Baked Chicken Legs (Drumsticks)
These baked chicken legs are affordable, fast and easy, and make for the ultimate weeknight family dinner on a budget. You can tweak the seasonings to match your family’s preferences, and they will come out crispy and delicious every time.

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I’ve been making these chicken drumsticks for years now. I remember the first time I realized I needed dinner made in under an hour with little prep involved, and all I had were some drumsticks and canned green beans.
Guess who managed to make a fast and healthy dinner in under an hour? This gal!
They came out delicious, despite the lack of ingredients and time.
Ever since then, I’ve played around with different spices, temperatures, and cooking times to come up with the absolute best baked chicken legs recipe.
drumstick flavor ideas
- Lemon pepper
- Barbecue sauce
- Soy sauce marinade
- Spicy korean marinade
- Garlic butter
These are all common flavor ideas that I’ve used over the years. My favorite is the one listed below. It’s just a good, classic flavor that pairs with literally any side dishes.


FAQs about baked drumsticks
How to Make Baked Chicken Legs
The trick to making delicious chicken legs is to not overthink it.
I’m serious!
Season them on a pan, throw them in the oven uncovered, and let them roast!
Honestly, it’s quite rare that I remember to set a timer. I do overcook food at times, but I’ve found that no matter how long I bake chicken legs, they always come out delicious.
Sometimes they’re juicy and tender, and other times they’re a bit more chewy, but we actually really enjoy them that way as well.

Just a few ingredients
One of my favorite things about this recipe is how low-prep it is. I spend about 5 minutes in the kitchen putting it together, and the rest of the time is really only spent cooking any of the sides.
I often do another roasted side, like potatoes, or brussel sprouts, since the oven is already on and those are also low prep. Other times I simply add a canned vegetable like green beans or pair it with some leftover rice or pasta.
You really can’t go wrong with chicken legs. My kids at all different ages have always loved this recipe. When they’re eating something else, and I’m making them just for me and my husband, I like to add some cayenne pepper to them.
Another delicious way to prepare these chicken legs is to stuff lemon slices under the skin before baking in the oven, and sprinkling some lemon pepper on top. Oh my gosh, they’re to die for!
Step 1 – Preheat the oven for the chicken legs

Preheat the oven to 425°F
Step 2 – Season the drumsticks

Toss the chicken legs in olive oil and the seasonings. I do this directly on the foil-lined pan, because, why not?
Step 3 – Bake for 30-45 minutes

That really is it! That’s all you have to do to get amazing baked chicken drumsticks in under an hour.

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Baked Chicken Legs (Drumsticks)
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 45
- Total Time: 50
Description
These baked chicken legs are affordable, fast and easy, and make for the ultimate weeknight family dinner on a budget. You can tweak the seasonings to match your family’s preferences, and they will come out crispy and delicious every time.
Ingredients
- 8–12 Chicken Legs
- 2 tbsp Garlic Powder
- 2 tbsp Onion Powder
- 2 tsp Creole Seasoning
- 1 tbsp Paprika
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F
- Line a baking sheet with foil
- Add drumsticks to the baking sheet, along with all seasonings and olive oil.
- Toss the drumsticks to coat them evenly with the seasonings and oil.
- Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F, and there is a nice brown crisp to the skin.
- Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes, and serve with sides of your choice.
Notes
- There is no need to cover your chicken legs with foil while baking. You want them to roast, not steam.
- 425-450°F is the ideal oven temperature for baking chicken drumsticks.
- Some other delicious flavor ideas include lemon pepper, barbecue sauce, soy sauce marinade, spicy Korean marinade, and garlic butter.
- I often serve my baked chicken legs with other easy sides, making for the ultimate weeknight dinner combination. My favorites include canned green beans or frozen corn on the cob, along with roasted potatoes that I cook alongside the chicken on another pan, or with leftover rice or pasta.
- Category: Meat
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Dinner
Keywords: chicken legs, drumsticks, chicken, meat, easy dinner, fast dinner, easy dinner ideas, fast dinner ideas, dinner ideas, low prep dinner ideas, weeknight dinners
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