Dec 30, 2021
updated
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In this post, you’ll learn the best temperature to bake chicken legs, along with optimal baking times and tips to ensure the meat stays juicy and tender.
Like chicken thighs, chicken drumsticks are one of the most underrated chicken cuts even though they are more flavorful, moist, and forgiving to cook with than white meat.
Plus, who doesn’t like a baked chicken leg with crispy golden skin? 🙋🏻♀️
Each drumstick, without skin, has about 1.5 ounces of meat which equates to 66 calories, 10 grams of protein, 2.5 grams of fat, and no carbs, making them an ideal and lean protein option.
What Temperature to Bake Chicken Legs
In order to achieve juicy, flavorful meat, it’s important to cook chicken and any cut of meat by temperature. For dark meat chicken, such as chicken legs, an internal temperature of 175F is perfection.
As far as oven temperature is concerned, I like to set the oven to 350F. It is on the lower end for baking chicken, but I find it just right if you want to coat the drumsticks with a sweetened sauce such as my honey-dijon glaze or BBQ sauce.
At 350F, it’s high enough to cook the chicken but low enough so the sugars in the sauce won’t burn but caramelize, lock in the juices, and give the chicken skin a flavorful crust.
It’s not hard to guess that chicken is a very popular protein for making an impressive amount of delicious recipes the entire family loves.
Over the year, I’ve collected quite the chicken recipe repertoire and thought I’d compile some of my into an ebook. It includes over 70+ ways to turn chicken into something delicious, along with all the tips to cook it perfectly, no matter the cut or cooking method.
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If chicken is your go-to meal builder, you’re going to love the recipes inside this book!
From marinades, soups, slow cooker meals, one-pot wonders, sheet pan dinners, and more, the recipes inside are delicious and kid-approved.
How Long Does it Take to Bake Chicken Legs
Depending on the oven temperature and size of the chicken leg, it can take anywhere from 35 minutes to a full hour. Factors such as your oven running hot can also affect the time; another reason to cook chicken by internal temperature and not time.
Read all about checking chicken legs for doneness here.
You’ll also notice that all chicken legs come with the bone-in and skin-on. The bone adds about 15 minutes of cooking time, but for a delicious drumstick, it’s worth it.
Leaving the skin on is optional, but it does help lock in moisture and make each bite crispy and delicious. Removing it won’t affect the cooking time and will only decrease the amount of fat, but you could do this after cooking.
How Long to Bake Chicken Legs at 350
As previously mentioned, an oven at 350F is on the low end, and it will take the drumsticks about an hour to reach the internal temperature of 175F.
However, this decreases the chance of them drying out, and if you are applying a sweetened glaze or sauce, it won’t char while the meat remains undercooked.
How Long to Bake Chicken Legs at 375
At 375F, chicken legs will cook through in 40 to 45 minutes. It’s a popular temperature that’s low enough but won’t take an hour to cook chicken. This temperature is also my go-to temp for baking chicken thighs and the best temperature for baking chicken breasts.
How Long to Bake Chicken Legs at 400
At 400F, chicken legs will cook in 35 to 40 minutes. This would be the temperature to add vegetables that can cook simultaneously, such as beets, carrots, potatoes, and Brussels sprouts, for an easy sheet pan dinner. It’s what I use for my Jerk Chicken Legs too.
How Long to Bake Chicken Legs at 425
425F will bake chicken legs the fastest, around 35 minutes, but keep an eye on the internal temperature. As soon as the chicken’s internal temperature the skin and upper layer of meat from drying out.
Chicken Leg Cooking Times Chart
While cooking by internal temperature is the best method, the charts below have various baking temperatures and times for bone-in, skin-on chicken legs.
| Oven Temp | Average Time | Internal Temp |
|---|---|---|
| 350F (175C) | 1 hour | 175F (80C) |
| 375F (190C) | 40 to 45 mins | 175F (80C) |
| 400F (200C) | 35 to 40 mins | 175F (80C) |
| 425F (218C) | 35 mins | 175F (80C) |
How to Check the Internal Temperature of Chicken Legs
Insert a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the chicken leg. The official temperature for chicken that’s safe to eat is 165F. However, for dark meat that’s flavorful and tender, 175F is the way to go.
Baking Chicken Legs from Frozen
If you’re reading this and have a pound or two of frozen chicken legs you had planned to cook but it’s still frozen; I’ve got good news: you can cook frozen chicken, no thawing required!
When baking frozen chicken legs or any frozen chicken, you can expect the cooking time to increase by 50% of the original cooking time. For example, if you are baking these frozen at 375F, then instead of 40 minutes, it will take a full hour for the legs to cook through to 175F.
Grab more details and tips on cooking frozen chicken that’s delicious and safe to eat in this post.
Recipes for Baked Chicken Legs
Now that we know the best temperature to bake chicken legs, try on one of the sauces or marinades below to make your chicken dinner even more flavorful.
If baking chicken legs at 350F or 375F, you can coat them with honey-based sauces such as the Sriracha marinade and honey-Dijon glaze. Otherwise, use one of the marinade options to marinate the meat, then cook.
- Spicy Sriracha Chicken Marinade
- Honey Chicken Drumsticks
- Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade
- Quick Lemon Chicken Marinade
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