Introduction
Chicken legs are a classic BBQ staple. Cooking them in the oven produces juicy, flavorful chicken legs with crispy skin and tender meat infused with smoky barbecue flavor. With just a few simple steps, you can make oven-baked BBQ chicken legs that rival those made on an outdoor grill.
Here is a comprehensive guide on how to cook perfect bbq chicken legs in the oven.
Ingredients
- 6-8 chicken legs
- 1 cup bbq sauce or rub of your choice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Prep the Chicken Legs
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels. This helps the skin get crispy when cooked.
- Apply a light coat of olive oil on both sides of the chicken legs and season generously with salt and pepper. The oil helps the seasoning stick.
Bake the Chicken Legs
- Place the oiled and seasoned chicken legs on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Space them evenly apart.
- Bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, flip the chicken legs and bake for another 15 minutes.
Brush on BBQ Sauce
- In a bowl, stir your favorite bbq sauce or rub to combine.
- Take the chicken out of the oven. Brush the bbq sauce generously on both sides of the chicken legs.
Finish Baking
- Return the bbq sauced chicken legs to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until completely cooked through and basted in sauce.
- Broil for 2-3 minutes at the end if you want crisper skin. Keep an eye to avoid burning.
Allow to Rest
- Once done, remove pan from oven and let the bbq chicken legs rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Enjoy!
Tips
- Choose bone-in chicken legs for added flavor. The bones help keep the meat juicy.
- Make sure to pat the chicken legs very dry before baking for crispy skin.
- Use your favorite store-bought or homemade bbq sauce. Sweet, spicy, or tangy – it all works!
- You can skip baking plain and brush bbq sauce right from the start for quicker cook time.
- Add spices like smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder to the oil to infuse more flavor.
- Bake at higher temperature if you want the skin extra crispy.
- Brush on another layer of sauce at the very end again if you like it saucier.
Common FAQs
How long do you bake bbq chicken legs in the oven?
- Baking bbq chicken legs takes about 45-60 minutes in total. Bake plain for 30 mins, flip and bake 15 mins more. Then brush on sauce and bake 10-15 mins until cooked through and caramelized in sauce.
What temperature do you bake chicken legs at?
- Bake bbq chicken legs at 400°F-425°F for crispy skin and thoroughly cooked meat. You can go up to 450°F if you prefer extra crispy skin.
Can you cook chicken legs from frozen?
- Yes, you can bake frozen chicken legs straight from the freezer. Add 5-10 mins to the initial baking time. Brush on sauce once thawed and continue baking until cooked through.
Should you flip chicken legs when baking?
- It’s important to flip the chicken legs halfway during baking to ensure even cooking. Flip them after 30 mins and let the other side get evenly browned.
How do you know when bbq chicken is done?
- Bbq chicken legs are fully cooked once the meat reaches 165°F internally and the juices run clear. The skin will be crispy and the meat will shred easily from the bone when poked with a fork.
How do you keep baked chicken legs moist?
- Brushing on bbq sauce helps keep oven-baked chicken legs moist and flavorful. Also let sit 5 mins before serving so juices can redistribute into the meat. Bone-in legs stay juicier too.
Conclusion
Cooking crispy, saucy bbq chicken legs in the oven is easy and requires just a few steps. Properly seasoning, browning the skin, brushing on sauce, and resting produces finger-licking bbq chicken legs. Feel free to customize with your favorite rubs and sauces. Now go impress at your next barbecue or dinner with these oven-baked bbq chicken legs!