Whether they're battered and fried or smothered in your favorite barbecue sauce, these recipes for chicken legs are worth a little mess.
24 Finger-Licking-Good Chicken Leg Recipes
Updated on Mar. 17, 2024
Oven-Fried Chicken Legs
This fabulous recipe uses Greek yogurt to create an amazing marinade that makes the chicken incredibly moist. No one will guess that it has been lightened up and is not even fried! — Kim Wallace, Dennison, Ohio
1/24
2/24
Moist Drumsticks
Total Time
5 hours 20 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I found this in my mom’s recipe box years ago. It is very quick to prepare and makes the house smell wonderful while it’s cooking. My daughter Molly just loves it! —Lianne Felton, Riverside, California
Nutrition Facts:
4 ounces cooked chicken with sauce: 305 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 94mg cholesterol, 1489mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 1g fiber), 32g protein.
3/24
Filipino Chicken Adobo
Total Time
35 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mom always makes her saucy chicken adobo recipe when I come home to visit. I think it’s even better the next day as leftovers —she says it’s because of the vinegar. — Michael Moya, New York, New York
Nutrition Facts:
3 ounces cooked chicken: 234 calories, 15g fat (4g saturated fat), 71mg cholesterol, 1315mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 22g protein.
4/24
Teriyaki Pineapple Drumsticks
Total Time
2 hours 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We have a large family and throw big parties, so I look for ways to free my husband from the grill. Roasted drumsticks keep everyone happy. —Erica Allen, Tuckerton, New Jersey
Nutrition Facts:
2 chicken drumsticks: 360 calories, 22g fat (4g saturated fat), 95mg cholesterol, 540mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 1g fiber), 29g protein.
5/24
Jalapeno-Lime Chicken Drumsticks
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Bottled hot sauce isn’t my thing, so I developed a fresh pepper glaze for grilled chicken. These drumsticks practically fly off the plate. —Kristeen DeVorss, Farmington, New Mexico
Nutrition Facts:
2 chicken drumsticks: 361 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 95mg cholesterol, 494mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (24g sugars, 1g fiber), 29g protein.
6/24
Weekday Chicken Cacciatore
Total Time
4 hours 30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Chicken cooked “cacciatore” means a dish prepared “hunter-style” with tomatoes, mushrooms, onions and seasonings. We add a touch of white wine to make ours northern Italian-style. —Lisa Bynum, Brandon, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
1 chicken leg quarter with 1-1/3 cups sauce: 391 calories, 23g fat (5g saturated fat), 104mg cholesterol, 849mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 3g fiber), 33g protein.
7/24
Grilled Chicken Thighs and Drumsticks
Total Time
40 min
Servings
18 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When Mom makes grilled chicken thighs and drumsticks, this is the way we like it prepared. It’s juicy, has great barbecue flavor and makes a big batch, so it’s perfect for a summer picnic and family reunions. —Brenda Beachy, Belvidere, Tennessee. If you enjoyed this recipe, then you must try the fried chicken thigh recipe.
Nutrition Facts:
5 ounces cooked chicken: 384 calories, 19g fat (4g saturated fat), 128mg cholesterol, 970mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 0 fiber), 36g protein.
8/24
Dr Pepper Drumsticks
Total Time
50 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
If you love Dr Pepper as much as I do, try it in my barbecue sauce for grilled chicken. It adds zip to the ketchup, bourbon and barbecue seasoning. —Shannon Holle-Funk, Venedy, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
2 drumsticks: 316 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 95mg cholesterol, 1289mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 0 fiber), 29g protein.
9/24
Sheet-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Everyone needs an easy meal. Try this sheet-pan chicken with roasted potatoes for a simple and tasty meal guaranteed to please the whole family. If you use fresh lemon juice, garnish each serving with a little lemon zest for bright flavor. —Andrea Potischman, Menlo Park, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 chicken thigh and 1 chicken leg with 1/2 cups potatoes: 483 calories, 29g fat (7g saturated fat), 128mg cholesterol, 507mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 39g protein.
10/24
Cornflake Chicken
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I took a recipe off a box of baking mix and altered it to make the prep easier. The result was this moist oven-fried cornflake chicken with a thick golden coating that’s a lot crisper than the original. —Angela Capettini, Boynton Beach, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
1 drumstick and 1 thigh: 534 calories, 18g fat (7g saturated fat), 143mg cholesterol, 972mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 46g protein.
11/24
Roasted Lime Chicken
Total Time
2 hours 20 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The subtle citrus flavor infused throughout this moist and baked lime chicken makes the most-requested dish for family dinners. It's the ideal way to use fresh herbs such as rosemary, sage, thyme and parsley. —Kathy Lewis-Martinez, Spring Valley, California
Nutrition Facts:
5 ounces cooked chicken: 341 calories, 19g fat (5g saturated fat), 108mg cholesterol, 629mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 35g protein.
12/24
Air-Fryer Chicken Legs
Total Time
40 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For years, I tried to find the perfect bottled barbecue sauce for chicken legs. After a few years, I threw in the towel and created my own using ketchup, honey and spicy brown mustard. It works perfectly with this air-fryer chicken legs recipe. —Kathleen Criddle, Lake Worth, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
2 chicken drumsticks with 1/4 cup sauce: 422 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 95mg cholesterol, 909mg sodium, 49g carbohydrate (48g sugars, 0 fiber), 29g protein.
13/24
Lemony Roasted Chicken and Potatoes
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This one-dish meal tastes like it needs hours of hands-on time to put together, but it’s just minutes to prep the simple ingredients. The meat juices cook the veggies to perfection. So easy. —Sherri Melotik Oak Creek, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 589 calories, 31g fat (7g saturated fat), 128mg cholesterol, 898mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 5g fiber), 42g protein.
14/24
Honey Thyme Grilled Chicken
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For grilling chicken, I wanted a marinade different from barbecue sauce, so I pulled out some honey and thyme. If you have time, let the chicken marinate awhile to boost flavor. —Noel Bigelow, Alexandria, Virginia
Nutrition Facts:
2 chicken drumsticks: 418 calories, 26g fat (5g saturated fat), 95mg cholesterol, 531mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 0 fiber), 29g protein.
15/24
New Orleans-Style Stewed Chicken
Total Time
1 hour 45 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This New Orleans stewed chicken is like a gumbo but with far less liquid and bigger pieces of meat. Don’t let the long list of ingredients trick you into thinking it’s a difficult recipe to cook. Most of the ingredients are herbs and spices that coat the chicken. —Eric Olsson, Macomb, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 680 calories, 48g fat (17g saturated fat), 131mg cholesterol, 1847mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 3g fiber), 38g protein.
16/24
Breaded Curry Chicken Drummies
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These drumsticks are crispy with just the right amount of zing to get your mouth watering for more! They are super easy to make and are baked rather than fried so they save on fat but not on flavor. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or assorted chicken parts can be used instead of all drumsticks. —Lynn Kaufman, Mount Morris, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
2 drumsticks: 380 calories, 24g fat (11g saturated fat), 125mg cholesterol, 535mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 31g protein.
17/24
18/24
Apple Barbecue Chicken
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband and I had just moved to Dallas when I first made this recipe. Everything was new—new city, new home—but this dish felt familiar and comforting. —Darla Andrews, Schertz, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
2 chicken drumsticks with 1/2 cup sauce: 501 calories, 15g fat (4g saturated fat), 95mg cholesterol, 949mg sodium, 58g carbohydrate (50g sugars, 1g fiber), 29g protein.
19/24
Cazuela
Total Time
50 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I learned to make this dish while we were living in Chile for a few months. We grow extra butternut squash in our garden just for this recipe. —Louise Schmid, Marshall, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 416 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 52mg cholesterol, 968mg sodium, 67g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 8g fiber), 23g protein.
20/24
Chicken & Garlic with Fresh Herbs
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The key to this savory chicken is the combination of garlic, fresh rosemary and thyme. I like to serve it with mashed potatoes or crusty Italian bread. —Jan Valdez, Lombard, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 chicken thigh with 2 tablespoons cooking juices: 203 calories, 11g fat (3g saturated fat), 76mg cholesterol, 346mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 22g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1/2 fat.
21/24
Roasted Chicken with Potato Wedges
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I grow herbs and dry them for use all year. Knowing that the rosemary and thyme are from our garden makes this cozy roast chicken dinner even better. —Tanya Borkholder, Milford, Indiana
Nutrition Facts:
1 thigh and 1 drumstick (skin removed) with 6 potato wedges: 447 calories, 17g fat (5g saturated fat), 133mg cholesterol, 596mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 4g fiber), 41g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 2 starch, 2 fat.
22/24
Sweet Tea Barbecued Chicken
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Marinades sometimes use coffee or espresso, and that inspired me to try tea and apple juice to perk up this sauce. —Kelly Williams, Forked River, New Jersey
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 374 calories, 17g fat (5g saturated fat), 104mg cholesterol, 608mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 1g fiber), 33g protein.
23/24
Chicken Paprikash
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Some recipes for chicken paprikash include vegetables like bell peppers and celery, but not my Grandmother Alta’s. Hers was a simple combination of chicken, onions, garlic, paprika and sour cream. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 422 calories, 26g fat (8g saturated fat), 127mg cholesterol, 596mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 40g protein.
24/24
Tara’s Spanish Chicken
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe has simple flavors that take me back to Grandma’s house. She knew a million ways to cook a chicken, but this was my favorite. —Tara Imig, Fort Worth, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
4 ounces cooked chicken: 402 calories, 27g fat (6g saturated fat), 104mg cholesterol, 673mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 34g protein.
