This baked chicken drumsticks just begging to be eaten! This delicious recipe makes the tastiest chicken drumsticks with an extra mouth-watering crispy skin.
Recipe for juicy chicken drumsticks
You can’t go wrong with easy baked chicken thighs! They are easy to prepare, quick to cook and have a juicy taste.
In this recipe we used our homemade spice blend, which is to die for. However, there are so many ways to spice up this family favorite – so don’t hesitate to get creative with them!
Combine your Baked Chicken Thighs with our Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes, Sauteed Green Beans and Caprese Quinoa Salad for a delicious AND nutritious meal.
Why Bake Chicken Legs?
If you’ve eaten our crispy baked chicken thighs, baked spatchcock chicken, and baked bagel chicken wings, then you know exactly why you should make these baked chicken thighs!
Here’s the deal: Chicken drumsticks have dark flesh, which means they turn out tastier and more tender as they have a higher fat content compared to the white flesh of a chicken breast.
But don’t let that fatter meat put you off! They are rich in nutrients such as niacin, selenium and vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B6, iron, zinc, pantothenic acid and phosphorus.
Which chicken drumsticks should I buy?
We always recommend going organic/all natural and free range whenever possible. Yes, they cost a bit more, but I promise the flavor and texture will make up for it! Also, chicken drumsticks are generally one of the cheaper parts of chicken (compared to breast), so going organic for cost reasons isn’t actually that bad.
Some of our most popular brands of humane chicken are:
- BARE chicken only
- Gold’n Plump Chicken
- 365 (Whole Foods brand)
This grilled chicken thighs recipe calls for 1 pound of chicken thighs, and you’ll likely get about 6 medium/large chicken thighs per pound. As always, you can easily double or even triple this recipe by multiplying it by 2 or 3.
Simple ingredients needed
- Homemade Chicken Seasoning: In this baked chicken drumsticks recipe, we use our all-purpose chicken seasoning. You can also marinate your chicken drumsticks instead.
- chicken legs: Chicken thighs are the star of the show. You will need about 1.25 pounds. for this recipe.
- Olive oil: Olive oil is used to help the dry rub stick to the chicken thighs.
The BEST all-purpose chicken seasoning
Every chicken thigh deserves a treat in my belly to make it extra crispy and crunchy on the outside and so flavorful. This chicken condiment is made with fairly common dried herbs and spices that you probably already have on hand. Here’s everything you need:
- garlic powder
- chili powder
- cumin
- Dried Thyme
- Ground mustard
- Dried Basil
- ground pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- sea-salt
- paprika
- Brown sugar
Other cooking methods
Fancy some delicious chicken drumsticks, but not the oven? Try one of these chicken drumstick recipes:
How to make Oven Baked Chicken Legs
PREHEAT THE OVEN
Preheat oven to 425ºF and place a wire rack on a baking sheet. Spray the grate with non-stick cooking spray.
Pro tip: Sometimes some of the chicken condiments will fall onto the baking sheet and burn. To avoid burning, pour ¼ cup of water onto the baking sheet.
SEASONAL CHICKEN
Next, pour the all-purpose chicken seasoning onto a plate and Roll each chicken thigh in the seasoning mixture until completely coated in seasoning.
BLASTING + BAKING
Place the chicken thighs on the grid and drizzle the chicken thighs with olive oil. Bake the chicken thighs for 40 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking.
SERVE + ENJOY
Remove the chicken from the oven when the Inside temperature is 165ºF and let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy your delicious baked chicken thighs!
Try it!
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We swear by using a meat thermometer when preparing cuts of meat. The Thermapen is our popular meat thermometer that always works.
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flavor variations
SPICES
While we think our all-purpose chicken seasonings are epic, you can use a variety of homemade seasonings as well. Use about 2-3 tablespoons per pound. Here are some other ideas:
MARINADES
Would you like to use a chicken marinade instead? Check out some of our favorite easy chicken marinades below.
Top tips for oven baked chicken thighs
- Line your baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray for less mess and easier cleanup.
- We like to bake our chicken thighs at 200ºC to get the crispiest skin. Make sure to turn your chicken halfway so each side is nice and crispy!
- The best way to tell if your chicken is done cooking is to use an instant meat thermometer. Cooked chicken should read at 165°F. But with legs, you can cook them a little longer if you’d rather not have red spots on the bone. Either way, your chicken drumsticks will remain juicy and tender!
storage
Allow the chicken thighs to cool completely. Then store the crispy chicken drumsticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
freezer instructions
After cooking: Allow the crispy chicken drumsticks to cool completely. Then transfer them to a gallon-size freezer-safe bag and remove as much air as possible. Seal and freeze up to 3 months.
Before cooking: Place all raw ingredients in a gallon-size freezer-safe bag. Remove and seal as much air as possible. Freeze up to 3 months.
When you are ready to cookallow frozen chicken thighs to thaw completely before baking.
