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It doesn’t get much easier than this savory Lemon Garlic Roasted Chicken Drumsticks recipe. The marinade is full of flavor and the meat is practically fall off the bone tender and juicy.
Table of Contents
Juicy Chicken Drumsticks
My whole family is obsessed with these baked chicken drumsticks. They will eat the leftovers, cold, straight out of the fridge! But for dinner, we like to have them as part of a whole handheld meal with things like Air Fryer Tater Tots, Homemade Baked French Fries, and Corn on the Cob.
Chicken Drumsticks are flavor-packed, juicy with tender meat that, if you cook it right, will practically fall off the bone. I use skinless drumsticks, but you could leave the skin on and let it get a crispy skin if you want.
My latest obsession is this Lemon Garlic marinated Roasted Chicken Drumsticks recipe. The marinade has a ton of flavor so give it as long as you can to marinate. It’s great for prepping ahead of time so all you have to do is put them in the oven.
Ingredients
An overnight marinade makes this chicken practically fall off the bone tender, however, if you don’t have overnight, you could go as little as 30 minutes. Just remember that the longer it marinates, the more tender it will be.
The lemon is subtle and doesn’t overpower the rest of the marinade. You can of course add more lemon juice and even some lemon zest for a more intense punch of lemon. The seasoning is similar to what I use in my simple chicken seasoning, with some added herbs:
- Garlic powder – I use granulated garlic for simplicity, but for a more intense garlic flavor you can use 1-2 cloves of minced garlic.
- Smoked paprika – for an added smoky flavor.
- Dried oregano – or use fresh, just double the amount.
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
The flavors blend so well together and are what makes this chicken recipe so irresistibly delicious. If you want to forgo the marinade and just season the chicken with this flavor profile, you could certainly do that as well.
How to Bake Chicken Drumsticks
- Marinate – mix up the marinade and pour it into a resealable plastic bag. You could also use a plastic or glass container, but I like to use bags for marinades because you can squeeze out most of the air and really help the sauce permeate the meat. I try to give at least 2 hours for marinating, but if you only have 30 minutes you’ll still get some good flavor.
- Chicken – Obviously we are going with chicken legs here but you can use chicken thighs if that’s what you like. My preference is to remove the skin, but if you’re looking for skin-on crispy baked chicken legs, we do that too.
- Bake – Preheat the oven to 425℉ and arrange the marinated chicken on a baking sheet covered with foil. Roast at high heat for about 25 minutes, then flip over and continue to cook the chicken for about 10-20 minutes more or until the temperature reaches 165℉ on a meat thermometer.
Hot Tip!
When you bring chicken home from the store, prep marinades and place the meat and marinade together in freezer bags. Keep in the freezer up to 3 months, and pull out to thaw in the fridge overnight. As the meat is thawing, it will be soaking up the flavors of the marinade!
How Long Should Drumsticks Be Cooked For?
Chicken drumsticks take a little longer than boneless chicken. I recommend baking chicken legs at 425℉ for 35-45 minutes. The cook time will depend on your oven and the size of the drumsticks. I do flip the chicken about halfway through to ensure even cooking.
Always make sure that the meat is thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature 165℉ . Use a digital meat thermometer close to but not touching the bone. When pierced, the juices should run clear. If they’re pink, it’s not done.
Here’s a handy guide for baking chicken drumsticks at various temperatures:
- 350 degrees: 1 hour
- 375 degrees F: 45-55 minutes
- 400 degrees F: 40-50 minutes
- 425 degrees F: 35-45 minutes
FAQs
You cover something in the oven for one of two reasons: You don’t want it to brown too fast on top or burn, or you want to steam it, like my Chicken and Rice Bake. We don’t want any of those things, so you can bake these chicken legs uncovered.
The term chicken “leg” is often used synonymously with “drumstick,” however, the chicken leg actually has two parts, the drumstick and the thigh.
Serving Suggestions
With its bright lemon flavor, this baked chicken leg recipe lends itself to a lot of citrusy flavors. They will go great with Easy Roasted Veggies, Fresh Corn Salad, or Baked Potato Wedges.
They will also pair quite well with a simple side dish like Olive Garden Salad and Rice Pilaf.
Recipe Notes
- The longer you can marinate, the better. At least 2 hours is best or up to 24 hours.
- Discard any leftover marinade – do not brush onto cooked chicken or re-use.
- Use nonstick foil or spray the aluminum foil with cooking spray. Don’t be afraid to spray it even if you are using nonstick foil.
- This marinade will work with any kind of chicken. For boneless chicken breasts or tenders, the cook time will be much shorter.
- As much as I love chicken skin, I prefer to remove the skin from the chicken legs for this recipe. If using chicken thighs, you can decide whether to leave it on or remove it or use boneless chicken thighs.
Storage and Reheating
Storing leftovers: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Reheating: Thaw completely if frozen, then reheat at 350 degrees in the oven or air fryer. In a pinch, you can reheat in the microwave. They are also pretty delicious cold, or shredded and added to a salad.
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
- Baked Lemon Chicken
- Chicken Parmesan Baked Ziti
- Honey Lemon Chicken and Green Beans
- Broiled Chicken Thighs
- Easy Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks
Roasted Lemon Garlic Chicken
Ingredients
- 10 Chicken Drumsticks skin removed
- 1 large lemon juiced and zested
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry and place into a 1-gallon Ziploc bag.
- In a small bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients. Pour over chicken and seal the bag, squeezing out as much air as possible. Massage marinade into the chicken. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight. (If all you have is 30 minutes, that’s fine – just remember the longer the marinade time, the more tender and juicy the chicken).
- When ready to cook, let chicken come to room temperature (about 20 minutes). Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Arrange chicken on a foil lined baking sheet. Bake, uncovered, for about 20-25 minutes. Flip chicken pieces and cook another 10 minutes, or until chicken reaches an internal temp of 165 F and is no longer pink.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- The longer you can marinate, the better. At least 2 hours is best or up to 24 hours.
- Discard any leftover marinade – do not brush onto cooked chicken or re-use.
- Use nonstick foil or spray the foil with cooking spray. Don’t be afraid to spray it even if you are using nonstick foil.
- As much as I love chicken skin, I prefer to remove the skin from the chicken legs for this recipe. If using chicken thighs, you can decide whether to leave it on or remove it or use boneless chicken thighs.
- Bonus tip: When you bring chicken home from the store, prep marinades and place the meat and marinade together in freezer bags. Keep in the freezer up to 3 months, and pull out to thaw in the fridge overnight. As the meat is thawing, it will be soaking up the flavors of the marinade!
I only had made it once and husband loves it so much, we have to have it once a week now. And this recipe does not get any easier.
Nice! Awesome feedback Laura, thank you for stopping by.
Delicious!!! My husband isn’t fond of lemon, but enjoyed this recipe. Will definitely prepare it again.
This recipie was quick easy and delicious. We have been looking for something to change up the BBQ Chicken Routine and this is it. I have a family of 6, kids from 7-17 all enjoyed this. I will be adding it to my Freezer Prep list. Just pop the marinade and chicken in a bag. Wright on the bag the baking time and we will have light bright chicken dinner ready to go all summer long.
Nice! Thanks for the awesome feedback Stephanie.
My whole family loved it! Made it along with corn salad and oven roasted veggies.
Nice! Thanks for stopping by Sabitha.
I’m making this recipe tonight,it looks delicious so Im excited to taste this lemon garlic chicken.I know it will be fantastic tasting.Thanks
Your so welcome Judy! Let us know with some feedback of your thoughts on the recipe.
Thanks for stopping by.
K.
lovely recipe, easy to follow, very tasty. Thank you Kristin 💕
You are so welcome Marylin! Thanks for stopping.
Hi Kristin! Thank you so much for this amazing recipe!!! It was so easy and turned out amazing! My family loved it!!! I’ve tried so many recipes like this and they never seem to turn out good. The chicken turned out so flavorful and crisped up so nicely!
Thank you again!
You are so welcome Emmalena! Awesome feedback, thanks for stopping by.
Kristin, this looks absolutely delicious and just what I’ve been looking for! Only one person in our family like dark meat though. Hate to not follow recipes as written, but dying to try. Do you think this would work with white meat as well and would I need to make more marinade given breaststroke are larger? Any suggestions? Thank you!
Hi Kim, yes this would work with any type of chicken. It makes a lot so would work for probably 3-4 pounds of boneless, skinless breasts. For bone-in it would depend on how large they are, but probably 2-3 pieces.
Lemons are not in season right now in my part of the world so kicked this up a notch and marinated in fresh passion fruit juice. Can you say “Puckerup buttercup”. Was really good. Thanks for this great recipe.
You are so welcome Taylor! Great idea to use passion fruit. Thanks for stopping by.
I love your recipes. Thank you for this wonderful site.
Your so welcome Taylor! Thanks for stopping by.
Can I use this on pork chops bone in baked in oven ?
Yes you could use this marinade for pork.
Very good. Never thought I would like baked chicken without the crispy skin :).
Thanks for the recipe
You are so welcome Darlene! Thanks for stopping by.
Very fond of your recipes. Thank you.
You are so welcome Lois! Thanks for stopping by.
This is so easy. I can’t wait to try these chicken legs. All of your recipes I have tried are great.
Nice! Thanks for stopping by Rebecca.
Made this tonight, but instead of baking we BBQ’d. It was delicious!
Nice! Thanks for stopping by Jessica.
This recipe is so simple and so delicious. Highly recommended!
Hi Margaret, thanks for the awesome feedback.
We made this and we LOVED it !! Thank you for such a simple yet tasty recipe…
Much love from India!
Thank you Dupps! Thanks for stopping by all the way from India!
OMG. I wish I found this recipe a long time ago before we grew tired of eating chicken drumsticks all the time. We stock up on a lot of chicken drumsticks mainly because they’re super affordable and well, you can easily feed more people if we have unexpected guests on that day. This is soooo amazing and I could eat this over and over! However, I’m so going to try this marinade out with different kinds of citrus – example, orange, lime, and etc to experiment! 🙂
Different kinds of citrus would be fabulous! Also this marinade will work with any kind of chicken, even boneless.
That’s great to know & thank you for the tip!! I’m going to make them again today, yay!
So excited and i love love the recipes on your website!! Stay safe & healthy! xo
Thank you Daniella, you too.
Chicken is in marinade now but the marinade does not seem to be nearly enough for 10 drumsticks. I am hopeful that it will be tasty as it certainly looks good and has all of my favourite seasonings.
This looks amazing! I can’t wait to make it tomorrow. Can you do bottled lemon juice instead of fresh lemons? Silly question but with a new baby going to the store isn’t fun lol!
Totally get that – congrats on the new baby! You can swap out bottled lemon juice.
Delicioso!!!!
Mis niños adoraron está receta!! Tienen mejor sabor a pimienta limón que cualquier sazonador en polvo. Gracias por la receta!
Thanks for sear your recipe!!
Prepared this dish today and it smells so good!
Thank you Kerri!
I have made these several times and they are wonderful! How would you prepare these for a crock pot at a potluck gathering? Bake them 1st and then just keep them warm or actually cook them in the crock pot? Thanks so much for the great recipe!
Definitely bake them fist, then just keep on warm setting in the slow cooker. So glad you enjoy them!
I love those yummy chicken leg pieces . They are so perfectly cooked . Can’t wait to make the recipe and i am pretty sure it will come out as good as yours. Thank you for the recipe.
You are so welcome, thank you so much for taking the time to leave some positive feedback.
Can this be served cold?
Yes it would be delicious cold as well.
They were delicious cold, children loved them
Good evening, I need help this is my first time using this recipe and overall I’m really excited to see the outcome. But there’s a little problem I’m pounding on what side dish goes best with this plate, can I can some healthy recommendations? I would much appreciate the help. Please and Thank you. ❤️
You can do just about anything. I like to serve a big green salad and rice with this one.
Could you do this with the skin on?
Yes you could leave the skin on!
We made this last night for our charity cafe. Even without having too much time for the chicken to marinate, we received rave reviews from our clients who gobbled it all up.
That’s awesome Bianca! Thanks for stopping by.
Hi there, I saw a comment below about freezing them in the marinade, apologies for being stupid but as I freeze things in a container generally (3 drums for single serving), the right way to do it would be to freeze them wrapped in the Ziploc bag with as much air removed?
Thanks!
Yes that would work well. Then as the drumsticks defrost in the fridge is when they actually absorb the marinade.
This was helpful easy and very very tasty. ?
Thank you Rimi! and thank you for sharing your experience.
Can you marinate/cook with skin on? Thanks!
Yes, you could definitely do that for added flavor.
I tried this today and I added butter and lemon grass. The taste and flavor were enhanced. Thanks for sharing this recipe. My family definitely like it..
Thanks Ludy! So happy that you and your family loved this recipe!
Recipe rating…
Hi Kristin, Havemade this several times and love it. Can you freeze the chicken in the marinade, will it still be good?
Thanks
You can freeze the raw chicken in the marinade, yes. It will marinate as it defrosts in the fridge.
Thank you Kristin. Sorry I forgot to rate the recipe when I left my comments.
Hi! I love this recipe! With it being so nice out now, can you throw these on the grill instead?
That would be great!
A delightful chicken dish made quickly.
Thank you j05h! and thanks for sharing your experience.
I have made these twice now and both times they have been so full of flavor and falling off the bone. Wonderful dinner recipe!
Thank you Julie for sharing your positive experience.
Delicious!!!
Thank you Diane!
Thanks for stopping by!
So simple and super delicious!
Thank you Diane! and thanks for stopping by.
Forgot your stars
Thank you!
Hi,
I USED your marinade to make fried chicken and it was awesome!
There were a few modifications; smoked paprika instead of paprika, while I also added McCormick roasted garlic and herbs
And i added smoked paprika and salt & pepper, mccormick roasted garlic &herbs to the flour.
Thank you for the recipe!
Thank yu so much Ricardo! I love that you used the marinade for fried chicken!!
This is my go to meal now. I use chicken breasts for more meat and lowered the oven temperature due to the burning point of olive oil being so low but oh my word is this delicious. I literally moan while I’m eating it. Hahaha. Highly recommended. (I found that marinating overnight provides more tender and juicy chicken but I’ve done only 2 hours as well and it’s still fantastic).
Nice! Thank you Terri!
great recipe but i so wish people would stop using plastic bags for marinating. whats wrong with marinating in a dish or tray?
You can use a baking dish or tray if you like, but using a sealed bag works for a few reasons:
1. It keep the marinade circulating around all of the meat.
2. It’s sealed so you don’t have to worry about the aromas affecting any other food in your fridge.
3. It’s my preference because it’s easier and doesn’t create another dish that has to be washed.
You are welcome to use any method you like to marinate your meat. This is my preferred method and the one I recommend.
Made these for dinner last night and they were amazing! I marinated them for about 3 hours and roasted as directed. They were tender and juicy with a fresh lemon flavor. Thank you for this recipe. It made me like drumsticks again.
Could you do this with chicken breasts or tenders?
You could, but don’t marinate more than 30 minutes and cook for a shorter amount of time, depending on the size of the pieces.
Delicious! Thank you for the recipe. I made this with thighs rather than drumsticks. Worked out wonderfully. So moist & juicy. It’s a keeper!
Thank you Virginia!
I absolutely LOVED this dinner however there is major debate on heating olive oil. EVOO is likely unsafe above 300 degrees so putting it in the oven at 400 or higher kills the good stuff in the oil and creates carcinogens. I”m back and forth on whether I will use olive oil on this again but the recipe itself was amazing. I’ve already raved to everyone.
Thank you Terri! and thanks for sharing your feedback!
Tried this tonight and it was flavorful. I marinated for 24 hours and baked it for about 35 min which was not enough. The meat thermometer was off tonight but aside from not fully cooking the drumsticks (user error) the flavor was a big hit with the family. It has officially been added to the dinner rotation. Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Simsai, so happy that you and your family loved this recipe!
Sorry, forgot to star-rate it … made this recipe as-is … soooo delish! Lemony and yummy!!!
Thank you Kate! and thank you for the five star rating rating!
Made this … followed recipe as-is … came out delish!!! So lemony and yummy!!!
Thank you Kate!
Im going to make this tonight. Can i use butter instead of oil?
Butter wouldn’t work in this case as it would thicken and congeal.
I am following your recipe and have used fresh garlic on the drumsticks. I cut the garlic and they were white when i cut them and added the oil and salt, pepper and so on. I placed it in the oven. When i took it out to see if it was ready. The garlic was slightly green. Is that ok or have i just spoiled my roast accidentally. This is my first time making roasts.
I’ve never had garlic turn green after baking. Could be the seasonings?
Iodine in salt reacts with garlic and makes it go blue/green. Normally the salt packet specified if it’s salt with iodine though
Thanks for sharing that Veronica!
Thank you! I don’t know how to cook but this was so easy and turned out so good!:))))
Thank you Ag!
This is a good easy recipe but chicken does not need be washed and it spreads bacteria around the kitchen!
You’re right, this recipe was written a while ago and I should remove that step.
What is the side dish for this?
This chicken recipe is pretty versatile, so it would pair well with anything from potatoes to pasta to rice, with veggies or a salad on the side.
Hi Kristin! Do you have the macros on this dish?
I made these lemon garlic chicken legs. I left the skins on. They were amazing. I want to try on a whole chicken.
Hi Vanessa,
Great idea
Thank you for stopping by!
This was super delicious and simple! I only let it marinade 15 minutes (too hungry!) and baked the drumsticks in a glass dish with the marinade… it made the most amazing sauce!! I put the extra sauce on my roasted veggies. Will definitely be doing this again. Thank you!
I’ve made this several times and I have never deviated from the recipe. It’s absolutely delicious.
Absolutely divine! Smiles on all faces! This will become a staple dish in our house, as we have all ingredients regularly on hand! We served with rice and green salad. Thanks for this wonderful recipe ?
Can I use a disposable foil pan instead of a roasting pan with aluminum foil?
Sure that would work just as well!
Tried this recipe many times and loved it but I’m wondering if this could go in a crockpot? If so, do you know the temp and amount of time?
I think you could definitely make these in the crockpot. Keep in mind they wouldn’t have that golden color from roasting. 4-5 hours on low should do it, but you’ll want to be sure to check it before serving.
Tried this out yesterday evening – absolutely delicious! Definitely going into my ‘cook again’ folder. Thanks for the recipe. 🙂
This will be a new favorite for me! I did leave the skin on and it turned out perfect. So juicy and flavorful. Glad I came across recipe.
Was looking for some delicious way to use drumsticks on bone. Just made the marinade and can’t do overnight but will do for several hours. I had everything on hand including nice juicy lemons. Also fresh parsley from my garden. Will let you know how it turns outcome . Thank you.
If I don’t have the olive oil is there something else I can use
Other types of cooking oil would work – canola, corn, vegetable.
These chicken drumsticks and it’s marinade are sooooo lit! This particular recipe is part of my rotation. My wife and daughter (along with myself) jus love this recipe! Thank you Kristin!
This is my favorite way to make chicken now and my fiancé loves it! Thank you for the great recipe! I was wondering if I don’t have fresh lemons on hand, how much lemon juice I should use?
Thank you again!
One large lemon will yield around 2 tablespoons.
Made this recipe last night. I used a grate to put chicjen on in oven with cooking spray ( so they don’t stick) and get even all around cooking. Left chicken in frig in bag with all flavor over night. Tasted delish. Love it.
Hello Kristin.
I just found your receipe for garlic lemon chicken. I’m about to make it. Can’t wait
SOOO good! Thank you for this!
I was looking for a recipe for drumsticks and happen to see your lemon garlic chicken.
Will try it and let you know , thank you I am sure it
It will be delicious.
My new favourite! I mde it with chicken legs and breasts!
Can we use vegetable oil instead of olive?
I prefer olive oil for the flavor, but yes, you could definitely swap one for the other. Enjoy!
This chicken recipe sounds delicious. I’m gonna try this out tonight.
I followed the recipe exactly and now have a new favorite marinade in the rotation! I use drumsticks and thighs quite a bit because of the flavor and value. This delicious recipe uses everything I already have in my pantry, and is a nice departure from my usual suspects. Thanks so much for a great recipe!??
What are the nutritional facts..i want to make this but i am on a diabetic meal plan
I recommend looking up on a nutritional calculator like myfitnesspal.com.
I made it and it tured out so well. Your directions are easy to follow and i loved it
Though I’m a vegetarian, I tried this recipe for a dinner party last night and it turned out superb! Absolutely delicious, thank you so much for sharing
I can’t stomach in-bone chicken. Although my mother gave me chicken legs. I have always had a fear of cooking in-bone chicken. Afraid I wont get it all the way cooked.
I made this recipe and my family loved it!! A BIG hit in my home. I even tried it. Wanna try it with boneless. Ty.
Unfortunately, my family and I were not impressed. I marinated the chicken for 24 hours and it just didn’t take on any flavor.
What a great recipe and so easy. Marinaded for 12 hours. Didn’t zest the lemon. Family loved it!! Thank you!!!
This looks really good and I’m always up for trying a new recipe for chicken. I don’t see any nutritional info for the recipe. Can you provide that?
Where should I place oven rack to cook/bake the chicken in the middle or more towards the bottom?
Love, love this recipe! I have made it several times, and It is always delicious.
Thanks, ever so much!!
hi, would this recipe be okay to freeze? i have just started meal prepping for the month and would love to make this. thank you 🙂
I would freeze the raw chicken in the marinade. Then it will marinate as it defrosts. Just make sure the drumsticks are fully thawed before baking.
Made this for my wife and daughter last week and they LOVED IT! Making it again tonight! Thank you!
Yay!
Like your son, I prefer eat chicken with bone, but I don’t have a lot of idea to cook it ( almost just fried it with some kind of sauces). And be honest I prefer roast than fried. Although I don’t have a lot time but I wanna try to do an overnight marinade for my chicken, it will make its flavor perfectly, I bet!
Hope to see more your recipes. It make me love cooking more and more!
Hello Kristin,
Just love this recipe and cannot wait to make it but I think that I will expand the chicken to include thighs. But tell met are HOLY HOT POTATOES if you know? Re: Claire’s post
Thanks.
Just made this for dinner and….it’s DELISH!!!! Thank you for the recipe, I marinated overnight and HOLY HOT POTATOES – the chicken was packed FULL of flavor. Thanks again!
Great to hear!!
Have you ever made this with boneless chicken breasts?
I haven’t but it would be delicious! Just adjust the cooking time.
I like the skin on, does that change anything?
I don’t think it would, it’s a personal preference.
Hi..I have a question…I need to make these for my daugthers school party…she will need to take them with her when she goes to school in the morning.Would it be ok if I bake them at night and just warm them up in the morning?
I’d be cautious with chicken. Would it be possible to send them in a slow cooker to keep them at a higher temp all day?
I used a whole chicken cut up exactly as recipe states a me it was amzazing!! Favorite way to make chicken
Love your recipes.
Not so in love with your website design/layout – too many large photos.
Perhaps a link to a photo gallery page for those who want to look at your “more of the same” pictures of the prepared recipe – it kind of looks like you’re just adding padding to make the page look bigger.
Perhaps a link at the top of the page to take one directly to the recipe instructions.
I reference your recipes often – and will keep coming back – this is just a suggestion.
Listen bub, I came here for a chicken recipe. Not a website review! Pipe down chucky!!
I made this tonight and it sure was good. Going to make it again!
I tried it, and they were perfectly moist and well browned outside, my chicken lover son is really happy
Thank you for sharing this recipe:)
The article mentions thyme but the recipe does not. Is it used in the recipe and if so, how much? Thanks
Sorry, must be a misprint! I didn’t use thyme in the recipe and must have written it in the post by mistake.
This looks great. It looks like there is parsley added in the photo. Did you add it before or after roasting?
It was just a garnish when I arranged the chicken on the serving platter.
This sounds really nice. gonna make this for tea tonight. Thanks. Simon