Baked Chicken Legs

5 from 1 vote

Zesty and crispy baked chicken drumsticks are a quick, family-friendly dinner!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword baked chicken legs, chicken drumsticks recipe, easy chicken leg recipes, how long to bake chicken legs, oven baked chicken legs

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 45

Resting Time 5

Total Time 1 5

Servings people

Calories 323kcal

8 bone-in skin-on chicken drumsticks (about 2 lbs.)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat; omit or decrease if you don’t like them spicy)
Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley, chives, or thyme

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Place in a large bowl or Ziploc bag. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat.
In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, thyme, oregano, and cayenne.
Sprinkle the seasoning blend over the chicken and toss to coat.
Arrange the chicken on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 40-45 minutes, turning once halfway through, until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 175-180°F on an instant-read meat thermometer. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh herbs.

Use this same seasoning rub and cooking method to bake bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, too.

You can also swap out this seasoning blend for a different option. For instance, try this bbq rub, a rotisserie chicken seasoning blend, or our favorite all-purpose seasoning recipe.