Baked Chicken Legs Recipe
When it comes to effortless yet flavorful meals, these crispy baked chicken drumsticks are a top contender. Perfect for a busy weeknight or a relaxed weekend dinner, this recipe promises juicy meat with a beautifully crisp skin. It’s straightforward to prepare, requiring minimal ingredients and just a bit of time. Whether you’re cooking for family or hosting friends, these drumsticks are sure to impress with their delicious simplicity.
Preparation Steps
Begin by preheating your oven to 200°C/390°F (or 180°C for fan-forced ovens). This step ensures that your oven is at the right temperature when it’s time to bake, crucial for achieving that perfect crispiness.
Next, prepare your baking tray. Line it with foil to catch any drips and place a rack on top. This setup allows air to circulate around the drumsticks, ensuring they get crispy on all sides.
In a shallow bowl, combine the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, flour, and baking powder. Mixing these ingredients well will create a uniform seasoning blend that coats the chicken evenly.
Now, take each chicken drumstick and drizzle it with extra virgin olive oil. Use your hands to make sure the oil covers the drumsticks entirely. Stretch and pull the skin to cover as much of the flesh as possible, which helps keep the meat moist and juicy.
Cooking Instructions
With your drumsticks prepped and ready, it’s time to start baking. Dip each drumstick into the seasoning mixture, ensuring it’s well-coated. Shake off any excess seasoning and place the drumstick on the prepared rack. Repeat this process with all the drumsticks.
Generously spray the drumsticks with oil spray. This additional oil helps the skin become extra crispy as it bakes.
Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. About halfway through, rotate the tray to ensure even cooking. After the initial baking phase, increase the oven temperature to 220°C/430°F (200°C for fan-forced) and bake for an additional 15 minutes. This higher temperature helps the skin achieve a perfect golden brown and crispy finish. Once done, remove from the oven and serve hot.
Recipe Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
Recipe Tips:
Importance of preheating the oven: Ensures the drumsticks start cooking immediately and helps achieve a crispy skin.
How to ensure the drumsticks are evenly coated: Use your hands to rub the seasoning and oil all over the chicken for an even coat.
Using a rack for crispy undersides: Allows air to circulate around the drumsticks, making them crispy on all sides.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I use different cuts of chicken? Yes, thighs or wings can also be used but adjust the cooking time accordingly.
How to store and reheat leftovers? Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat in the oven at 180°C/350°F until heated through.
Alternatives for making the drumsticks spicier or milder: Adjust the amount of paprika or add cayenne pepper for more heat. For a milder version, reduce the paprika or use sweet paprika instead.
What to Serve With This Recipe
These crispy baked drumsticks pair beautifully with a variety of sides and drinks. Classic accompaniments include creamy mashed potatoes or steamed vegetables. For a refreshing contrast, serve with a crisp salad or a selection of dips like ranch or blue cheese.
Beverage pairings can range from a chilled glass of white wine to a refreshing iced tea. For a hearty meal, consider serving with a robust red wine or a flavorful craft beer.
This recipe for crispy baked chicken drumsticks is not only easy to follow but also delivers exceptional results every time. The combination of simple ingredients and straightforward steps makes it accessible to cooks of all levels. Give this recipe a try and enjoy the deliciously crispy and juicy drumsticks. Don’t forget to share this recipe with your friends and family, bringing a bit of culinary joy to their kitchens as well.
Ingredients:
12 chicken drumsticks (Note 1)
4 1/2 tbsp plain/all-purpose flour
5 tsp smoked paprika
3 tsp baking powder (Note 3)
3 tsp garlic powder
3 tsp onion powder
2 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 tsp cooking/kosher salt
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Oil spray
Instructions:
- Preparation: Preheat your oven to 200°C/390°F (180°C for fan-forced ovens). Line a baking tray with foil and place a rack on top to ensure the drumsticks get crispy on all sides (Note 4).
- Seasoning: In a shallow bowl, combine the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, flour, and baking powder. Mix well.
- Coat in Oil: Drizzle the chicken drumsticks with the olive oil. Make sure to pull and stretch the skin to cover as much of the meat as possible.
- Coat in Seasoning: Dip each drumstick into the seasoning mixture, shaking off any excess. Place the coated drumsticks on the prepared rack. Repeat this step with all the drumsticks.
- Spray with Oil: Generously spray the drumsticks with oil to help them crisp up in the oven.
- Bake: Bake the drumsticks for 30 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through cooking. Then, increase the oven temperature to 220°C/430°F (200°C for fan-forced) and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the skin is golden and crispy. Serve hot and enjoy!
Baked Chicken Legs Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 chicken drumsticks Note 1
- 4 1/2 tbsp plain/all-purpose flour
- 5 tsp smoked paprika
- 3 tsp baking powder Note 3
- 3 tsp garlic powder
- 3 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp cooking/kosher salt
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Oil spray
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat your oven to 200°C/390°F (180°C for fan-forced ovens). Line a baking tray with foil and place a rack on top to ensure the drumsticks get crispy on all sides (Note 4).
- Seasoning: In a shallow bowl, combine the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, flour, and baking powder. Mix well.
- Coat in Oil: Drizzle the chicken drumsticks with the olive oil. Make sure to pull and stretch the skin to cover as much of the meat as possible.
- Coat in Seasoning: Dip each drumstick into the seasoning mixture, shaking off any excess. Place the coated drumsticks on the prepared rack. Repeat this step with all the drumsticks.
- Spray with Oil: Generously spray the drumsticks with oil to help them crisp up in the oven.
- Bake: Bake the drumsticks for 30 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through cooking. Then, increase the oven temperature to 220°C/430°F (200°C for fan-forced) and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the skin is golden and crispy. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
2. Onion powder: Use additional garlic powder.
3. Smoked paprika: Use ordinary or sweet paprika. Purpose of Baking Powder: Do not confuse baking powder with baking soda/bi-carb, which is much stronger and will alter the taste unfavorably. Baking powder is the secret to crispier chicken skin, a method proven successful with chicken wings. While it won’t make these drumsticks as crispy as plain-skinned wings, omitting it will result in noticeably less crispy drumsticks. The baking powder itself is tasteless. Tray Preparation: Lining the tray with foil simplifies cleanup. Using a rack helps achieve crispy undersides. If you don’t have a rack, line the tray with parchment paper, turn the drumsticks halfway through, and add an extra 5 to 10 minutes to the baking time to ensure the top becomes crispy. Nutrition Per Serving: This recipe yields approximately 5 servings, with each serving consisting of about 2.4 drumsticks.