Chicken Drumsticks in the Oven (with or without Potatoes)

Chicken drumsticks in the oven are so incredibly easy to make, either with or without potatoes, that you’ll put these on your weekly menu. They’re as tasty as they are easy to make!

Add a green salad or green bean salad, and you have a delicious and well balanced meal! You’ll even have room for a little cake or dessert! There’s nothing like color-coordinating your courses, haha!

Chicken legs are a great option for budget meals, and of course, potatoes can’t be beat for taste, nutrition and value.

If you’re not a fan of rosemary, use your favorite herb, instead, or leave the chicken plain. Salt and pepper will provide all the flavor you’ll need (you can even skip the black pepper)! Trust me on this! You don’t need 15 seasonings or rubs or bottles of anything but quality extra virgin olive oil.

When I’ve been baking, I love to have dinner ready to go in the already hot oven, and this dish is so easy to prepare and pop it in. On the other hand, if it’s summertime and it’s already scorching, the last thing I want to do is turn on the oven. That’s when I’d go for this air fryer chicken thighs recipe, instead.

So with these two chicken recipes, you have both bases covered: whether you want to make chicken thighs in the oven, or make chicken legs in the air fryer! Both recipes will provide juicy, flavorful results. 

Can I Add Garlic or Lemon to Oven Roasted Chicken?

Absolutely add garlic or lemon to this recipe, as both ingredients are delicious in any type of oven-baked chicken. However, I would recommend that you make the recipe as written the first time and then decide how you want to change it.

Want something a bit more extravagant, but still downright easy?
All you have to do is a bit of chopping to make this authentic chicken cacciatore recipe!

Is it Better to Bake Chicken at 350F or 400F?

If you like chicken that is more crisp, then roasting it at 400F is a better choice. It will also cook more quickly. Baking chicken at 350F will provide less crispy results and take a little longer to reach the correct temperature. 

Special equipment: 8×8 ovenproof pan sheet pan, or pie dish 

Preheat oven to 400ºF (200ºC) I use convection roast setting (at 375ºF)

Prepare the Chicken Legs

Place the drumsticks in a bowl, and drizzle the olive oil over them. 

Next add the rosemary (I used fresh). Add a little or a lot, depending on your tastes.

Sprinkle with salt (and pepper, if desired) and toss gently so the drumsticks are completely coated in oil and evenly seasoned.

With tongs, move the chicken legs to the pan. 

If adding potatoes (I highly recommend it), wash and cut them, then pat dry with a paper towel and place into the first bowl where you tossed the chicken. 

Drizzle the potatoes with oil, salt and pepper, then toss gently.

Arrange the potatoes alongside the chicken drumsticks, and place in the preheated oven.

Set the timer for 15 minutes. When the timer rings, take the dish out of the oven and turn the chicken and potatoes. 

Continue doing this two more times until the chicken is evenly browned as well as the potatoes. If the potatoes are ready before the chicken, remove them and place into a bowl. Mine were ready about 5 minutes apart.

The chicken should be ready in under an hour. Check the thickest part of the drumstick with a meat thermometer which should read 165ºF (74ºC).

Add the chicken legs to the bowl of roast potatoes, and you’re ready to serve a delicious dinner!

You are probably going to write to tell me that you’re surprised at just how tasty this chicken and potato meal is!

I wish you luck if you enter the Le Creuset giveaway. I have lots of recipes that I use this pan for, so let me know which one you’d choose!

Chicken Drumsticks in Oven (with or without Potatoes)

Servings: 2

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

A simple and delicious meal that's easy to make in the oven and requires almost no prep.

4.9 from 15 votes

Print Rate Pin

Special Equipment

• 1 8x8 oven proof pan (sheet pan or pie dish)

Ingredients

• 4 chicken drumsticks (organic is best)
• 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• ⅛ tsp rosemary (fresh/dried, or other herb)
• 1 tsp salt
• ⅛ tsp black pepper (optional)
• 5 potatoes (or 4-6 depending on size, organic)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400ºF (200ºC) I use convection roast setting (at 375ºF)

Prepare the Chicken Legs:

• Place the drumsticks in a bowl, and drizzle the olive oil over them then add the rosemary. Add a little or a lot, depending on your tastes.
• Sprinkle with salt (and pepper, if desired) and toss gently so the drumsticks are completely coated in oil and evenly seasoned. Using tongs, move the chicken legs to the pan. 

Adding potatoes:

• If adding potatoes (I highly recommend it), wash and cut them, then pat dry with a paper towel and place into the first bowl where you tossed the chicken. Drizzle the potatoes with oil, salt and pepper, then toss gently.
• Arrange the potatoes alongside the chicken drumsticks, and place in the preheated oven.
• Set the timer for 15 minutes. When the timer rings, take the dish out of the oven and turn the chicken and potatoes. Continue doing this two more times until the chicken is evenly browned as well as the potatoes. If the potatoes are ready before the chicken, remove them and place into a bowl. Mine were ready about 5 minutes apart.
• The chicken should be ready in under an hour. Check the thickest part of the drumstick with a meat thermometer which should read 165ºF (74ºC). Add the chicken legs to the bowl of roast potatoes, and you're ready to serve a delicious dinner!

Notes

Special equipment: 8x8 ovenproof pan or pie dish 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 816kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 26g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 1346mg | Potassium: 2129mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 79IU | Vitamin C: 84mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 4mg

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Author: Christina Conte

Course Main Courses

Cuisine Italian

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