Best Damn Baked Buffalo Chicken Legs

These Best Damn Baked Buffalo Chicken Legs deliver tender, juicy meat with perfectly crispy skin, all coated in flavorful spices and a rich, tangy buffalo sauce. It’s perfect for game day gatherings or a quick, hassle-free dinner during the week!

Why I Love This Baked Chicken Legs Recipe

From my Air Fryer Chipotle Chicken Breast to my Stuffed Chicken Breast with Spinach and Ricotta, you know I love me a good chicken breast recipe. But sometimes, I’m in the mood for dark meat. It’s fattier, more flavorful, and way easier to cook without drying out. 

These juicy baked chicken legs aren’t just ordinary chicken drumsticks. With a blend of spices and a hot and tangy buffalo sauce, they take boring old chicken drumsticks to a whole new level. Though the secret isn’t just in the sauce — cooking chicken legs at a high temperature makes ALL the difference.

The connective tissues in chicken legs need to be cooked at a higher temperature to break down and become tender, it also helps to crisp up the skin. And let’s be real, crispy skin is one of the best parts of any chicken drumsticks recipe!

With simple pantry staples and only a few minutes of prep time, these buffalo baked chicken legs make an easy and delicious main dish or appetizer for any occasion.

Ingredients for Baked Buffalo Chicken Legs

• Chicken legs: Use skin-on, bone-in chicken legs for this recipe. 
• Baking powder: Baking powder helps get the chicken skin nice and crispy.
• Seasoning blend: You’ll need kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, and chili powder for this delicious recipe.
• Olive oil: This gets drizzled over the chicken legs before baking.
• Frank’s RedHot: I like to use this classic buffalo sauce, but feel free to use your favorite!
• Unsalted butter: Mix this in with the buffalo sauce for added flavor.
• Worcestershire sauce: I like to add a little Worcestershire to deepen the flavor profile.
• Honey: Just a touch of honey balances out the heat and adds a subtle sweetness to the sauce.

Preparation

To start, preheat oven to 425°F. Then line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture.

In a large bowl or zip-top bag, toss the chicken with oil, then add the baking powder and seasoning blend until evenly coated.

Cooking

Arrange the chicken on the large baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 35-40 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crispy and cooked through 

While the chicken bakes, heat the hot sauce, butter, Worcestershire sauce, honey, and garlic powder in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until smooth, only about 2-3 minutes.

Serving

When chicken is done in the oven, let it rest for 5 minutes, then toss the baked chicken in the Buffalo sauce until it is well coated.

Optional: For a final touch of crispiness, broil the chicken legs for 2-3 minutes.

Serve and enjoy!

Tasty Pairings for Baked Buffalo Chicken Legs

Chicken leg recipes such as these always taste delicious next to some greens. Try my Easy Stovetop Sautéed Green Beans or Best Damn Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts for a pop of freshness and crunch. 

You can also serve these chicken legs as part of a game day spread with other appetizers. Learn How to Make Beer Battered Onion Rings or try these Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges!

Storage and Reheating

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, place chicken legs on a baking sheet and bake in a 350°F oven for about 10-15 minutes until warmed through.

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