Crispy Baked Chicken Legs Recipe – Without Breading

Are you searching for a way to make baked chicken legs nice and crispy without adding breading or batter to the skin? Not only can it be done, but it only requires 6 simple and basic ingredients.

With this recipe there is no need to dredge chicken legs in a mixture of egg and flour. And there is no need to buy buttermilk or use a deep fryer to get that crunchy exterior.

Instead, use a few spices from your kitchen and add a little butter and your chicken legs will turn out perfect every time. It is a naturally low-carb recipe that even your Keto diet friends can enjoy!

Fried Chicken

Over the years I have cooked chicken using several different methods. Frying chicken in oil was the way that I grew up eating chicken legs.

It was something that we would do on Sunday afternoon when the entire family came over. The chicken legs would be dredged in flour that had some added spices mixed in.

Then they would be dipped in a milk and egg mixture. One more time back in the flour and they are ready to be put in the oil.

Within 15 minutes you would have chicken legs that were golden brown and ready to be served! However, as we all know, frying foods in hot oil is not the healthiest cooking method.

So instead, in an effort to eat better, my parents decided to start cooking chicken pieces in the oven. Although the chicken was healthier than fried chicken, in my opinion the taste just wasn’t as good.

The skin of the chicken turned out rubbery. And the inside meat was dry and stuck to the bone.

Everyone agreed, and I don’t remember another Sunday that chicken legs were made in the oven. Therefore, later in life when I had my own kitchen I started experimenting to see if I could get chicken legs that turned out tender on the inside and crispy on the outside without being cooked in oil.

And this process required me to test out various cooking methods to see which one gave me the best results.

Different Methods For Cooking Chicken Legs

1. Grilling Method

My first thought was to place the chicken legs on a hot grill. Whether it is a charcoal or gas grill, the high heat and the direct contact on the grates was sure to make the chicken legs turn out crispy.

In addition, because most people own some sort of grill it would be an easy technique to pass on to others. So I gathered the chicken legs and spices and gave it a shot.

With many trials I just couldn’t get the skin as crispy as I wanted it. It would either stick to the grill grates in certain areas or the skin would actually peel off of the meat during the cooking process.

However, the meat turned out super tender and fall off the bone when the chicken legs were cooked to an internal temperature of greater than 180°F.

Therefore I decided to change my recipe a bit and make Grilled Barbecue Chicken Legs instead. Marinating the chicken, adding barbecue sauce, and using a two zone cooking method made all the difference in the flavor and texture.

However, they weren’t the crispy chicken legs that I was hoping for. So I tried another method.

2. Smoked Chicken Legs

Today there are various smokers on the market and they are highly popular for those who like to cook outdoors. And because I make Smoked Chicken Wings all the time, it was natural for me to want to try to cook the chicken legs in there as well.

When chicken is cooked in a smoker, it makes the meat super tender and full of flavor. However, it is difficult to get the skin to crisp up because the meat is cooked using a low temperature.

Although you can increase the temperature towards the end of the cooking process in hopes of getting the skin crispy, this method just isn’t practical sometimes.

For instance, in the middle of winter, I don’t want to stand outside adjusting the temperature of the smoker. Nor do I sometimes want to wait hours for the meat to get cooked.

Therefore, I turned to the next cooking method.

3. Instant Pot

So when you want your meal done in a fraction of the time that it takes other cooking methods, a pressure cooker is a good choice. I have made Instant Pot Chicken Legs before and the meat is fall off the bone tender.

The only downfall is that because it is cooked in closed vessel, there is no opportunity for the chicken legs to get crispy like they do when they are baked in the oven.

4. Air Fryer

Another great cooking method to get crispy chicken is to use an air fryer. I have made Air Fryer Chicken Legs and they do come out nice and crispy.

However the meat isn’t as tender as when they are baked in the oven. In addition, some air fryers are on the smaller side, so you have to cook in batches to feed the entire family.

So instead of standing in the kitchen making several rounds of chicken legs, I prefer to use my oven instead when cooking for the entire family.

Crispy Baked Chicken Legs Recipe

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 5-6 Chicken Legs
• 1/4 cup Butter, melted
• 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp Onion powder
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Before starting the actual recipe, it is best for the chicken legs to be dried before cooking. Remove them from the store packaging and then pat them dry and place the legs on a plate or platter.

Place the uncovered chicken legs in the refrigerator to air dry for at least 2 hours and up to overnight. This will help dry out the chicken legs and make them crispy when baked.

Then when you are ready to cook the chicken legs preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C). While the oven heats up line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place an oven safe rack inside the foil lined pan.

Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels until no longer damp. Spray the cooking rack with olive oil spray or another high heat oil.

Arrange the chicken legs on the cooking rack. Melt the butter on the stove or in the microwave.

Then use a pastry brush to brush the chicken drumsticks with melted butter on all sides. Set aside.

In a small bowl, add the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine.

Sprinkle the seasonings over the chicken legs, covering all sides. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven.

Bake Time

Bake the chicken legs for 25 minutes. Using tongs, carefully flip the legs over and bake for another 20-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches at least 180°F (74°C).

If you want the skin to be even crispier, turn the broiler on for a few minutes. However, be sure to check them frequently so that they don’t burn.

Remove the crispy baked chicken legs from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Enjoy! Mary

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