always had terrible luck when it comes to chicken drumsticks. This is the first recipe that I have successfully accomplished. It is now the only recipe that I use!
Oh WoW! Glad to hear it worked out well so well for you. Thanks for the feedback!
Delicious!!!!!! Thank you.
Thanks !
Hello,
Will the recipe work for turkey?
Alan
Yes it would.
Growing up fried chicken was always a staple for dinner. I remember how much my grandma loved her fried chicken and mashed potatoes. She’d make it for dinner at least once a month, and the family would come running. What’s not to love? Crispy, crunchy, juicy and flavorful fried chicken is pretty much the bomb diggity of chicken.
Just did your chicken legs for supper, will be one of my goto recipes! Delicious. Thanks.
Hi Carol! Thanks for taking the time to let me know. Glad to hear it worked out well for you.
Tried this recipe for chicken legs about 6 months ago in spring, and my BBQ hasn’t seen a chicken leg since. By far the best recipe for baked chicken my wife and I have ever tried. My barbecue sauce is sitting unused in the fridge.
I actually cook it for an extra 10 minutes ( 1 hr) and chicken is still juicy, and every bite contains lots of flavour. I cut down on the salt. Great!
YES! Am firing up my bbq with these chicken legs. Thanks for taking the time to share this with us Sam.
HI,
I am so excited to make this recipe. I recently started the Keto diet so this is perfect. But can you tell me how many legs are considered a serving? I have to keep track of carbs so would be helpful to know.
Thanks so much for this recipe it looks amazing.
Thanks Doreen! I see where you might have been confused , I have updated the servings . This recipe serves about 6 -8, depending on the amount used . It’s usually 2 chicken legs per person, maybe more ,depending on the size or individual. Hope this helps
Delicious!!
YESS!!!
What country are these measurements from
U.S measurements .
Hello-I am a Dad of four. Solo. So cooking is new to me. I am trying to do better. I have made this twice. Both times, it turned out soggy not crispy. Any guesses on why? Too much is my guess. Any ideas?
Sorry to hear about that! And kudos to you for trying it out twice. You are one determined dad . Here are a couple of tips that might help. Make sure your chicken legs are dry , before applying the rub, spread them out on the cookie rack, Annnd go easy with the oil. Hope this helps!
Stumbled upon this recipe through a Google search and decided I just have to make them. Everybody loved them, the toddlers too. Next time I will make more, the leftovers (because of the yummy seasoning) would be great in a Quesadilla.
Greetings from Switzerland, Katy
YAY! So excited to hear the toddlers enjoy it too Katy! They have the most discerning palates. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know.
I make these for friends when we have get togethers and they’re always a big hit. Thank you so much for sharing Imma!
I was thinking about baking 40 mins in the oven and finishing them on my charcoal grill with some indirect coals and apple chips for 10-15 mins. Anyone have any advice for finishing the cook with this method? Should I cook them longer in the oven before transferring? I don’t want to dry them out or under cook them. Thanks again!
That would work ! Just enough time for the charred flavor. I do it the other way round sometimes. Start by grilling for about 15- 20 mins and finish it in the oven . Another 25 minutes – more or less depending on the size of chicken, until chicken is cooked through.
Great recipe and the cookie cooler is key! I make a batch, though I use a spiced buttermilk marinade along with the dry rub, once a week for midday snacks. Thanks!
Yes it is! Glad to hear it worked out well for you.
Made for the family & absolutely everyone loved it! Drumsticks were a bit larger so I cooked em ten minutes longer & I used lemon pepper instead of white pepper, but other than the minor alterations, your recipe is heavenly. Will be sharing as well as trying your other recipes soon. Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for sharing Kelly. Really means a lot to me !!!
I loved this recipe so much, it was crispy and tender and delicious. I used it on shrimp which worked out well…I would love to know the calorie, sat. Fat, and protein count..would like to incorporate into my WW meals….
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it. Unfortunately at this time I do not have a calorie counter. Thanks
I’m drying the chicken now but maybe for an hour. Also I don’t have a cookie cooking rack, do you think if I use a baking sheet they will crisp up at least a little still?
They definitely would but not as much.
Made this recipe, loved this recipe, and will make this recipe again!!!
This is what I’ll be making for our buffet style family Easter dinner and I predict success….
I’s easy to make, air drying the meat does make a nice difference & I had everything on hand.
I’ve added this to my regular menu. It’s a welcomed addition to my usual Acadian culinary traditions.
Merci beaucoup!
Par de quoi Eva! Thank you so much for the kind words!
Late to this party, but I found your site while looking up things to do with chicken legs and this was perfection. We’ll definitely be having these again soon!
The party never stops here! Glad to have you on board Lynette. Thanks for the feedback!
Made this last night and it is incredible! I have a tendency to mess up chicken, and my fiance normally hates chicken (even at restaurants), but this he loved! And so did I! Thank you for a great recipe!
Awesome!So glad to hear it worked out well for you.
OMG! These drumsticks were delicious! I removed the skin beforehand and then followed the recipe. This recipe will be made often in my house. Thank you so much!
Fantastic! Thanks for letting me know.
So I just found this recipe and I put my drumsticks on the grill instead. It was sick!!! It is amazing and you are one talented chef! The crisp was awesome. I catered to a party of 150 with this recipe.
Bless you!
Virtual High Five!!! So happy to hear it worked out well for you . Am definitely grilling some of these this weekend.
Thank you so much!!!!
This was awesome! Husband kept saying it smelt good while cooking. Then once it was done him and my kids ate it right up. Nothing left over. I didn’t have paprika (thought I did) so I just used some chili powder. It was amazing. Will do the same and put them on the grill next time!! Just to see. Awesome recipe!!
Fantastic! So glad to hear it was a hit with the family. You are really going to love the bbq version too!
I’m Going To Make These Tonight And I Can’t Wait!! However, I Dont Want To Mess It Up, So I Wanted To Ask You A Question. When You Say To Drizzle Oil After Seasoning The Chicken, How Much Oil Are You Talking About? When We Turn Them Half Way Through, Am I supposed To Drizzle More Oil Or No? I Kind Of Got Confused On That Part!
You drizzle about 1-2 tablespoons oil. When you turn them half way through you don’t have to drizzle.
P.S I made this chicken several time s without drizzle and it works out fine.
I Made Them And They Were Great!! Thank You So Much For The Recipe.! However, They Weren’t Really Crispy Like I was Expecting Them To Be Or Looked Like The Picture.. I followed The Recipe. Do You Know Why Or Where I Might Have Messed Up?
You weren’t supposed to turn/flip the chicken over. You’re just supposed to rotate the tray in the oven. Hope this helps.
Do I drizzle with oil before or after coating with the seasonings
After coating with the seasonings.Although I have tried after and before and it works out well.
Made these a few nights ago and got great reviews! Never thought to cook them on a wire rack so they could get crispy. Thanks so much for the recipe, they came out delicious!
My Pleasure! Thanks for letting me know
I didn’t have time to dry them overnight and ran out of paper towels, so I dried them with my hair dryer, it worked great! About two minutes on each side and I had dried drum sticks 🙂 These were great, my son loved them, thanks!
Hi Erika! Glad it worked out well for you. Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
Made this for dinner tonight. Will definitely be a go to dinner. So full of flavor with just the right amount of heat and easy.
Awesome! Glad it worked out well for you.
Looks good
I am so glad I found your site. The chicken legs turned out great! I cannot wait to try another recipe.
Awesome! Thanks for giving it a try! Glad you enjoyed it.
Gurl gurl gurl. Let me tell you about this chicken and what it’s doing in my life fight now!!! [By the way it’s still in the oven]. I’m one of those who loooove me some fried chicken but I can only eat it about once every 4-5 months. With this recipe I can eat chicken everyday!!!! May God bless you!!!!! I can’t write all I have to write because I must eat.
Thank you
Hahaha!!! I hear you ! Go ahead and eat Girl, it can wait. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. Bon Appetit
I was scared that the chicken would be dry, because my oven doesn’t have the temperature, but I bit into and it was juicy. Yay. Thank you for the recipe 🙂
You are welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
Dah! Forgot to dry them and already in oven. Any ideas on how to save this and make the skin crispy??
Don’t panic.It’s not going to be super crispy but it will turn out fine.
What kind of oil do you recommend and how much?
I would go with canola or vegetable oil. About 2 Tablespoons or more.
I enjoy your recipes. I made this chicken it was delicious. Thank you for sharing.This is one of my favorite websites for easy tasty dishes. Again, thank you!
Hi Kim! Thanks for the feedback! Glad you are having a blast. Happy Cooking
I came across this looking for how to make crispy chicken without breading last night and they turned out amazing! My kids aren’t fans of spicy so I had to leave out the white pepper and cayenne, but they said I need to make this ‘all the time.” Thanks for the recipe, great for low carb.
Awesome! Glad they the kids want this on the menu. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
I want to make a batch of these for a party I’m having. Can they be made the day before and warmed up the day of party. And if yes what temp would you suggest? Thank you.
When entertaining , it’s best to cook day of the event. Spice the chicken the day before and cook same day, for optimal flavor and crispness.
Just pulled it out of the oven. Absolutley wonderful. Easily the best baked chicken recipe I’ve tried. What do you recommend as a side?
Baked potatoes, fries, vegetables. I love making this with this sweet potato fries https://africanbites.com/?p=12023
Sweet potato fries and creamy Cole slaw♥♡
I have made these numerous times and they are amazing every time! I follow the exact recipe and they always turn out great. I make sure to leave mine uncovered overnight and make them for dinner the next day. It makes the skin so crispy!
Thanks for sharing Cora! Love the tip.
I need these with some coleslaw Immaculate. Sounds similar to some of what we made in Sierra Leone.
Bintu!These would definitely pair well with Coleslaw.
I have been trying to make drumsticks for years I can never get the flavor into the meat and when it’s baking in the oven the skin always peels back and it looks like the seasoning comes off the meat because it’s pale while its baking. Chicken has always been my downfall
Doesn’t the olive oil make it wet again after drying or is it the water that makes the skin soggy
Hi Monica! It is the water that makes the skin soggy.
I am gonna try these tonight. I did not come across this recipe soon enough for overnight drying, so I used a LOT of paper towels. I did not have smoked paprika, so had to forgo that spice. But it sounds like a spice I should get. I like the idea of the carrots cooking under the drippings. I may just have to try that, too! I will let you know how it goes 🙂
Carrots would be great, I tried a recipe with carrots together with chicken here, https://africanbites.com/?p=12538 . Can’t wait to hear the feedback!
Hi, this recipe sounds and looks great. I want to try this tonight but, I don’t have dried Italian herbs on hand. Any recommendations for a good substitute, please?
Lisa. you can sub with any herbs you have on hand: oregano, thyme, rosemary and/or parsley. Please let me know what you decided. Thanks
I have done the recipe it has become the family favourite. Now Lisa I will also try your way. Thank you very much
We are preppin’ these right now. They’ve been dry rubbed (mostly cayenne) and in the fridge drying, ready to cook in a couple of hours.
We’ve been marinating, and covering with BBQ sauce, then baking. They were tasty but usually were so burnt-lookin’ on the outside.
I think your recipe will be our solution. I can’t wait.
BTW, I’m also very impressed with the food photography on your site.
Thanks, Daniel.
Thanks Daniel,It sure is a great way to achieve crispness.Do let me know how it works for you. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Girl, this is sooo good. Thank you for this recipe and I will be checking out your other recipes!!!
SO lovely to hear that Leandra!!. Thanks for letting me know how they turned out!!
Prepared this tonight and followed your recipe exactly, and it is my new favorite entree. I don’t think this recipe can be improved on, it’s everything I love, savory, juicy, a little hot and full of flavor. Thank you for creating this dish, it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser.
Aww, thank you so much Larry.
Hi, great website. Got here by accident, looking for a good oven temp for Chicken Legs. Really nice recipes. I’m an old retired Guy, and like to make something different as often as possible. Until my Wife retires, then it’s her turn. 🙂 Anyway, I hope I can explain this without a picture, but, if you’ve ever used or seen a wire rack made for Beer Can Chicken, I thought it would be fun to use it this way. Take the rack and turn it upside down (no Beer Can involved). The legs of the rack are now on top. Mine has four supporting legs made from rounded metal with 4 circular loops. I know that may be hard to visualize, but let me go on anyway. OK, I used a different flavoring recipe I like, but, each leg will now fit into one of the holes on the rack. Insert each leg into the hole, and you’ve got a really neat upright holder for the legs when roasting. I hope that made sense. Find a pic of a Beer Can Chicken Rack and it should. I did 6 at a time. 1 in each hole, and two propped up on the side. They turned out great, and were well crisped all around. I will do this a lot. Thanks so much for a great website. I’ve never commented on one before. Cheers.
Buzz, I am honored that you took the time to comment and share your detailed tips with us. So greatly appreciated. I can wait to try out it. Thank you so much.Have a great retirement.
I made this today and it was delicious! I used a huge pyrex dish and put 2 lb of cut up carrots in the bottom of the pan and put the baking rack on top. All the yummy drippings dropped onto the carrots! Carrots cooked this way, or with a roast, are one of my favorite veggies. Sooo good. The chicken wasn’t as crispy as I would’ve liked and that may be due to the moisture from the carrots. But the tradeoff was worth it.
tried your method. after baking chicken dipped them in a mixture of franks hot sauce and melted butter. wow yummy. thanks
Thank you for this recipe. It was delicious! I followed it pretty closely and plan to make it again.
I glad you liked it Elizabeth and thanks for the feedback!
I’m drying them overnight right now! I can’t wait to make these tomorrow!
Lisa, let me know how you like it. Thanks for stopping by!
This recipe was GREAT! I changed up the spices a little to make them more like garlic-parm. flavored instead of spicy but the result was wonderful! Crispy, crunchy skin with juicy flavorful meat. Do you think that using chicken breast with skin would turn out well cooked the same way? Thanks for the great recipe!
Jennifer, I have never tried this with chicken breast. Will have to experiment.. If you do try it reduce the cooking time breast tend to dry out quickly . Thanks for the feedback!
Skin was crunchy, chicken moist. I will put less cayenne pepper and a bit less salt next time. Planning to mix up a few batches of the spices and keep for quick future meals.
Thanks for the feedback Donna
Wow, this recipe was amazing! It’s now my husband’s and my favorite Sunday lunch recipe. The only modification I made was to drizzle a little olive oil on the chicken legs when they come out–our oven tends to dry things out too much. I serve the chicken with sides of quinoa, steamed veggies, olives, and strawberries and it’s an amazing meal. Thank you so much!!
Claire, thanks for feedback.. greatly appreciate it. I just love your choice of sides- very healthy.
I made these today and they were awesome! It was a little spicy for me (but I have an embarrassingly low spicy food tolerance) but my husband loved it!! Despite the heat factor, I loved the flavor combinations of the garlic, onion and Italian seasonings. The chicken was perfectly juicy and very tasty 🙂
Try using Seasoned Salt in place of the cayenne and salt. It should add a little bit of bite for your hubby, but tame enough not to fry your taste buds (I am the same- try living that way in Texas!! Hot sauce is as common as ketchup and it makes me shudder!)
These were INCREDIBLE! My husband said they were restaurant quality! Thanks so much for the recipe!
Restaurant quality? Aww, thank you Christina.
If I don’t have a cookie cooling rack, do you think just placing them on
The actual rack in the oven and placing the pan on the rack below for the oil to drop would work?
Alex, I don’t think it is a good idea. It would cause a lot of smoke and set off your alarm. It happened to me before.
When I made this the house filled up with smoke, the stove got all greasy and the c hicken did not crisp. I would never make this again.
Hi Marcy! Am so sorry to hear it didn’t work out for you ! I make this all the time and it works out just fine. I can’t really say for sure what the problem is without actually being there.
It might be the amount of time it was in the oven? The recipe worked well for me, but it was well done after thirty minutes.
Oh Wow! Good to know . Thanks for taking the time to share this with us.
I’ve been making this for years! I call it oven fried chicken. Using various dry seasonings and oil spray, (whatever oil spray i have at the time) I season then spray with Pam, butter or olive oil and bake 425 on a heavy non stick skillet for an hour. My family loves it! I will try using the baking rack and refrigeration to see the difference in crispness.
Marcy if your stove got greasy it means you had too much oil or fluids dripping which causes the same effect as dropping water into a frying pan… it will bubble and pop. Try it again it’s delicious!
Aww thanks Kim! So kind of you to share your tips with us !!!
Hey i wanted to try and make the crispy chicken legs but i wanted to kmow do i have to use a cookie rack for this to work since i dont have one?
It is not going to affect the taste. However, if you want really crispy skin then you have to.
I cook in small quantities so instead of dirtying a whole cookie sheet for 4 legs, I did this- I lined a glass baking dish with foil then rolled up foil in rough 1/2 inch by 8 inch strips. I followed the recipe as written, then laid those chicken legs across the foil strips to allow the grease to drip off. I have used the same concept in a slow cooker to keep food from sitting in a puddle of grease. Worked great for this recipe!
This is such an awesome tip Christy ! Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with us. Am definitely going to try it out especially when am using my slow cooker.
Have a Bless Day
GREAT idea!! Thanks for taking the time to post and share, especially the slow cooker tip!
Thanks! I am only making 3 legs so had to cut down the recipe quite a bit. How much oil would you suggest?
You can change the number of servings right in the recipe (at the top) and it automatically updates the ingredients perfectly.
Is it best to let it dry, then add the spices and oil right before baking?
Laura, that is the best way of getting the legs really crispy.
What is the official name for wire rack? Is it just the cookie sheet wire rack?
Cookie Cooling rack.
Crate and barrel sells a pan and has the cooling racks that are sized to fit the pan perfectly.This a great way to get that crispiness without frying. Love many of your recipes by the way.
Mary, I am so glad you have been trying my recipes and even exited that you enjoyed them. Thanks for the taking the time to comment.
Immaculate, I came across your blog while looking for a good chin chin recipe. I must say, all the recipes I have tried were awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! Please keep up the good work.
No, thank you kelsey. You inspired me to make this recipe.
I like this version. My husband asked if I marinated it for several hours and I said no, that i just let it dried in the fridge. He says wow, it taste so good. Thank you!!
Thanks V.O
Can’t attest for the ingredients, but the cooking method was absolutely phenomenal! The chicken came out just as the author described. A++++
Looks yummy, will definitely try it.
Kelsey , I made these chicken legs based on the question you asked about the chicken wings. Let me know how you like these. Thanks
Wow, these sound heavenly and perfect for a celebration.
Thanks sowmya.
When you say rotate chicken, you don’t mean turn them over do you. ?.♥♡
Hi Deborah! No I don’t. I usually place it in the oven and let it cook without turning it on the other side.
Ok then , what does rotate mean? Turning the pan
Yes, rotating the pan for even crispness and heat distribution.
Thanks for your help♥♡♥♡
I have a small oven so pls tell me the time
It’s still the same cooking time, if that is what you are referring too.
Only receipe I go to for chicken legs, thighs, quarters and my whole chicken roasting prep as well!
OH WOW! Glad to hear it’s working out for you. Thanks for letting me know.