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Baked chicken drumsticks with lemon and garlic
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4.85 from 190 votes

Baked Chicken Drumsticks with Lemon and Garlic

The secret to these juicy, flavor-packed baked chicken drumsticks is in the marinade! Loaded with Mediterranean flavors including lemon, garlic, oregano, and extra virgin olive oil.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Marinating time30 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Servings: 12 pieces
Author: Suzy Karadsheh

Ingredients

  • 10 to 12 chicken drumsticks bone in, skin on
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon oregano
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon coriander
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 head garlic, about 12 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion cut into wedges
  • 3 lemons, Zest and juice of 2 lemons + 1 lemon sliced
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil I used Private Reserve Greek olive oil

Instructions

  • Prepare the chicken. Pat chicken dry and season with kosher salt on top of and under the skin. If you have the time, arrange the chicken on a tray or a shallow dish and chill in the fridge uncovered, for a few hours or overnight (optional).
  • Marinate the chicken. Place the chicken in a large zip bag. In a small bowl, combine the oregano, black pepper, coriander, paprika, and cumin. Add the spices to the bag with the chicken.
  • Finish the marinade. Add the garlic, onion, lemon zest, lemon juice, and olive oil. Zip the bag shut. Toss chicken around and massage it to make sure it is well coated in the marinade. Let the chicken marinate for about 30 minutes, or if you have the time, refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.
  • Preheat the oven. When ready, heat the oven to 450°F.
  • Arrange the chicken. Lightly oil a baking dish and arrange the chicken drumsticks. (Yes, include the onions and the marinade.) Arrange lemon slices in between.
  • Bake. Place the chicken in the oven and bake for 35 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and its juices run clear. The internal temperature of chicken should register 165°F using an instant-read thermometer.  If you like, broil for just a few minutes until skins are crispy to your liking.

Video

Notes

  • Cook's Tip: For the best flavor, allow the chicken legs to marinate in the fridge for 2 to 4 hours, or 30-minutes at room temperature.
  • Make Ahead: To save time, you can absolutely work ahead (one night in advance) on this chicken legs recipe.  One of the things I like to do is prepare the chicken and allow it to marinate in the fridge overnight; that way, it's ready to bake after a long workday. It helps to take it out of the fridge for a bit before baking so it's not too cold and so it cooks more evenly.
  • Leftovers: If you have leftovers, let the chicken cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 days. If you want to freeze the cooked chicken drumsticks, place them in a freezer bag and put them in for up to 6 months. Thaw before re-heating.
  • Visit our Online Shop to browse Mediterranean ingredients including extra virgin olive oils, spices and more!

Nutrition

Calories: 155.6kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.1g | Protein: 11.7g | Fat: 10.5g | Saturated Fat: 2.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5.7g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 67.3mg | Potassium: 206.1mg | Fiber: 1.1g | Sugar: 0.9g | Vitamin A: 127.1IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 27.5mg | Iron: 0.9mg

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