Description
This Crispy Baked Chicken Legs recipe delivers juicy, flavorful drumsticks with a perfectly crispy skin achieved through a simple mixture of poultry seasoning, baking powder, and olive oil. The chicken is air-dried before baking to ensure maximum crispiness without deep frying, making this a healthier yet delicious alternative to fried chicken.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds chicken drumsticks, cleaned with excess fat removed
Seasoning Mix
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons poultry seasoning (or seasoning of choice)
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more if desired
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, plus more if desired
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
Instructions
- Dry the chicken: Place a cooling rack over a large baking sheet lined with paper towels. Arrange the chicken drumsticks on the rack and tent with more paper towels. Refrigerate for at least two hours, ideally overnight, to dry the skin thoroughly. If pressed for time, pat the chicken legs dry aggressively with paper towels.
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C). Remove the paper towels from the cooling rack and spray the rack with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the seasoning: In a large mixing bowl, combine olive oil, poultry seasoning, salt, black pepper, and baking powder. Add the chicken legs and gently toss, preferably using your hands, to evenly coat each piece with the seasoning mixture.
- Bake the chicken: Arrange the seasoned chicken legs on the sprayed cooling rack, leaving space between each piece to allow hot air to circulate. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until a digital meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F (74°C).
- Rest before serving: Remove the chicken legs from the oven and let them rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute before serving for the crispiest and juiciest results.
Notes
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Patting the chicken dry thoroughly is crucial for a crispy skin.
- If you do not have poultry seasoning, substitute with your favorite blend such as a mix of thyme, sage, rosemary, and marjoram.
- Using baking powder helps to draw moisture out of the skin, aiding the crisping process, so do not omit it.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken leg (approx. 3.5 ounces)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
