Enjoy easy & balanced recipes — ranging from 30-minute weeknight dinners to holiday appetizers and everything in between. My goal is to make sure you can cook a successful and memorable dish every single time.
Baked chicken legs have no business being this good.
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These Baked Chicken Legs are coated in a simple marinade made with olive oil, fresh lemon juice and zest, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried thyme, then baked until golden and finished under the broiler for crispy, caramelized skin. The marinade comes together in one bowl in minutes, and the oven handles the rest. With just 10 minutes of prep and simple ingredients most kitchens already have, it's an easy dinner that works just as well on a busy weeknight as it does when you want something a little more laid-back for the weekend. Chicken legs are one of the most forgiving cuts to bake — the bone keeps the meat juicy as it cooks, and the skin crisps up beautifully in a hot oven without any special technique. The marinade here is a simple mix of olive oil, fresh lemon juice and zest, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried thyme that you whisk together in one bowl and pour right over the chicken. Fresh lemon is worth using here over bottled — the zest especially adds a more concentrated citrus flavor that holds up through the full bake. The broil at the end is what takes the skin from golden to properly caramelized and crispy, so give it those last few minutes even if the chicken already looks done. A short rest before serving lets the juices settle back into the meat before you cut in. If you have time the night before or even the morning of, tossing the chicken in the marinade and letting it sit in the fridge before baking gives you noticeably more flavor all the way through. Serve it over rice with the pan juices spooned on top, alongside roasted vegetables, or with mashed potatoes for a plate that covers everything.
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Real Balanced — Sara Nelson
Enjoy easy & balanced recipes — ranging from 30-minute weeknight dinners to holiday appetizers and everything in between. My goal is to make sure you can cook a successful and memorable dish every single time.
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