Make these simple and easy lemon pepper chicken drumsticks to serve as a healthy appetizer or a protein-rich side dish. Also, these are perfect for family gatherings or party nights.
If you are looking for a different chicken recipe than using usual chicken wings or breasts, or tenders, then try this simple and best-baked chicken drumstick (chicken legs) recipe.
It requires very little active prep time, just some waiting time for the marination and baking in the oven. It is a perfect recipe to prepare ahead of time—simply cook the drumsticks just before serving.
Let's get started!
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What is special about this dish
- Easy to prepare with simple ingredients.
- Use your favorite seasonings and herbs and customize the marinade as you like.
- Drumsticks are cheaper and healthier (if you remove the skin) than chicken wings.
- A perfect appetizer for the crowd to serve at family gatherings or parties.
- They are very versatile—you can bake them, grill them outdoors or indoors in a grilling pan on the stove, or Air Fry them.
Ingredients
- Chicken drumsticks or chicken legs - Buy organic chicken whenever possible. Even better if it is organic and pasture-raised.
- Garlic - Use fresh garlic and avoid using store-bought preserved garlic. Finely grate or mince it to help distribute evenly in the marinade.
- Lemon - Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for a fresh citrus taste to the chicken. It also helps to tenderize and soften the meat.
- Black pepper - Use freshly crushed black peppercorns over black pepper powder, which usually lacks flavor.
- Herbs - Fresh herbs such as parsley enhance the flavor and add a touch of green color to the dish.
- Oil - Use some cooking oil in the marinade and some to grease the baking tray to avoid sticking the drumsticks during baking.
See the recipe card for more details and quantities.
Prep Tip
I always prefer to rinse the chicken drumsticks after removing them from its packaging. However, you can skip this step. Drain all the liquid from the packet and after rinsing the drumsticks. Using a paper towel, pat dry them to remove excess water. Using a sharp kitchen knife, give a couple of cuts at a slight angle to the thickest meat on the drumsticks (make sure not to cut the skin). The cuts will help to absorb the marinade nicely into the chicken and also cook it faster.
If you want to cut down on fat, remove the skin on the drumsticks. Do this step after removing them from the package and before rinsing them. In roasted chicken recipes such as this, I usually keep the skin on for a nice roasted color at the end.
How to make lemon pepper chicken drumsticks?
Step 1: Marinating chicken drumsticks
In a large mixing bowl, combine lemon juice with paprika, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, freshly chopped parsley, and oil; mix well. Now add chicken legs and apply the marinade evenly. Make sure to apply the marinade to the given cuts as well.
Step 2: Baking chicken drumsticks
Preheat the oven to 375F. Grease the baking sheet with some extra oil. Arrange the marinated chicken drumsticks without touching each other. Bake them until well done.
Step 3: Broiling to get the roasted color on the drumsticks
Turn on the broiler mode. Broil the drumsticks for 2-3 minutes. Keep a close eye on them. As soon as they reach the desired color, turn off the oven. Remove them from the oven immediately and let them rest for 5-10 minutes to distribute the juices evenly. Serve and enjoy!!
Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Drumsticks
Grill marinated chicken drumsticks on the outside using a barbecue grill. Preheat the grill to 400F, and place the drumsticks on the grill without touching each other. Cook them for about 20-25 minutes or until well done. Cooking time will vary depending on your grill type. Turn them frequently to avoid burning and to get a nice char on all sides.
Grilling them on a charcoal grill will be even more delicious as it will add a nice smokey taste to the drumsticks.
Serving suggestions
- Appetizer: Serve these chicken drumsticks as a protein-rich healthy appetizer with your choice of dipping sauce.
- Sides: Pair them with dishes like spinach brown rice, Mexican tomato rice, garlic zucchini rice, etc.
- Soups: Prepare them to go with broccoli and zucchini soup, veggie orzo soup, easy detox broccoli soup.
- Salads: Make them to have protein with salads like lentil brown rice salad, sweet potato and wild rice salad or roasted veggie pasta salad.
- Pasta: For a wholesome meal, serve them with green peas pasta with peas, simple kale pasta, Mediterranean pasta with olives and artichokes.
Helpful tips
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the chicken marinade.
- Marinate the chicken legs for at least one hour to absorb the flavors. The longer you marinate, the more flavorful the chicken will be. If you are marinating the chicken well in advance or for more than one hour, refrigerate it.
- Remove marinated chicken from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before cooking to bring them to room temperature. This will not affect the oven temperature.
- Do not cook the drumsticks at a high temperature for a longer time. This will toughen the meat and result in a chewy and hard texture.
Recipe variations
- Add more smoked paprika, chili powder, or chili flakes to make them spicy.
- Use bone-in chicken thighs instead of chicken drumsticks and follow the same cooking instructions.
- Marinade - Add spices like shawarma spice blend or Indian spices for a completely different flavor.
- Herbs - You can flavor the chicken with fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme.
Storage/Reheating tips!
Store leftover drumsticks in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Add drumsticks to the frying pan, sprinkle some water, cover, and reheat them on low heat until steamy hot.
FAQs
No, keeping the skin on the drumsticks will help them get a nice char. However, you can remove the skin to reduce your fat intake.
Yes, if you do not like lemon or lime, you can skip it in the marinade.
Overcooking chicken drumsticks can make them dry and tough.
Chicken drumsticks are fully cooked when the internal temperature at the thickest part of the meat reaches 165-175F without touching the bone. Cooking longer after this point can result in a drier texture.
Most of the time, both terms are used interchangeably.
However, technically speaking, chicken legs are chicken quarters in which the chicken drumsticks and thighs are kept together.
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📖 Recipe
Lemon Pepper Chicken Drumsticks (Legs) – Baked or Grilled!
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 chicken drumsticks
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2-3 garlic cloves finely minced
- 2 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil (some extra to grease the baking sheet)
- salt
Instructions
- Preparing Chicken Drumsticks: Pat dry the drumsticks to remove excess water. Then, using a sharp knife, make a couple of cuts at an angle at the thickest part of the meat.
- Marinating: In a mixing bowl, combine lemon juice, paprika, black pepper, minced garlic, fresh parsley, oil, and salt; mix well. Add chicken drumsticks and coat well with the marinade.
- Baking: Preheat the oven to 375F. Grease the baking sheet with oil. Arrange the marinated drumsticks without touching each other. Bake them for about 30-35 minutes or until well done. See notes if you want to grill them.
- Broiling: Turn broiler mode on and broil the chicken drumsticks for 2-3 minutes. Watch closely and remove them from the oven when you get the desired color.
- Serving: Let them rest for a few minutes to distribute the juices and serve warm.
Notes
- Marination time: Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes to absorb the flavors. The longer you marinate the chicken, the more flavorful it will be. Refrigerate it if you plan to marinate it for over one hour and bring it to room temperature before cooking.
- Broiling: You can skip this step. Just that the drumsticks won't have a brownish-roasted color. However, they will be more juicy and tender as they are not exposed to high temperatures.
- Grilled Chicken Drumsticks: Preheat the barbecue grill to 400F. Arrange the marinated drumsticks on the grill, cover, and cook them for about 30 minutes or until well done. Turn them a few times to avoid burning and to develop a nice, even char on all sides. Cooking time may vary depending on the grill type.
- When are chicken drumsticks fully cooked? The chicken is fully cooked when the internal temperature at the thickest part of the meat reaches 165-175F (without the temperature probe touching the bone).
- Serving: Serve them with your favorite chicken wings sauce for an appetizer or as a protein-rich side dish for a wholesome meal.
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