Baked Hen Legs (Drumsticks!) – thebigmansworld.com

These baked hen legs are fast to prep and work with hen drumsticks! Prepared in minutes, a secret trick yields juicy hen with a crispy pores and skin each single time. 

Why you’ll love these crispy baked hen legs

We have now a good few hen leg recipes round right here, however maintaining issues easy actually permits this lower of hen to shine.

Should you’ve tried our air fryer hen drumsticks or grilled model, you’ll little question love them baked! 

• Crispy outdoors and juicy inside. Like hen breast or thighs, this recipe is at all times completely juicy for a hen that’s infamous for typically being dry and chewy.
• No marinating time is required. You may put together these hen legs for baking in just some minutes. Like hen wings, you don’t have to marinate them upfront.
• Versatile. Hen pairs properly with virtually something, together with veggies, grains, and sandwiches.
• Hen legs or drumsticks. You need to use hen legs or drumsticks interchangeably.

Substances (and substitutions)

This recipe may be very easy; in addition to the hen legs and seasonings, there isn’t a lot else that goes into it. Here’s what you’ll want:

• Hen legs. Use skin-on hen legs or bone-in drumsticks for the crispiest baked hen.
• Oyster sauce. Offers the hen a wealthy umami taste together with candy and salty notes.
• Soy sauce. Balances out the richness of the oyster sauce.
• Honey or maple syrup. So as to add sweetness to the marinade.
• Garlic. No hen marinade is ever full with out some contemporary minced garlic. 
• Olive oil. To assist impart the marinade flavors into the hen.
• Spices. I exploit crimson pepper flakes and freshly floor black pepper for this recipe.
• Salt. To style.

Tips on how to bake hen legs

1. Make the marinade. Whisk collectively the olive oil, soy sauce, oyster sauce, maple syrup or honey, minced garlic, salt, and spices.

2. Marinade the hen legs. Put the hen legs right into a small bowl and pour the marinade into the bag.

3. Bake the hen. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Take away the hen legs from the bag and organize them on the sheet pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or till crispy on the surface.

Recipe and taste variations

The great thing about baking hen legs from scratch is that they’re really easy to customise! Listed below are some concepts:

• Swap olive oil for sesame oil. The delicate nutty and earthy taste of the sesame oil pairs properly with hen and provides it an Asian really feel.
• Add just a few drops of Sriracha to the marinade. Utilizing Sriracha is the best approach to management the extent of spiciness of the hen (have you ever tried our peri peri hen but?).
• Coat them in lemon pepper seasoning. Should you love our lemon pepper hen wings or hen breast, then you know the way scrumptious this taste is with hen.
• Marinate them in a sauce. Brush some eel, katsu, or bulgogi sauce earlier than roasting to provide them an much more flavorful exterior.

What to serve with baked hen legs recipes

• Pasta. You may serve freshly baked hen over some pasta tossed with pomodoro sauce or sugo or one thing heartier like smoked mac and cheese.
• Grains. Quinoa and farro are two high-protein and high-fiber choices to stability out the meal.
• Greens. Nearly something goes properly with hen, together with air fryer brussels sprouts or sauteed eggplant.
• Salads. All the time a strong facet dish, maintain issues gentle with blended greens or go for one thing heartier like a wedge salad or Jennifer Aniston salad.
• Starches. Thick slices of sourdough bread are at all times successful, or one thing fluffy like dinner rolls are nice.

Storage directions

To retailer: Leftovers will be saved within the fridge in an hermetic container. They maintain properly for not less than 4 days.

To freeze: Place the baked and cooled hen in a shallow container and retailer it within the freezer for as much as 6 months.

To reheat: Heat the hen within the microwave for 20-30 seconds or in a preheated oven.

Really helpful instruments to make this recipe

• Meat thermometer. To test the hen is cooked to the proper temperature.
• Baking tray. All the time use a larger-than-needed tray so there’s sufficient area for the hen to sit down comfortably.
• Mixing bowls. For the marinade and to marinade the hen in.

Recipe suggestions and tips

• Broil for a number of minutes. For additional crispy pores and skin, broil the hen for 2-3 minutes on the finish.
• Use skin-on hen legs. This may assist maintain the meat moist and add taste.
• Don’t overcrowd the baking tray. Depart room round every hen leg when arranging them on the baking tray. The recent air circulating across the hen legs will cook dinner them evenly and make them crispy on all sides.
• Let then hen relaxation. Permitting the hen to relaxation for 5 minutes earlier than serving permits the juices to distribute all through the meat and retains it tender.
• Bast with extra marinade. When you have leftover marinade, brush it over the hen legs whereas they bake to infuse them with extra taste and maintain them moist.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

Extra hen recipes to attempt