Oven Baked Chicken Legs (Drumsticks and Thighs) (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to bake drumsticks at 350 or 400? ›

We have found that baking chicken drumsticks at 400°F gives the best results for juicy, moist dark meat with crispy skin. You'll know they are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F when tested with a digital meat thermometer in the thickest part of the drumstick without touching the bone.

Cooking times are different for each cut: whole legs take longer than thighs, drumsticks cook the fastest, and boneless chicken cooks more quickly than bone-in cuts. If you're substituting different chicken pieces than a recipe calls for, you'll need to adjust the time and use a thermometer.

Leg and thigh meat is still safe at 165°F, but it is recommended to cook it to an internal temperature of about 170-175°F (77-79°C). The chicken's legs are actively worked muscles, and the meat is tougher because of it.

For juicy, flavorful chicken with golden skin, it is best to bake chicken drumsticks at 400°F. At this high temperature, the chicken will be done in about 30 minutes.

I definitely recommend turning the chicken over halfway through baking, so the skin gets cooked on all sides. By the end the skin on top should be nice and crispy, but if you prefer it even crispier, set your oven to broil and place the chicken under the broiler for a minute or 2 on each side!

I like to bake them at 425 degrees. The high temperature really helps to crisp the skin. Bake them uncovered on the baking sheet – you don't have to turn them, just leave them to cook and after about 40 to 45 minutes they'll be ready!

Poke a thin metal skewer or fork into the thickest part of the largest drumstick until it hits the bone. If the juices coming out are entirely clear, the chicken is cooked through. If you see even a trace of red, it needs more cooking. For chicken, low and slow is best.

Color is not a reliable indicator of safety or doneness. Safely cooked poultry can vary in color from white to pink to tan. All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F (73.9°C) as measured with a food thermometer.

Cooking chicken drumsticks at 400 degrees for 40 minutes will make them come out nicely crispy and cooked all the way through.

The key is to cook the chicken thighs in a 400 degree F oven for 50 minutes. This will allow for the skin to get crispy and the meat to be juicy. If you are not sure the chicken is ready, just poke it wit a knife. If the juices run clear it's done.

How to tell if chicken thighs are done? ›

If you don't own an instant-read thermometer, use visual cues to assess doneness. Use a small, sharp knife to cut a small incision in the thickest part of the thigh; the juices should run clear. Red or pink juices are an indicator that the meat hasn't finished cooking.

Brines and marinades help tenderize the meat by bringing more moisture in the protein. With that extra moisture, you lose less when you cook.

Brining the chicken legs for 30 minutes to an hour before baking makes a huge difference . The salty brine penetrates the meat, helping it stay juicy and tender during cooking . Just dissolve 1/4 cup of salt in 4 cups of warm water . Add the chicken legs and let them soak .

For perfectly succulent chicken drumsticks, a grilling time between 25-30 minutes is ideal for almost any recipe. Overcooking can char and dry your meat, but you want to make sure you don't undercook poultry either.

Unlike chicken breasts, chicken thighs and drumsticks actually become more tender the longer they cook. That's because of their makeup. Dark meat has an abundant amount of connective tissue, which dissolves into gelatin as the meat cooks, rendering it juicy and tender.

Cooking chicken drumsticks at 400 degrees for 40 minutes will make them come out nicely crispy and cooked all the way through.

The best way to bake chicken breasts is the oven is at 400 F. Simply drizzle some olive oil in the bottom of your baking dish, season your skinless chicken breasts generously and add a pat of butter on top of each chicken breast.

At 350°F/180°C drumsticks should take approximately 30-45 minutes to cook. Chicken is cooked when it reaches 165°F/75°C on a meat thermometer. Is it better to bake chicken legs at 350 or 400? I prefer baking chicken at 350°F/180°C to ensure the chicken is fully cooked to the bone without drying out.

Here's the shortest answer we can give you: For large boneless, skinless chicken breasts: cook them 20 to 30 minutes in a 375 degrees F oven. For large bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts: cook them 35 to 40 minutes in a 375 degrees F oven.