If you love lemon chicken, you will love this easy baked lemon pepper chicken drumsticks recipe. Tender and juicy chicken legs marinated with a simple Lemon Pepper seasoning mix and then baked to perfection. The result is a flavorful and delicious dinner that the whole family will love.
Why you will love this recipe
Simple ingredients: You only need 4 main ingredients for this chicken leg recipe: lemon pepper seasoning (homemade or storebought), smoked paprika, onion and garlic powder. Minimal ingredients, minimal prep, and maximum flavor.
Easy to make: This recipe only requires about 10 minutes of prep time, followed by 45-50 minutes in the oven. Plus, no marinating or extra steps are required.
Economical and healthy dinner option: This is an affordable meal. More importantly, chicken drumsticks are an excellent protein source, low carb, and contain healthy fats.
Kid-friendly and finger-licking: Have you ever seen any child that doesn't like chicken legs? This recipe is perfect for making a dinner for the whole family. The lemon pepper seasoning turns this into a flavorful, tasty dish for the entire family. The flavors are not overpowering nor too lemony, and neither is it spicy. So yes, even your fussiest eater would love this one.
Versatile meal prep option: This recipe is perfect for meal prepping. You can make it beforehand and use it during the week as desired. It can be served hot or cold.
Seasoning and marinade ideas for chicken drumsticks
If you are not a fan of lemon or lemon pepper seasoning, I have some seasoning inspirations you can easily and quickly put together
Cajun seasoning
Related recipes: oven baked chicken drumsticks and baked lemon chicken breast.
What you will need
You will need the following ingredients to make lemon pepper chicken drumsticks.
Chicken drumsticks: You can use other cuts of chicken for this recipe, such as chicken thighs, whole chicken, wings, or more.
Olive oil: Substitute with any other flavorless oil you prefer.
Lemon pepper seasoning
Smoked paprika: Substitute with sweet or spicy paprika.
Onion granules
Garlic powder
Salt
How to make lemon pepper chicken drumstick in the oven
Preheat the oven to 400F/200C. Spray an oven-safe baking dish large enough for the chicken legs with cooking oil and set aside. For easy cleanup, line the baking dish with parchment paper.
Add the chicken drumsticks to a large bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and season with lemon pepper seasoning, onion and garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt. Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes if time is not of the essence, or move on to the next step.
Toss and mix to combine.
Arrange the drumsticks in the prepared baking dish in a single layer.
Bake the chicken drumsticks in the oven for 35-45 minutes or until nice and golden with crispy skin and the internal temperature reaches 165F/74C.
How long to bake chicken legs
Drumsticks is a dark meat cut and therefore takes longer to cook than white meat cuts. Baking the drumsticks in a preheated oven to 400F/200C or 425F/205C is best. That said, it can be baked at a lower temperature. Just make sure to adjust the time accordingly. What is essential is that the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165F/74C when tested with an instant-read thermometer at the thickest part.
Drumsticks can be cooked to a higher internal temperature of 170F/76C because of the bone. You want the chicken cooked to the bones without any traces of blood.
Serving ideas
This lemon pepper chicken is versatile and can be served however you like with other side dishes you prefer. It is great with mashed potatoes, air fryer french fries, creamy spinach pasta, coleslaw, Boursin orzo, green salad, Ranch potatoes, chimichurri rice, tater tots, and many more.
You can also serve it with your favorite dipping sauce.
Do I need to flip the chicken
Not necessarily. I baked this chicken without flipping it, and it still came out great. If you would be flipping the chicken, do so after 20-25 minutes into the cooking time.
Air fryer lemon pepper drumstick instructions
Season the chicken as instructed above
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-5 minutes
Spray the air fryer basket lightly with cooking oil.
Place the chicken drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overcrowding.
Air fry for 15-18 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165F/74C. For crispier skin, cook for an additional 5 minutes.
How to store
If you have some leftovers, you can easily turn them into a delicious and easy lunch or dinner. Shred the chicken and add it to salad, or sandwich, or eat it on its own.
Cooked chicken can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can freeze it for up to 3-6 months.
Easy chicken recipes you will love
Air fryer frozen chicken drumsticks
Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 2.2 lb chicken drumsticks
- 2 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion granules
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F/200C. Spray an oven-safe baking dish large enough for the chicken legs with cooking oil and set aside. For easy cleanup, line the baking dish with parchment paper.
- Add the chicken drumsticks to a large bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and season with lemon pepper seasoning, onion and garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt. Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes if time is not of the essence, or move on to the next step.
- Toss and mix to combine.
- Arrange the drumsticks in the prepared baking dish in a single layer.
- Bake the chicken drumsticks in the oven for 35-45 minutes or until nice and golden with crispy skin and the internal temperature reaches 165F/74C.
Air fryer lemon pepper drumstick instructions
- Season the chicken as instructed above.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-5 minutes Spray the air fryer basket lightly with cooking oil.
- Place the chicken drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overcrowding.
- Air fry for 15-18 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165F/74C. For crispier skin, cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
And there you have it, a simple and delicious chicken drumsticks recipe you can make at home in under 45 minutes. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 stars and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save it to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox.
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