Looking for an easy, comforting dinner that comes together with just a few pantry staples? These Baked BBQ Chicken Legs are juicy, flavorful, and ready in just 4 steps. They are no fuss, no special ingredients, just real kitchen basics that taste amazing.
Who says you need sunshine and a grill to enjoy some finger-licking good BBQ? This recipe is all about comfort food that fits with real life.
This is where these oven-baked BBQ chicken legs come in. They are incredibly budget-friendly, they use only pantry staples, yet they deliver that slow-cooked backyard-BBQ kind of flavor with little effort.
Jump to:
Ingredients
To make your Baked BBQ Chicken legs, you'll need these easy-to-find items
- Chicken Legs: Juicy, budget-friendly flavor champs
- Oil - just enough to help crisp the chicken
- Pantry Spices- (garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, cumin)
- Salt and Pepper - just a sprinkle to wake everything up
- BBQ Sauce- Pick one you like to make them finger-licking good
See recipe card for quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
How to make Baked Chicken Legs
Everything you need to know is found in these easy-to-follow steps. These will be the easiest chicken legs you've ever made! Just prep, bake, and coat! Details with images can be found below.
How to prepare Chicken Legs
- In a mixing bowl, mix seasonings (garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper).
- Pat the chicken legs dry and coat with olive oil. Season all sides of the chicken legs with the seasoning mixture. Cover and place in the fridge for 1 hour.
Pro Tip: Drying the chicken leg helps the spices to stick and will give the skin a better chance to get golden and crispy!
How to Bake Chicken Legs
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top. Line chicken legs across the wire rack.
- Cook chicken for 1 hour, flipping them and coating them with BBQ Sauce at the 30-minute mark. At the 45-minute mark, coat them with BBQ Sauce one last time. Cook chicken legs until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Made this recipe? Let me know!
Equipment and Supplies
This recipe is easy to make with just the right tools! Here are some items I use and trust.
- Thermopen - meat thermometer
- Large Glass Mixing Bowl - This bowl is quickly becoming my favorite!
- Basting Brush - this will help you swipe on that BBQ sauce like a pro
- Wire Rack + Baking Sheet - the dream team for even cooking and crisper skin - I highly recommend!
Serving Ideas
How to Serve Baked Chicken Legs
- Classic Serving
- At my house, Creamy Mashed Potatoes or Mac and Cheese are the perfect food pairing for BBQ chicken.
- Fun and Creative Serving Ideas
- Use these chicken legs along with my Sheet Pan Roasted vegetables to make a healthy meal prep for the week.
Substitutions and Additions
Different Dips
- You can create a BBQ "drustick dip plate" with a mix of sauces like our Buttermilk Ranch, spicy mayo, or extra BBQ sauce.
Possible Swaps
- You could go for a honey garlic glaze, where you mix honey, soy sauce, and garlic powder for a savory goodness.
- You can coat baked legs with your favorite buffalo sauce plus a little melted butter. Serve with ranch or blue cheese on the side.
- If you want lower calories, you can opt for a sugar-free BBQ sauce. G Hughes Smokehouse is my wife's favorite.
Pro Tip: Let the chicken cook most of the way before adding BBQ sauce. This prevents the sauce from burning and helps it caramelize into a delicious glaze.
Side Pairings
Sides that pair great with Chicken
The fun thing about chicken legs is that you have plenty of options for what to serve alongside them to round out the meal. You can see what you have in your refrigerator or pantry and go for it (I hate throwing away food). I love to keep it classic with something like oven-roasted rosemary potatoes, country-style green beans, or try my skillet corn recipe. This meal comes together beautifully, no matter what you pair it with.
Chicken leg variations: oven, Smoker, and slow cooker
If you love these chicken legs oven-style, simple, juicy, and bursting with flavor. You will be happy to know that this method works beautifully with all kinds of variations. Whether you prefer classic roasted chicken legs, crave the deep flavor of smoked chicken legs on the grill, or enjoy the ease of a recipe for chicken legs in a slow cooker, you can use the same base seasonings and adapt to the cooking style you love the most.
These baked BBQ chicken legs give you that caramelized finish right from your oven, but the flavor profile works everywhere.
Storing Leftovers
How to Refrigerate Leftover Chicken
Store leftover chicken legs in an airtight container once they have fully cooled. They will stay fresh for 3-4 days and make an easy-to-grab protein lunch or quick dinner.
How to Freeze Chicken
These chicken legs freeze beautifully. Place them in a freezer-safe container or a freezer bag. They will keep well for up to three months. For best results, freeze them without extra sauce and just add that fresh BBQ when you reheat.
How to Reheat Chicken
For juicy and tender reheated chicken, warm them in a 350-degree oven or air fryer for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. If frozen, it is best to thaw overnight in the fridge first. You can also microwave them in 30-second bursts, though the oven will keep the skin a little crisper. Add some BBQ sauce before reheating to bring back that flavor.
More Chicken Recipes
Recipe
Baked Chicken Legs
Equipment
- Oven
- Basting Brush
- Medium Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 4 lbs Chicken Legs or Chicken Drumsticks
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil or Avocado Oil
- 1½ tablespoon Garlic Powder
- 1½ tablespoon Onion Powder
- 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
- 2 tablespoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 2½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 Cup BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, mix together seasonings (garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt and black pepper).
- Pat the chicken legs dry and coat with olive oil. Season all sides of the chicken legs with the seasoning mixture. Cover and place in the fridge for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top. Line chicken legs across the wire rack.
- Cook chicken for 1 hour, flipping them and coating them with BBQ Sauce at the 30 minute mark. At the 45 minute mark, coat them with BBQ Sauce one last time. Cook chicken legs until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Chicken thighs work especially well because they stay juicy just like legs. If you use breasts, reduce cooking time so they do not dry out.
Of course. Just make sure that the chicken legs are not crowded on the baking sheet so they cook evenly. Use two pans if needed.
If you want to take these flavors outside, chicken legs typically grill for 30-35 minutes. Brush on your BBQ sauce the last 5-10 minutes to keep them from scorching and aim for an internal temperature between 175-185 degrees.
Joseph florez says
Perfect recipe and super easy to understand
CookitwithTim says
Thanks so much Joseph! That's the goal! Glad you found this helpful.