Oven Fried Chicken Legs are simple to make with no oil or mess to clean up! Juicy and tender chicken legs are oven fried to perfection making it a family winner any day of the week!

Close up view of oven fried chicken legs on wire rack in pan.

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Why We Love These Oven Fried Chicken Legs

Chicken drumsticks are a very affordable protein, making this meal cheap and delicious!
There is a very little mess to clean up. No dirty oil to deal with afterwards.
It's a family friendly meal that is great any time of the year!
Chicken can be marinated the night before and then just shake and bake!

Oven Fried Chicken Legs Ingredients

Chicken Legs (drumsticks only)
Buttermilk
Paprika
Garlic Powder
Hot Sauce
Salt
Black Pepper
Whole Wheat Flour
Baking Powder

Substitution Suggestions:

Chicken Legs: You can substitute with chicken thighs (bone in, skin on) too.
Buttermilk: If you don't want to buy buttermilk, you can make your own. Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or vinegar in a measuring glass and fill with milk to the 2 cup line. Let milk sit for at least 5 minutes. It will look like it has curdled a little bit and that is exactly what you want.
Hot Sauce: I like to use a simple hot sauce like Frank's Red Hot. You could also use tabasco sauce, siracha or any cayenne pepper sauce. If you don't want to use hot sauce, you can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the marinade.
Whole Wheat Flour: You can substitute all purpose flour or white whole wheat flour.
Baking Powder: Do NOT skip or forget this ingredient. The baking powder is what helps make the breading crispy and crunchy. It draws out some of the moisture in the skin, helping to make it extra crispy.

How to Make Oven Fried Chicken Legs

First, you will need to marinate the chicken for a little bit. Put the chicken legs in a large 2 gallon zip top bag or large bowl.
In a small bowl, combine the paprika, garlic powder, salt and black pepper. Then, sprinkle the seasonings over the chicken and shake the bag or toss it in the bowl to coat.
Stir together the buttermilk and hot sauce and pour it over the chicken. Pro Tip: I usually use a zip top bag and then massage the chicken a bit after I have added the buttermilk mix. Cover if using a bowl and let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes on the counter. Or you can place it in the fridge and marinate it all day, up to overnight. The longer the better, in my opinion!

Chicken in marinade in large glass bowl.

While the chicken is marinating, prepare your baking sheet and heat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place an oven safe wire rack in the rimmed baking pan. Spray the rack with a little non-stick cooking spray.
Next, make the breading. In a gallon size zip top bag, combine the whole wheat flour, paprika, baking powder, garlic powder, salt and black pepper. Give it a shake to mix it all up.
Once your chicken has finished bathing in the marinade, it's time to bread it. Take one leg at a time from the marinade, letting the excess drip off. Place it in the bag of breading and shake to completely coat. Place the coated chicken leg on the prepared wire rack. Repeat until all chicken legs are breaded.

Close up of breaded chicken on wire rack.

To finish the chicken off, spray the legs with non-stick cooking spray. It helps for even more crispy breading!
Bake the chicken for 40-45 minutes and until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Let chicken rest for at least 10 minutes.

It looks like a lot of steps, but don't be intimidated. It's easy, and can all be done in mostly zip top bags!

What to Serve with Oven Fried Chicken

I usually serve a roasted vegetable, side salad and sometimes a biscuit with this delicious chicken. Here are some of our favorites:

Storing Oven Fried Chicken

Storing: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days.

Reheating: This chicken can be reheated in the microwave or in the oven on low heat. You can also reheat the chicken in the air fryer. The air fryer helps keep the breading crispy.

Tips for Oven Fried Chicken Legs

Marinating the chicken over night really helps keep the chicken tender and juicy, but at least 30 minutes will work if you are crunched for time (or forget like I often do).
The baking powder is key for making the breading nice and crispy. Don't skip it or forget it.
Bake the chicken on a wire rack. Doing this allows the air to circulate around the chicken so none of the breading gets soggy.
Use an instant read thermometer to test temperature of chicken. Bake until chicken reaches 160°F and let chicken rest for at least 10 minutes. It will continue to cook as it rests.
An air fryer is the best for reheating anything with breading.

Top view of oven fried chicken legs on white square platter.

More Yummy Chicken Recipes:

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Oven Fried Chicken Legs

Oven Fried Chicken Legs are simple to make with no oil or mess to clean up! Juicy and tender chicken legs are oven fried to perfection making it a family winner any day of the week!

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: oven fried chicken legs

Prep Time: 45

Cook Time: 45

Servings:

Author: Heather

Ingredients

12 chicken legs (drumsticks), skin on

For the Marinade

2 cups buttermilk
4 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teapoon black pepper
1 tablespoon hot sauce

For the Breading

1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons paprika
1½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Place the chicken legs in a 2 gallon zip top bag or large bowl.
In a small bowl, combine the marinade seasonings: paprika, garlic powder, salt and black pepper. Sprinkle the mix over the chicken and rub the seasonings all over the chicken.
Combine the buttermilk and hot sauce together and pour over the chicken. Toss it to coat a little bit.
Cover the chicken and let sit on the counter for 30 minutes or put it in the fridge for a few hours or as long as overnight.
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and place an oven safe wire rack on it. Spray the rack with non-stick cooking spray.
Combine the breading ingredients in a large gallon size bag and shake a bit to combine it all.
Take one chicken leg from the marinade and let the excess drip off a bit. Place the leg in the breading bag and shake to coat. Place the leg on the wire rack. Repeat with rest of chicken legs, coating one leg at a time.
Spray the chicken with non-stick cooking spray.
Bake the chicken for 40-45 minutes, until internal temp reads 160°F.
Let rest for at least 10 minutes and enjoy!!!!

Nutrition

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